774 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



in swiftness with the greyhounds, quickened or moderated 

 their speed according as they were pressed. If overmatched 

 by the dogs, they endeavoured to gain ground by frequent 

 turnings, which threw the dogs beyond them before they 

 could turn, and then retreated with all speed to the covers 

 for shelter. Zealous sportsmen, in those days, did not course 

 for the sake of destroying hares, but for the love of seeing 

 the contest between them and the dogs, and even felt a plea- 

 sure at the escape of tlie hare ; and having beaten the grey- 

 hounds, they never permitted the cover in which they shel- 

 tered to be disturbed, and as the horsemen closely followed 

 the dogs, it was a common occurrence to take the hare which 

 was yet alive from the greyhounds, and allow the animal 

 to escape, that it might afford them sport on some future day. 

 By way of encouragement, sportsmen used to speak to their 

 dogs in the field ; but only did so after the first course, as 

 they were fearful of exciting them too much, and thereby 

 making them exert themselves to their own destruction. 



Those who did not employ hare-finders went out in com- 

 pany on horseback, and beat the grounds where hares were 

 likely to be seated, as they went along; and when one was 

 started a brace of greyhounds were slipped, and followed her. 

 But such persons as were ardently attached to the sport went 

 out on foot, and if accompanied by equestrians, it was their 

 business to follow the dogs during the course. It is singular, 

 that after the lapse of so many centuries, the same mode of 

 beating for a hare in coursing should be practised as at that 

 early period. The persons present were draAvn up in a 

 straight rank, whether horsemen or those on foot, and ad- 

 vanced at certain distances from each other, in a direct line 

 to a given point, and w^heeling round, that they might not 

 go over precisely the same track, they beat the ground regu- 

 larly back. The very same method is still pursued. A per- 



