62 HUNTING ADVENTURES. 



A hare that has been sorely hunted, has got upon i ^uicksel 

 hedge, and run a good way upon the top thereof, and then leaped 

 off upon the ground. And they frequently betake themselves to 

 furze bushes, and leap from one to the other, whereby the hounds 

 are frequently in default. Having found where a large hare has 

 relieved in some pasture or corn field, you must then consider the 

 season of the year, and the weather: for if it be in spring or sum- 

 m<;r, a hare will not then set in bushes, because they are often in 

 fested with pismires, snakes, and adders; but will sel in corn fields, 

 and open places. In winter, they set near towns ai.d villages, in 

 tufts of thorns and brambles, especially when the wind is northerly 

 or southerly. According to the season and nature of the place 

 where the hare is accustomed to sit, there beat with your hounds, 

 and start her ; which is better sport than trailing her from her relief 

 to her form. After the hare has been started and is on foot, step 

 in where you saw her pass, and halloo in your hounds, until they 

 have all undertaken it and go on with it in full cry : then recheat 

 to them with your horn, following fair and softly at first, making 

 not too much noise either with horn or voice ; for at the first, hounds 

 are apt to overshoot the chase through too much heat. But when 

 they have run an hour, and you see the hounds are well in with 

 it, and stick well upon it, then you may come 'in nearer with them 

 because their heat will thon be cooled, and they will hunt more 

 gobe rly . 



