METHOD OF CATCHING RABBITS 153 



it is without design. Other methods, doubtless, there are, to make the 

 keeping of hounds much more expensive ; which, as I do not practise 

 myself, I shall not recommend to you : treated after the manner here 

 described, they will kill foxes, and show you sport. I have answered 

 all your questions as concisely as I was able ; and it has been my con- 

 stant endeavour to say no more than I thought the subject required. The 

 time may come, when more experienced sportsmen, and abler pens, may 

 do it greater justice : till then, accept the observations that I have made : 

 take them, read them, try them. There was a time when I should readily 

 have received the information which they give, imperfect as it may be ; 

 for experience is ever a slow teacher, and I have had no other. With 

 regard to books, Somerville is the only author whom I have found of any 

 use on this subject. You will admire the poet, and esteem the man ; 

 yet I am not certain that you will be always satisfied with the lessons of 

 the huntsman. Proud of the authority, I have quoted from him as often 

 as it would suit your purpose ; and for your sake have I braved the evident 

 disadvantage that attended it. I wish this elegant poet had answered 

 all your questions : you then would have received but one letter from 

 me, to refer you to him. That no other writer should have followed his 

 steps, may, I think, be thus accounted for : Those gentlemen who make 

 a profession of writing live chiefly in town, consequently cannot be sup- 

 posed to know much of hunting ; and those who do know anything of 

 it, are either servants who cannot write, or country gentlemen who will 

 not give themselves the trouble. However, I have met with some curious 

 remarks, which I cannot help communicating to you. One author tells 

 us, that ' coursing is more agreeable than hunting, because it is sooner 

 over ' ; ' that a terrier is a mongrel greyhound ' ; and ' that dogs have often 

 coughs from eating fish-bones.' 



Another (a French author) advises us to give a horse, after hunting, 

 ' a soup made of bread and wine, and an onion.' I fear an English groom 

 would eat the onion and drink the wine. 



The same author has also a very peculiar method of catching rabbits, 

 which you will please to take in his own words : he calls it, Chasse du 

 lapin d V ecrevisse. ' Cette chasse convient aux personnes qui ne veulent 

 employer ni furets ni armes d feu ; on tend des poches d une extremite d'un terrier, 

 et d Fautre on glisse une ecrevisse ; cet animal arrive peu-d-peu au fond de 

 la retrait du lapine, le pique, s'y attache avec tant de force, que le quadrupede 

 est oblige de fuir, emportant avec lui son ennemi, et vient se faire prendre dans 

 le filet qu'on lui a tendu d Fouverture du terrier. Cette chasse demande beau- 

 coup de patience : les operations de P ecrevisse sont lentes, mais aussi elles 

 sont quelquefois plus sures que celles du juretS x 



* l Rabbit-catching toith crayfish. This method of sport is suitable for those who do not 

 wish to use either ferrets or firearms : bags are held at one end of a burrow and at the other 



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