LETTER XII 



YOU wish to know, How my warren-hares are caught ? They are 

 caught in traps, not unlike to the common rat-traps. I leave mine 

 always at the meuses ; but they are set only when hares are wanted : the 

 hares, by thus constantly going through them, have no mistrust, and are 

 easily caught. These traps should be made of old wood ; and even then 

 it will be some time before they will venture through them. Other meuses 

 must be also left open, lest a distaste should make them forsake the place. 

 To my warren I have about twenty of these traps ; though, as the stock 

 of hares is great, I seldom have occasion to set more than five or six, and 

 scarcely ever fail of catching as many hares. The warren is paled in ; 

 but I found it necessary to make the meuses of brick ; that is, where the 

 traps are placed. Should you at any time wish to make a hare-warren, 

 it will be necessary for you to see one first, and examine the traps, boxes, 

 and stoppers ; to all which there are particularities not easy to be described. 

 Should you perceive the hares, toward the end of the season, to become shy 

 of the traps, from having been often caught, it will be necessary to drive 

 them in with spaniels. Should this be the case, you will find them very 

 thick round the warren ; for the warren-hares will be unwilling to leave 

 it, and, when disturbed by dogs, will immediately go in. 



If you turn them out before greyhounds, you cannot give them too 

 much law ; if before hounds, you cannot give them too little ; for reasons 

 which I will presently add. Though hares, as I told you before, never run 

 so well before hounds, as when they do not know where they are ; yet, 

 before greyhounds, it is the reverse : and your trap-hares, to run well, 

 should always be turned out within their knowledge : they are naturally 

 timid ; and are easily disheartened, Avhen they have no point to make to 

 for safety. 



If you turn out any before your hounds (which, if it be not your wish 

 I shall by no means recommend), give them not much time, but lay on 

 your hounds as soon as they are out of view : if you do not, they will be 

 likely to stop, which is oftentimes fatal. Views are at all times to be 

 avoided, but particularly with trap-hares ; for, as these know not where 

 they are, the hounds have too great an advantage over them. It is best 

 to turn them down the wind : they hear the hounds better, and seldom 

 turn again. Hounds for this business should not be too fleet. These hares 

 run straight, and make no doubles : they leave a strong scent, and have 



