A CUK OF " HIGH " DEGREE. 17 



winch for beauty and general usefulness I would Lack 

 against anything. She is remarkably gentle and orderly, 

 but tlie toughest worker I ever saw. I have run her for 

 three successive days of twelve hours at least, without 

 reacning the end of her: and she is tolerably fast also, 

 which is rare, as in general slowness is the rule. In woods 

 she is excellent, beating close, and not following cocks 

 when flushed ; and in the open country she changes her 

 plan, and ranges free and wide. I have timed her at her 

 point for fifteen minutes ; and she would have stood till she 

 dropped. Pity made me relieve her hy starting the game, 

 for every muscle was quivering with excitement, and she 

 was ready to drop. But hares are her forte, and there she 

 is superb, and shows an almost human intelligence. One day 

 she pointed in a carrot field, and on nearing her a few birds 

 rose, one of which I killed. But she remained steady like 

 marble. " What can it be ? " thought I ; " perhaps a dead 

 bird, for the carrots are small, and it is not likely a hare 

 will wait for me after firing and beating about." However, 

 I went up and walked round her, looking here and there, 

 and at last, under her nose, I spied puss couched close in 

 her form. Toho ! The bitch looked in my face, as if to 

 say " I told you so," but did not move. I then put up the 

 hare w4th my foot, and shot her ; Belle never moving save 

 at my order to pick up the hare, and bring her to me. In 

 hedges, too, she was admirable. About October hares lie 

 much in hedges, and are difficult to manage; the banks 

 being so high that you cannot see over, and the wood so 

 thick that you cannot get on the bank to command each 

 side. Hence if, as is probable, the hare bolts on the off- 



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