CHAPTER IV. 

 THE HARRIER. 



UNLESS some very considerable change takes place 

 it is extremely likely that the harrier will not survive 

 very many generations, at any rate in this country. 

 His type has not been strictly defined for years, he 

 has varied much in height, and has lately been 

 crossed with the foxhound to such an extent, as 

 to further endanger his extinction. 



Years ago much hare hunting was done on foot, 

 and hounds were bred for this purpose, to find 

 their own hare by questing and hunting her through 

 all her windings and ringings, with a care that the 

 modern foxhound-harrier, with his dash and go, 

 would not take pains to bestow. The latter is 

 almost as fast and keen as the true foxhound ; 

 he has, like him, to be fleet enough to get out 

 of the way of careless riders, and give a sharp 

 and merry burst, rather than a careful hunting run. 

 Most hounds now kill their hare in from half an hour 

 to an hour, and no wonder that they can do so 



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