760 MANUAL OP MODERN FARRIERY. 



there is hardly a state in Europe but possesses many packs 

 of harriers or beagles. It is a very favourite pursuit in Bri- 

 tain ; and in many parts of England a chase is numerously 

 followed by pedestrians, who, from some neighbouring emi- 

 nence, can nearly see the whole of a good chase by merely 

 occasionally shifting ground. 



The dogs now used in the chase of a hare are harriers and 

 beagles. During the season they should be hunted every 

 third day, if the state of the weather will permit ; but such 

 dogs as do not eat their food heartily, it may be certain they 

 are in ill-health, and should therefore be left at home. It 

 is not judicious to hunt when the wind is high, as it drives 

 off the scent, besides they can neither hear the voices of each 

 other, nor that of the huntsman ; consequently little sport 

 can be expected under such circumstances. 



Great perseverance, and quiet and patient exertion are 

 indispensable requisites in a huntsman in hare-hunting ; and 

 every effort should he made to take the hare : time and a con- 

 tinuous chase are certain ultimately to prevail. 



No whipper-in should act without the orders of the hunts- 

 man. The field should be entered by all present with 

 quietness, and the dogs should be left to follow their own 

 way. Much noise is at direct variance with the pursuit 

 of hare-hunting. As hounds have a natural propensity for 

 hunting if they cannot carry the scent forward, they 

 will turn and trace it back again, which is one of the prin- 

 cipal, if not the only fault which dogs, left to themselves, 

 are likely to be guilty of. This is termed running hack the 

 heel. Although it is recommended to permit hounds to use 

 their natural instincts in seeking for their game, it may still be 

 requisite to give them a mild check occasionally. Dogs will 

 never be good, if too much led, therefore every means should 

 be used to encourage them to go forward in the scent. But 



