CHAPTER III 



SMALL GAME HUNTING WITH DOGS ON ESTATES 



I THINK about ninety-nine planters out of every hundred 

 in Ceylon keep a dog or dogs, for companionship at least, 

 whilst almost all with any sporting tastes possess dogs 

 capable of running a scent of some sort. Those who can 

 afford it import English harriers or beagles ; those who 

 cannot afford such luxuries confine themselves to country- 

 bred offspring of such imported dogs, or cross-breds with 

 as good a sire, or dam, as possible. English beagles, 

 harriers, and foxhounds do well on all kinds of deer out 

 here, but cross-breeds, such as beagle-terriers, beagle- 

 dachshunds, beagle-spaniels, or even beagle-pariahs are 

 certainly the best dogs for hare, particularly when they 

 have to be hunted in " lantana " scrub and such-like 

 awkward cover. Pure-bred dogs waste too much time 

 puzzling over a cold scent the half-breeds do not, for, 

 as soon as the scent gets faint, the latter will leave it 

 and range round at speed to try and pick it up fresher, 

 whereas the pure-bred dog sticks to it, goes back to the 

 check, starts again, and certainly eventually puzzles it 

 out, but with an unnecessary waste of time. Again, if 

 a pure-bred dog hits on the scent of vermin such as a 

 mongoose or civet cat and the like, he will stick to it 

 for the rest of the day, and night probably. The cross- 

 breed, not having such pluck and spirit, tires after a 

 bit and leaves it a very desirable consummation. Small 

 game such as hares, and vermin such as mongoose, civet 



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