MODERN HARE-HUNTING 115 



rightly calls jours des dames — when every one can 

 with safety predict scent and a good hunt. But, as 

 a general rule, it is of little use prophesying on this 

 subject, for the reason that, over and over again, 

 the best and wisest of sportsmen find themselves 

 but false prophets. I am one of tnose who do believe 

 that when hounds roll much and betray indifference 

 scent is very rarely good. This I take to be one of the 

 surest signs that may be relied upon, a sign one hates 

 to see, hoping against hope that hounds for once may 

 be mistaken ; yet they seldom are in this particular 

 demonstration. 



In countries where hares are scarce, it may be 

 necessary to offer rewards to farmers, especially 

 where holdings are small, for the finding of the game 

 desired on their land. Bailiffs, shepherds, keepers, 

 and others who have a voice or control in the main- 

 tenance of game, are, of course, worth looking after. 

 Hare-hunting has, in this respect, its amenities, its 

 duties, and its diplomacy, in like manner with fox- 

 hunting. Masters of foxhounds, who hunt the same 

 country, and by whose courtesy hare-hunting often 

 exists, are always to be thought of. Owners of coverts, 

 who are often extremely liberal in preserving hares, 

 deserve, and should receive, due consideration and 

 thanks. In the case of farmers, more is effected by 

 diplomacy and civility than in any other way. A 

 hunt dinner is an excellent institution, and the practice 

 of puppy walking and an annual prize-day and luncheon 

 are also found to work very successfully. Puppy 

 walking is, however, necessarily somewhat less often 

 practised than in the case of fox-hunting. Without 

 the farmer, hare-hunting, like fox-hunting, could 

 not exist for a twelvemonth. It is a real pleasure, 

 then, to find this good old English sport more popular 



