THE HARE AND HER NATURE 19 



hares carry hotter scent than some, and therefore 

 the hounds scenteth of one more than of the 

 other, as of roses, some smell better than others, 

 and yet they be all roses. The other reason is 

 that they steal away ere they be found, and the 

 hounds follow always forth right. The others 

 run going about and then abide, 1 wherefore the 

 hounds be often on stynt (at fault). The other 

 (reason) is according to the country they run in, 

 for if they run in covert, hounds will scent them 

 better than if they run in plain (open) country, 

 or in the ways (paths), for in the covert their 

 bodies touch against the twigs and leaves, because 

 it is a strong (thick) country. And when they 

 run in plain country or in the fields they touch 

 nothing, but with the foot, and therefore the 

 hound can not so well scent the fues of them. 

 And also I say that some country is more sweet 

 and more loving (to scent) than another. The 

 hare abideth commonly in one country, and if 

 she hath the fellowship of another or of her 

 kyndels or leverettes, they be five or six, for 

 no strange hare will they suffer to dwell in their 

 marches (district), though they be of their nature 

 (kind), 2 and therefore men say in old saws : " Who 



1 G. de F. has: "vonts riotans tournions et demourant,'' 

 i.e. run rioting, turning and stopping, p. 44. 



2 Both the Vespasian and the Shirley MS. in the British 

 Museum have the same, but G. de F., p. 45, has, " except those 

 of their nature " {fors que celle de leur nature). 



