ON COURSING. 



99 



gnaw the straps, go as even to require chains hke malefactors. 

 Besides, a hound that is at liberty must needs eat every thing 

 that falls in his way ; - and, from running about during the 

 day-time, lose the acme of his speed. But, though generally 

 at rest, they should still have their appointed times for walking 

 out. 



Chap. XI. 



Four times a day, at least, take your dogs out of kennel to Chap. Xll. 

 a level and open field, and there loose them from couples, to Exercising. 

 empty themselves, gallop, and run about. ^ But if they have 



Hounds accustomed to such privation of liberty, are said to start from the slips 

 with great fire and speed : 



Ita demiiin libera colla. 

 Cum res ipsa, ususque vocat, niajore feruntur 

 Impete. 



iraVTT) Se TrActJofTOi, (Jtttj yews, evda /ceAeuet 

 yaar^p, Kal Xodiiapyos epws aKSpryros iSwSrjs. 



Fracastorii 

 Alcon. 



According to the old proverb, cited by Rittershusius in his Commentary on Oppian, p. 41. 



DiflScile est canem vetulum assuescere loro. 

 2. 'EaOiiiv Se avdyati \e\vixev7]v kvvo. irav tJ> futrecrSv. 



Oppian. 



Halieut. i. 



V. 250. 



1. Compare Xenophon de Venations c. iv. 9. on exercising hounds. 



" The child shuld lede the houndes to scombre twies in the day, in the raornyng /%1aj)Strr Of 

 and in the evenyng, so that the sonne be up, specially in wynter. Than shuld he lat *fSaiUf. c.^ xxi. 

 hem renne and play longe in a faire medew in the sonne, Jind than kerahe every 

 hounde after other, and wipe hem with a grette wispe of straw ; and thus slial he 

 do every momyng." 



These simple instructions of Duke Edmund are ampUfied by old Gervase : 

 " Touching ayring or walking of greyhounds, which is a great nourisher and increaser Countrey Con- 

 ofwinde, it must be dewly done every morning before sun-rise, and every evening tent. B. i. p. 52. 

 before or after sunne-set in this manner ; as soone as you have opened your kennel 

 and rub'd your dogge over with a cleane haire cloath, you shall let him play a little 

 about you before the kennel dore, then take him up into your leashe, and walke him 

 forth into the fields, where for the most parte are no sliecpe or other smal cattell, 

 which they may out of wantonness indaunger, and there let him loose, and give him 



