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the shooting tenant or disturb ground which is Ukely 

 to be wanted at an early date. If a shooting tenant and 

 his keeper have no previous experience of beagles they 

 will find that these little hounds, except on the actual 

 day, have no disturbing effect on game. Both partridges 

 and pheasants are quick to appreciate the fact that 

 hounds mean no guns and they have consequently 

 nothing to fear. A covey mayhap fly to an adjoining 

 field, or pheasants disturbed from a noonday nap flee 

 to another covert, but they return at once when hounds 

 have gone. It is the business of the Master to estabUsh 

 friendly terms not only with those on whose lands he 

 expects to find a hare, but also with those of the sur- 

 rounding district which hounds are hkely to invade. 

 Asking permission first is always a better plan than 

 apologising after a complaint. 



The foregoing suggestions are matters appertaining 

 to the duties of a Master and hunt officials, but the 

 ordinary follower would materially assist by doing as 

 httle damage as possible, taking particular care not to 

 break fences, shutting gates and avoiding trampUng 

 crops in market gardens. By paying attention to these 

 small details much unnecessary friction can be eliminated 

 and a day's hunting enjoyed in peace. 



The man with no previous experience of hunting 

 may in his first days with hounds transgress certain 

 rules which to him are unknown. The most important 

 of these is to stand perfectly stiU at a check, and to be as 

 quiet as possible. 



The neophyte on seeing hounds start off with a burst 

 of music when close to their hare, is apt to think that 

 scent is a stable quality remaining for some time where 

 left, and does not reaUse it's volatile character or how 

 easily it is affected by other extraneous smells. The 



