102 THE RABBIT 



Strip of furze, and as the beaters close up and the 

 rabbits that have gone forward are getting towards 

 their last place of refuge, the guns are having a lively 

 time of it. ' Rabbit on the right ! ' shouts an excited 

 beater ; ' Rabbit coming out to the left ! ' yells another. 

 Shot after shot rings out, and many a grey form turns 

 a somersault on the green ride, followed instantly by 

 a spaniel, which after mouthing it for a few seconds, 

 and wagging his tail, turns into the furze again to 

 find another. 



And here we may remark upon the advantage of 

 having one or two spaniels that can retrieve. It often 

 happens that a wounded rabbit crawls away into thick 

 furze, where without the aid of a dog it is difificult to 

 find. The stuff" is often so dense that it is impossible 

 to see the surface of the ground, and many a rabbit 

 hit hard, or, as sometimes happens, killed by the dogs, 

 is left behind for want of one that can bring it out. 

 On this account spaniels are preferable to terriers, and 

 being less excitable, they are not given to wander so 

 far from the guns. Their longer coats too serve them 

 in good stead in the sharp-pointed furze-brakes which 

 they are compelled to face. 



As dogs and beaters draw nearer together, and the 

 excitement increases, great care has to be exercised by 

 the guns lest some unlucky spaniel, more impetuous 



