246 HARE-HUNTING 



There is another method of hunting the hare, 

 and that is with foot-beagles. The harrier and 

 the beagle have been crossed so often that it is 

 almost impossible to point out the individual 

 characteristics of each breed. The harrier I 

 define as a hare-hound to be followed on horse- 

 back, and the beagle on foot. This is the only 

 difference ; but you will understand that the 

 hound which suits one sport will not suit another. 



I do not wish to dogmatise or lay down the 

 law, but in my opinion the only sporting way 

 of hunting the hare is to follow her on foot — that 

 is, in a moderately level country and with a fair 

 amount of grass. Then with a pack of hounds 

 not exceeding fourteen inches, the odds are 

 about the same as in fox-hunting — three to one 

 on the hare. 



Beagling is becoming more popular every day, 

 and there are now several well-recognised packs 

 that hunt regularly, showing capital sport and 

 affording an immense amount of pleasure to a 

 class of men who cannot afford to ride. For 

 a professional or business man fox-hunting is 

 generally out of the question — it takes up too 

 much time, and keeping only one hunter is 



