778 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



1 7. He that came in first at the death, took up the hare, 

 saved her from being torn, cherished the dogs, and cleansed 

 their mouths from the fleek, was allowed to take the hare for 

 his trouble. 



18. Those that were appointed judges of the course were 

 to give their decision before they departed from the field. 



How very different this species of amusement is in Tar- 

 tary in the rules laid down for it ! It is a very favourite 

 amusement with that people, who, contrary to our practice, 

 take out for this purpose as many dogs as they can muster, 

 and ensure the destruction of the poor hare by surrounding 

 and besetting her on all sides, like some ferocious animal, 

 until she is hunted by one greyhound into the mouth of an- 

 other. As soon as they have picked up the prize, they im- 

 mediately cut its throat, as they are forbidden to eat " flesh 

 with the blood thereof." The hares of the Crimea are very 

 large, generally weighing nine or ten, and often thirteen or 

 fourteen pounds. 



In more recent times, deer, foxes, and hares have severally 

 been coursed with greyhounds, according to the fashion or 

 taste of the age ; and it has always continued a sport of 

 high estimation with various eminent and opulent individuals 

 in every part of the kingdom. But coursing is now exclu- 

 sively confined to hares. For some time this sport suffered 

 a temporary suspension, from which, however, it emerged, 

 with renovated ardour ; and many clubs have been estab- 

 lished for the encouragement of it in almost all parts of the 

 country. It owes its present popularity to the Earl of Or- 

 ford, who, in the year 1776, instituted the celebrated Swaff- 

 ham Coursing Society. The number of members is confined 

 to the number of letters in the alphabet, and each member's 

 dogs are named with the initial letter he bears in the club. 

 •When a member dies, or wishes to retire, his place is, by the 



