28 SPORT IN EUROPE 



Of other fowl and small game in Austria I propose to say but 



little, and shall only touch upon those features in which the sport 



differs from that of the British Islands. That the 

 Hare. 



quantity of hares, as well as of partridges, in Bohemia, 



Moravia, and Lower Austria is very great is probably known to most. 

 The million and a half of the former and upwards of a million of the 

 latter which are annually bagged in Austria (exclusive of Hungary) 

 give good sport to those who cannot afford the more expensive 

 Hochjagd (stag and chamois). Of hares, thousands are often killed 

 in one day on the immense estates of the wealthy Bohemian aristoc- 

 racy. On such occasions social distinctions are in so far forgotten 

 that persons of humbler rank, such as minor government officials, 

 professional men, and respectable tradesmen from neighbouring towns 

 or villages are invited to share in the sport, the seigneur's own house- 

 party being, however, not brought into personal contact with them. 

 For it is considered good policy to give men of local standing, who 

 have a voice in the shaping not only of public opinion, but also of 

 regulations connected with the preserving of game, a personal interest 

 in the sport of the country. Such hare drives — the Kesseltreiben — 

 by means of which these great bags are usually made, are conducted 

 on the following easily understood principles, A huge circle is 

 formed, varying in size according to the number of guns, a beater 

 or two being stationed beside each gun. At a given horn signal, 

 the whole body moves slowly forward, walking up the hares, the 

 fun becoming fast and furious as the encircling line gradually 

 concentrates. When the diameter has so narrowed that firing in- 

 wards becomes dangerous, another signal to halt is sounded, and 



