In tbe Haunts of the Hare 365 



the promise of a wholesome freedom and unlimited 

 sport was the magnet which drew many of them to 

 our West and once there, it is not astonishing 

 that they promptly took advantage of their un- 

 equalled opportunity. 



The instinct to tackle things which can fight, to 

 pursue things that can run or fly, is absorbed by the 

 Briton with his mother's milk, and one of his dearly 

 loved pastimes is coursing. Hence, he speedily 

 noted the possibilities, so soon as he became 

 acquainted with that weird brute Lepus callotis, 

 commonly termed the " jack-rabbit." This creature 

 can run like the wind ; it inhabits the great plains, 

 which afford a clear view and fine footing for horse 

 and hound, so it was only natural that coursing under 

 special rules to suit the new field should follow. 

 How wonderfully this sport has flourished may be 

 learned from a glance over the reports of the many 

 important fixtures annually decided. In its own 

 smaller way, coursing now receives the same close 

 attention as racing. Representatives of the best 

 greyhound blood of Britain are to be found at the 

 head of many kennels, while the breeding, handling, 

 and running of the dogs are in the hands of men as 

 keen and clever as any that ever sent out a winner 

 of the storied blue ribbon. That the sport will con- 

 tinue to flourish goes without saying the nature 

 of the Western country and the temperament of its 

 people guarantee that. Hawking the "jack-rabbit," 

 too, may yet become one of our most attractive 

 pastimes. I have repeatedly seen both falcons and 

 harriers chase the jacks, and every time the sight 

 called up visions of trained hawks with all the at- 



