MODERN HARE-HUNTING 107 



the line presently recovered by hounds, and the quarry 

 handsomely killed, after what would have seemed to 

 many a hopeless difficulty. 



Woodlands, especially big woodlands, are a source 

 of much trouble to the hare-hunter. A big woodland 

 is almost certain to hold rabbits, and your hounds, 

 once involved in its recesses, may run riot for half an 

 hour or more before you can get them off. Again, 

 the pack may happen on the line of a fox, and there 

 is the devil to pay. Many harrier packs hunt their 

 country by the courtesy of Masters of foxhounds, 

 and, to put it mildly, the least their Master can do 

 is to keep them from hunting the quarry that does 

 not belong to them. The woodland may not have 

 been shot, and pheasant-preservers are not likely to 

 be amiably disposed if the pack is disturbing the 

 coverts in all directions. A large woodland, then, 

 is for many reasons to be avoided as much as possible, 

 and hounds extricated from its depths as soon as may 

 be. I have known harriers on several occasions to 

 hunt a hare right through a big woodland and kill 

 her at last ; and I have also known the same pack 

 hunt a wood, under various distractions, for something 

 like half an hour, and, by patience and good luck, 

 succeed in forcing out a dodging hare and killing her 

 fairly in the open. But, on the other hand, how 

 many, many times can one not remember the delay 

 and confusion, riot and disappointment, of the same 

 woodland ! On the whole, where large coverts are 

 concerned, I think, with the mercantile man, that it 

 is better to cut one's loss quickly and get away in 

 search of a fresh hare. 



Small patches of wood, withy beds, of which, by 

 the way, hares are extremely fond, and odd patches 

 of covert, are much more readily dealt with. Where 



