Old Stories. 1 7 



their way back to the kennel at Dummer in some 

 marvellously short space of time.* 



In those times, and long afterwards, Nutley (in the 

 Vine Country), was famous for producing long runs. 

 A large tract adjoining that cover, towards Frost Hill, 

 was then a rabbit warren : I can just remember the 

 rabbits, as well as the old gates and palings. I think 

 the land was brought under the plough before the 

 year 18 10, under the stimulus of war prices. These 

 rabbits attracted foxes from all quarters, and those 

 who had the luck to escape the warrener's traps would 

 naturally take up their quarters in Nutley or Kings- 

 down, and, when found by hounds, go back to their 

 old haunts far away. 



Now there is a legend that, one season. Lord Craven 

 had frequently found a fox at Nutley who always beat 

 him by going to ground in Petersfield Hanger, which 

 must be considerably more than twenty miles from 

 Nutley. He took the same line every time ; and there 

 was a field, a little beyond Preston Oakhills, which he 

 never failed to go through. So, one fine hunting 

 morning, his lordship sent on servants, with hounds 



* A relation of mine knew of an instance somewhat similar. 

 A neighbourof his, who kept harriers on the Cotswold Hills, had 

 sent a hound to a pack in Essex, about twenty miles beyond 

 London. The hound had been taken through London ; I do not 

 know whether on foot or in a carriage. When he was taken out 

 with the pack in Essex, he was observed to be with them when 

 the first hare was killed, but was missed soon afterwards. Some 

 time in the next day, he was found at his old kennel in 

 Gloucestershire. Both these cases seem to prove that dogs are 

 directed to their point by some inexplicable instinct, though 

 they know nothing of the intermediate space which they have to 

 traverse. 



C 



