678 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



sun, all abreast." Five and twenty couples are a 

 sufficient force at any time to be taken into the field ; 

 they are a match for any fox, supposing them steady 

 and their speed nearly equal ; too heavy dogs always 

 do more mischief than service. Hounds that are 

 meant to run well together should never have too 

 many old ones amongst them. Five or six seasons are 

 sufficient to destroy the speed of most dogs. 



Fox-hunting at the present day is not carried to 

 that extreme which was the custom twenty years ago, 

 as it then killed many of the finest horses. When 

 George IV. was Prince of Wales, he hunted with a 

 pack of hounds which were silent in the chase. 



THE HARRIER. 



The harrier is considerably less than the foxhound, 

 and was originally generated in a double cross, between 

 the beagle and the southern hound and the beagle. 

 Sportsmen, however, have different sizes of harriers 

 adapted for the kind of country in which they hunt, as 

 well as the fancy of the owner of the pack. The 

 colour and markings are similar to those of the fox- 

 hound, but frequently the dark colours occupying a 

 greater extent of surface. It is this dog which is now 

 almost universally used in Britain and Ireland for 

 hare-hunting. 



The harrier pursues the hare with much eagerness 

 and swiftness, allowing her but little time to breathe 

 or double. The keenest sportsman, and well-mounted, 

 frequently find it difficult to keep up with the pack ; 

 and when following a strong hare, becomes rather 

 fatiguing work. The mingled voices of a pack of 

 harriers produce a cheerful and agreeable harmony. 



Mr Beckford justly remarks, that " harriers, to be 



