CHAPTER XI 

 Hare-Hunting 



{ A diff'rent hound for every diff'rent chase 

 Select with judgment j nor the timorous hare 

 O'ermatched destroy, but leave that vile offence 

 To the mean, murd'ring, coursing crew, intent 

 On blood and spoil. O blast their hopes, just Heaven ! ' 



SOMERVILLE. 



THE chase of the hare is an honourable and 

 ancient sport in fact, I believe that animal was 

 the first hunted by scent. Xenophon wrote on 

 the subject, and there have been many treatises 

 written since his day. When fox-hunting came 

 into fashion, its exciting joys soon threw into the 

 shade the more sober sport, and since then men 

 have been wont to look down on the hare-hunter. 

 If you want to see hunting, to see every turn 

 puzzled out, and to see the hounds' scenting- 

 powers tried to their utmost, then go and have 

 a day with harriers or beagles. The hare when 



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