Across Country with Greyhounds 13 



large ranches keep greyhounds to kill off this menace to 

 the crops. 



The jack rabbit is a hare, and nests on the surface, 

 rarely if ever taking to burrows or anything of the kind. 

 He prefers to run in the open, to dodge behind hedges 

 and trees. For many years I hunted with my own 

 dogs, and, when President of the Valley Hunt, often 

 acted as master of the hounds, when it was my duty to 

 keep up with the pack and direct it on the runs ; con- 

 sequently I had many opportunities to watch the dogs 

 and game in all stages of the chase. The Valley Hunt 

 pack of ten or fifteen hounds was in charge of a hunts- 

 man or keeper, and generally there were two masters of 

 hounds, members of the club, who took charge of the 

 dogs on a hunt, and went with them, a hard riding 

 position. Courtesy required that the hunt should not 

 pass him ; indeed, it was the duty of the one in charge 

 to see that excited members did not override the 

 hounds. The hunt could keep as near the master of 

 the hounds as it could get, but could not pass. When 

 the game reached cover, he had to keep the jack in 

 sight, and see that the dogs obeyed his call ; and so well 

 did the hounds understand this, that often they would 

 not lose a foot, though they lost sight of the game for 

 several minutes. A greyhound named " Mouse "would, 

 in high grass, leap on to my horse behind my saddle, 

 and, with one arm over her, I would ride slowly along. 

 When a hare was started she would see it, note its direc- 

 tion, leap down, and rarely miss it. It is sometimes said 



