HUNTING THE HARE 



got out, if possible, for two reasons : it is a great 

 chance if they will ever come out alive, and, besides 

 this, the odds are that there is some loafer about who 

 quietly marks the circumstance, and will return when 

 all is quiet and transfer that hare to his own pocket. 



The subject of blooding their hounds has often 

 exercised the minds of young masters of harriers. 

 It is argued that hounds must have blood to make 

 them keen in pursuit, and that therefore they should 

 have a hare to tear to pieces occasionally ; but expe- 

 rience and reflection will show that this is totally 

 unnecessary. Any dog used in the finding or pursu- 

 ing of wild animals must, it is true, be satisfied that 

 he has obtained his object, or he will get slack ; 

 nevertheless, the actual devouring of the quarry is not 

 necessary. 



Let us take the analogy of other dogs used for 

 sporting purposes. The pointer, the setter, or the 

 spaniel never break up their game, and can any 

 creatures be more keen about their business ? There 

 are packs of pure bred Welsh foxhounds which are 

 most savage on a fox, and will tear him out of a 

 mountain-side if they can get at him, yet these hounds 

 do not care to break their fox up, and after they have 

 killed and worried him will not take any further 

 notice of him. Again, let any master of either fox- 



