278 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



Artful, of this cross, which was the best harrier I ever saw in 

 my life, quick with a scent, and always running hard at the 

 head of the pack. The fox-hounds had too much dash for the 

 short turnings of their game, although when any straight 

 running took place they were foremost in the fray. Speed is 

 not so much a requisite in hare-hunting as in fox-hunting; 

 and, for this diversion, hounds, in my opinion, may run too 

 fast. 



Hares are to be found in some localities, such as a wild open 

 country, on down and moors, which v/ill run tolerably straight ; 

 but, generally speaking, they describe a circle, returning to the 

 place where they were found. In the spring months jack hares, 

 which are out visiting, will run straight home ; and these afford 

 the best chases. Were I to become a hare-hunter, I would set 

 about forming my pack from the old blue mottled southern 

 hound and the fox-hound, which I should consider the best 

 cross to make thorough good harriers. Twenty couples are 

 quite sufficient to form a pack of harriers, fourteen or six- 

 teen couples being the outside number which should be taken 

 into the field. These are enough for all hunting purposes, 

 and will make a good cry ; more are, I think, a useless incum- 

 brance, and will tend rather to defeat tlian insure good sport. 



Little is required for a huntsman to a pack of harriers. He 

 cannot be too quiet, and there is little opportunity, as in fox- 

 hunting, for the display of great talents. In fox-hunting, to 

 hear that your fox is a quarter of an hour before you is no very 

 pleasing intelligence, when you know that he is still travelling 

 on, and the time lost cannot be regained ; but in hare-hunting 

 this is not of any very great consequence, as the hare generally 

 stops to listen when the hounds are far behind her, and after 

 doubling a few times will throw herself down and wait until 

 she is fresh found again. The season of the year and weather 

 are the best guides to the form of a hare. When wet and 

 stormy, hares seek low situations, protected from the wind, 

 where there is some dry bank or rough long grass. In dry 

 weather they are commonly found on old fallows, or in high 

 situations. In inclosed countries they generally sit near to the 

 hedge or fence, and not often in the middle of the field. Unless 

 much disturbed they lie very close in their forms during the 

 greater part of the year, until the months of February and 

 March, when they become wild, and get up at long distances. 



It is not very easy to find hares sitting on rough fallows, 

 w^hich should be regularly crossed, directing the eye up the 

 ridge, near which they generally sit. The trail of a hare lasts 

 much longer than the drag of a fox, and those who go out rather 



