METHOD OF TURNING HARES OUT 135 



should prefer to catching the hares in traps, would be 

 a warren in the midst of an open country, which might 

 be stopped close on hunting-days. This would supply 

 the whole country with hares, which, after one turn 

 round the warren, would most probably run straight 

 at end. The number of hares that a warren will 

 supply, is hardly to be conceived : I seldom turned 

 out less, in one year, than thirty brace of trap-hares, 

 besides many others killed in the environs, of which 

 no account was taken. My warren is a wood of near 

 thirty acres : one of half the size would answer the 

 purpose perhaps as well. Mine is cut out into many 

 walks : a smaller warren should have only one, and 

 that round the outside of it. No dog should ever be 

 suffered to go into it ; and traps should be constantly 

 set for stoats and pole-cats. It is said, that parsley 

 makes hares strong ; they certainly are very fond 

 of eating it ; it therefore cannot be amiss to sow some 

 within the warren, as it may be a means of keeping 

 your hares more at home. 



I had once some conversation with a gentleman 

 about the running of my trap-hares, who said he had 

 been told that catching a hare, and tying a piece of 

 ribbon to her car, was a sure way to make her run 

 straight — I make no doubt of it ; and so would a 

 canister tied to her tail. 



I am sorry that you should think I began my first 

 Letter on the subject of hare-hunting in a manner 

 that might offend any of my brother-sportsmen. It 

 was not hare-hunting that I meant to depreciate, but 

 the country I had hunted hare in. It is good diversion 



