BEASTS OF THE CHASE. THE HARE. 79 



does, hunts the hounds himself ; but it is advisable that there 

 should be some one in authority whose attention is not entirely 

 devoted to the pack, as he may and should, by example and 

 precept, prevent much damage being done to vetches, turnips, 

 seeds, beans, and wheat, though in the case of the last-named 

 the mischief is far more apparent than real ; still it must ever 

 be borne in mind that farmers who allow their land to be 

 hunted over by harriers make a far greater concession to sport 

 than is required for foxhounds, as a field may be crossed not 

 once or twice, but ten or twelve times in the course of the day's 

 diversions. Harriers should always be taken to covert and 

 brought home by two persons, otherwise they loiter and forage, 

 and not unfrequently pick up a scent, with the result perchance 

 of a sharp spin before the work begins, or in the dark after it 

 should have terminated. 



In drawing, the hounds should be permitted to scatter them- 

 selves pretty freely ; it may look smarter to have them kept 

 within a short radius of the huntsman's horse, but the draw is 

 thus often unduly prolonged. They will strive quickly enough 

 to cry when the game is afoot, or when a line is touched fresh 

 enough to be spoken to, for though they may appear indifferent 

 they are in reality keenly observant of each other's actions : 

 witness the way they will gather as if by telegraphic signal the 

 moment a trusted comrade shows even the faintest indica- 

 tion of feeling a scent ; witness also their utter disregard of the 

 voice of a babbler, if such a one has, through misplaced kindness, 

 escaped his well-merited doom for two or three weeks. In 

 inclosed countries the services of the pedestrians may be most 

 useful in beating the banks and hedges; few harriers will thread 

 a hedgerow properly without the stimulus of a scent, nor is it 

 quite desirable that they should do so, as they are thus liable to 

 become rabbit hunters. We have never seen the experiment 

 tried, but have always been of opinion that a small hardy 

 terrier would be a valuable coadjutor for hedge work; he would 

 of course, be often outpaced, but if interested in the business 

 he would be sure to turn up whenever he was wanted. As to the 



