197 



CHAPTER IT 



Tin: HARRIER 



The question has often been asked, What is a har- 

 rier ? The only answer that can be fairly made to it 

 is that a harrier is a hound which is used for hunting 

 a hare. ^^lany men interested in the sport will doubt- 

 less demur to this definition, but if half a dozen of 

 them are asked what the harrier should be, it will be 

 generally found that they will describe half a dozen 

 hounds, all differing from each other in important 

 features : and who is to decide when doctors disagree ? 

 To pass in review the types of hounds still in use 

 which have distinct characteristics, vre will begin with 

 what is at present known as the ' Old English Harrier,' 

 whose home is now principally in Lancashire and the 

 neighbourhood, where several packs of this type 

 exist. They are very large hounds, often standing 

 considerably over twenty inches in height, high on 

 the leg, a little rough in the coat, with very long, 



