264 The IIokse Ixdustey in New York State 



well enough for a day's liiinting, will go out rather than deprive 

 his horse of the pleasure — a bit of self-sacrifice which some- 

 times happens in England, unusual as it may be on the other 

 side of the Atlantic. The love of animals, especially of horses, 

 is born and bred in the English people. Unlike some Americans, 

 they one and all care enough for a horse that has given them a 

 most glorious day's sport to stay at the stable and see him done 

 up properly and fed before they dine themselves. In England 

 the children are brought up from infancy to consider the feelings 

 of all domestic animals. An old favorite mare soon to have a 

 foal is talked over again and again, and the expectant mother has 

 the best of care. Love and respect increase as the eventful time 

 approaches. She is turned out on the lawn in front of the house 

 where the grasses are tenderest and sweetest, and the best of 

 everything is none too good for her. The children divide with 

 her their candy ; the baby is held up and taught to caress and love 

 her. The dear old mare's matronly appearance is never a cause 

 of shame, but a pride ; and when at last she has produced her foal, 

 the entire family, down to nurse and the baby, must all go down 

 to the stable to see it. With such instincts, is it any wonder that 

 Englishmen and Englishwomen love a horse? Is it any wonder 

 that there exists between an English rider and his mount a 

 potent feeling of companionship ? Is it any cause for question 

 why in England and Scotland there are a hundred and thirty- 

 eight packs of hounds ? Xeed one long inquire why this sport 

 has such a powerful hold that it is followed unceasingly through 

 yonth, manhood and old age ? 



There seems to exist between man and beast a certain force 

 by which the former is able to exert over the latter some subtle 

 influence to which various names such as ^' bond of sympathy " or 

 " an indefinable something " are occasionally given. So far as I 

 am aware, no writer on hunting has attempted to advance any 

 hypothesis which may reasonably account for the source of this 

 power or define its scope and limitations. 



We hear it said that dogs and horses love certain people be- 

 cause these people love them, and that this love itself explains 

 their control over horses or dogs. ^'All dogs take to me," one 

 person says ; '^ I don't know why it is, but I can make them do 

 almost anything." And, indeed, some persons easily teach a dog 



