HARE-HUNTma 767 



should be attentive as he goes, not only to his hounds, 

 nicely observing which have the lead, and the degTee of scent 

 they carry, but also to the various circumstances that are 

 continually happening, from change of weather, and differ- 

 ence of ground. He will also be mindful of the distance 

 which the hare keeps before the hounds, and of her former 

 doubles, and give minute attention what point she makes to. 

 Attention to these observations will prove serviceable, should 

 a long check make the services of the huntsman necessary ; 

 and if the hare have headed back, he will carefully observe 

 whether she met with anything in her course to turn her, or 

 if she turned of her own accord. When he casts his hounds 

 he should commence by making a small circle ; if that does 

 not suit, he must try a larger one ; and this failing, he must 

 then act according to circumstances, endeavouring to hit 

 upon that most likely to succeed. As a hare generally 

 revisits her old haunts, she will return to the place where 

 she was first started ; and should the scent be completely 

 dissipated, and the hounds can no longer trace it, by taking 

 the cast from whence she first broke off, she in all proba- 

 bility will be found there again. He should strictly keep 

 in view, that in all his casts the hounds must not be 

 allowed to follow close at the heels of his horse, nor must 

 they carry their heads high, with their noses in the air. 

 Each of the casts they must try for the scent, or it never 

 will be found ; and the quickness or slowness of the cast will 

 depend upon the manner in which he perceives the hounds 

 exerting themselves, and whether the scent be good or bad. 



Huntsmen should use every means to prevent the harriers 

 from chopping hares, as when allowed to do so, the hare 

 must be very strong or very wild to escape them. Hounds 

 are most apt to chop hares in localities where there is much 

 furze, because it is the nature of the hare to leap up before 



