The Hare Protection. 161 



becomes on a fine summer night. The gate is carefully 

 opened and put back, and one of the men produces from his 

 inside pocket a large net, which he proceeds to extend 

 across the gateway, making the lower part lie on the ground 

 about six inches, on the side next the field. The other 

 now brings forward the dog, which, in the uncertain light, 

 seems to be of no breed at all, or of every breed combined. 

 As soon as the net is ready a sign is made to the dog, and 

 off he goes. Meanwhile the men crouch on each side of 

 the gate, one inside and the other outside the field. Now 

 let us endeavour to follow with our eyes this intelligent dog ; 

 making a start, he goes off at a gentle, silent trot, keeping 

 about 5yds. out from the hedge and working in zig-zag form 

 round the field. Having found nothing by the time he 

 returns to the gate, he turns and goes back, keeping this 

 time about I5yds. out from the hedge, but still working in 

 a zig-zag. This he continues to do, covering all the ground 

 that he has passed until at length a hare is found. It is then 

 that we see the wonderful sagacity of the animal, that is if 

 it be not too dark. Let us mark him closely ; he approaches 

 the hare, until at length with a bound he puts it up. No 

 vain endeavour is made by the dog to catch the hare ; no ! 

 all that he has to do is to drive it to the net, and prevent 

 it from escaping at any other point of the field. First he is 

 on one side of the hare and then on the other, until at length, 

 after turning her several times, he considers that she may 

 be chased into the net. Being now tired of trying to escape 

 by the hedge, she notices that the gate is open, and 

 accordingly makes a rush for it, but just as she goes to 

 leave the field some invisible substance bars her further 



