16 A MEDLEY OF SPORT 



to some astonishing facts relative to the habits of Lepus 

 hibernicus, which it would be difficult to find in any 

 work on natural history or sport. 



A good hour was spent in drawing grassland, plough, 

 stubble, and rush-covered bottoms, all of which proved as 

 blank as did the hillside. At length the hounds were put 

 into a large field of turnips, and they had not been work- 

 ing many minutes when Pat Lynch, who, by some ex- 

 traordinary means, had detached himself from the rest 

 of the field, gave a view " Holloa ! " from a far corner of 

 the turnip field. The pack, led by old "Doctor," flew to 

 the " Holloa ! " And no sooner were they laid on than 

 with a burst of music they streamed across the next field, 

 a big pasture, while every man strove his utmost to out- 

 pace his fellow. The Squire was the first to negotiate the 

 stifi quickset fence, with Denis following close on his 

 heels ; nor were the other followers far behind, for all 

 were keen as mustard. Over plough and fallow, springy 

 turf, deeply -rutted bramble-fringed lanes, high banks and 

 thorny hedges, led the chase ; the racing of the httle pack 

 proclaiming a breast-high scent, and the music was 

 almost incessant. 



Hell for leather ran the field, but, run as they would, 

 they were unable to keep on terms with the hounds. 

 " Ould Pat Lynch is in over the head in the big flax-hole 

 beyont," cried one of the followers, with an uproarious 

 guffaw, as Denis's bosom friend fell neck over crop into a 

 foully smelling flax-hole. 



" Take thunderin' good care I don't sit beside him at 



