790 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



to a higli-bred foxhound, neither can be worked too hard if 

 kept well in blood. Upon no account accept or keep a 

 springer or cocker which has any taint of the hound in his 

 pedigree, although for generations back, as they will be sure 

 to hunt hares in preference to winged game, and the stock 

 may be crossed everlastingly, may attain beauty, strength, 

 symmetry ; yet this latent spark of the harrier may never 

 be extinguished, and they will always show their predilection 

 for hares, whenever they have opportunity ; and this gene- 

 rally happens when their goodnesses are most required, 

 namely, in coverts where the winged game is preserved, and 

 there, for the most part, hares are always in the greatest 

 plenty. A stronger instance could not be adduced than 

 in the springers of Lord Waltham and Mr. Hoare, about 

 fifty years ago. A road only parted the seats of these two 

 gentlemen, and their gamekeepers frequently shot in the 

 woods together. The dogs were equally handsome ; but 

 those of the former would drive hares the day through, 

 and consequently spring everything that accidentally lay in 

 the way of their course, whilst those of the latter no more 

 ran hares than they did sheep ; they would, indeed, find the 

 hares, but follow no further than they saw them : they were 

 always in their places, twisting around every stub with much 

 agility, and possessed such fineness of nose, that neither 

 woodcock nor pheasant could escape their search. Lord 

 Waltham's springer bitches had originally a cross of the 

 beagle, and although this was tried to be remedied by resort- 

 ing to the best dogs, the tendency to hare-hunting could 

 never be subdued. 



Li this sport it is necessary to be provided with strong 

 gaiters, made of woollen cloth or leather, to guard the limbs 

 against the pricks of thorns, to which sportsmen are very 

 liable in thick coverts. 



