HUNTING THE HARE. 61 



A HARE SITTING IN HER FORK 



The ne*. thing to be observed, is the place where the hare sits 

 and upon what wind she makes her form, either upon the North 

 or South wind: she will not willingly run into the wind, but upon 

 aside, or down the wind ; but if she form in the water, it is a sign 

 she is foul and measled ; if you hunt such a one, have a special 

 regard all the day to the brook-sides ; for there, and near plashes 

 she will make all her crossings, doublings, &c. 



Some hares are so crafty, that as soon as they hear the sound 

 of a hofn, they instantly start out of their form, though it were at the 

 distance of a quarter of a mile, and go and swim in some pool, and 

 rest upon some rush bed in the midst of it. Such will not stir 

 thence till they hear the sound of the horn, and then they start 

 out again, and swimming to land, and standing up before the hounds 

 for hours before they can kill her, swimming and using all sub- 

 tleties and crossings in the water. Nay, such is the subtlety of a 

 hare, that sometimes after she has been hunted three hours, she 

 will start a fresh hare, and squat in the same form. Others, after 

 being hunted a considerable time, will creep under the door of a 

 sheep-cot, and hide themselves among the sheep ; or when they 

 have been hard hunted, will run in among a flock of sheep, and 

 will by no means be gotten out till the hounds are coupled up, and 

 the sheep driven into their pens. Some of them will take the 

 ground like a coney, which is called going to the vault Some 

 will go up one side of the hedge and come down the other, the thick- 

 ess of the hedge being the only distance between the courses. 



