46 O'er Crag and Torrent 



size for foot harriers, I think it is generally 

 admitted that about 17 inches is the most 

 suitable, for if much over this size they are 

 too fast ; they will race away and slip the 

 field, pressing the hare too much, which is 

 detrimental to true sport, from the pedes- 

 trian's point of view. The larger hounds 

 of 1 8 to 20 inches would keep good horses 

 galloping hard, and would kill a fox as 

 quickly and certainly, and with as much 

 dash, as many a pack of pure foxhounds. 

 It is therefore obvious, and surely not 

 presumptuous, to assume that great pace 

 and dash are not necessary or required in 

 foot harriers ; for the great charm, and 

 what makes hunting on foot so thoroughly 

 enjoyable, is to see the close hunting of 

 the pack, following the line and puzzling 

 out all the intricate artifices adopted by 

 the hare to save herself and baffle her 

 pursuers. We want them, then, to " pack 



