368 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



with a gentle breeze. As we had to traverse a hill 

 which bounds the tillage-grounds of several of the 

 opposite villages, we brought the greyhounds with us, 

 to get a run or two while passing this otherwise unpro- 

 fitable beat. For my own part I had early given up 

 coursing in disgust. The hares were not plenty 

 difficult to find and when we did get them a-foot, they 

 either made for the sea-shore, or ran into some morass, 

 where dogs had no chance whatever, and one became 

 weary of seeing them cut themselves on rocks, or flounder 

 in a bog ; and latterly I gave up the business as a bad 

 concern. But on this occasion I was agreeably disap- 

 pointed. The hill afforded a sound and level surface ; 

 from its contiguity to the cornfields, the hares were 

 tolerably numerous, and before we reached the shooting- 

 ground, we had had six excellent courses, and killed 

 four hares. 



I never observed a more striking contrast in point 

 of size than these hares exhibited. Two of them were 

 of the smallest mountain class ; dark-coloured, meagre 

 animals, who certainly made matchless running while 

 they lasted. The others were of the fullest size, and 

 in point of good condition, though neither so large nor 

 so white as Byron's, would have done honour to any 

 hare-park in Great Britain. 



The fen we sought was situate in a valley between 

 two gentle slopes, and formed by a deep and sluggish 

 stream which passed through its centre, extended for 

 about four miles, varying its breadth from a few yards 

 to more than a quarter of a mile. The morass was 

 interspersed with shrubs and underwood, and alders of 

 inconsiderable size were occasionally clumped along 

 the borders. Part of the surface was too unsound to 



