To W. Phillpotts Williams, Esq., 



Master of the Melton Harriers. 



"The puzzling pack unravel wile by ivile, 

 Maze rcithin vinze, the Covert's utmost hounds. 

 Slijly she skirts behind, then cautious creeps, 

 yind in that vcrji track so latel// stained 

 By all the steaming crowd, seems to pursue 

 The foe she jlics." 



Somervile. 



XVIII 



THE CHASE OF THE HARE 



THE HARE — THE OLD AND THE NEW SCHOOL METHODS — LONG 

 LIVE THE CHASE — FOOT HARRIERS. 



■p ERHAPS the best way to introduce the subject of Hare 

 ■■• Hunting- is first to introduce the hare. There is a saying 

 among hare hunting men at the present time, wliich was cen- 

 turies old when the morning stars sang together, "Find your 

 hare before you catch liim." In respect, therefore, to tliis 

 time-honoured maxim, if for no other reason, we had better 

 see our hare before we proceed to hunt him. 



As before stated, the hare differs from the rabbit, which he 

 greatly resembles, in being larger and faster. Rabbits burrow 

 in the ground, where they go to hide, sleep, and bring forth 

 their young. The hare, on the contrar>% does not burrow, 

 never goes to earth, and hides and sleeps in the open fields. 

 Their food, habits, and way of running are quite the same. 



The hare is born with a coat of fur, and eyes open. The 



