268 HUNTING TOURS. 



at one period were numerous, affording such 

 fine opportunities for hounds to outpace the 

 horses, and for horses to roll over their 

 riders, are now almost entirely superseded by 

 the black-thorn hedges, for the protection of 

 which the rails were originally constructed. 

 There is, as heretofore, much timber to be 

 met with in the corners of fields and in the 

 weak parts of the fences ; but recently most 

 diabolical contrivances have been introduced 

 in the form of wire, wdiich is not visible to 

 the quickest eye, when hounds are running, 

 till it is too late to avoid the insidious tram- 

 mels. The Legislature has interfered with 

 powerful effect to restrict the practice of 

 wiring hares ; it is much to be regretted that 

 men and horses are not included in the 

 category of game, and protected from the 

 fearful predicament of being ignominiously 

 snared. But it is a subject of too serious im- 

 portance to make light of, for unless some 

 measures are had recourse to, more sad 

 accidents are certain to occur, and fox- 

 hunting must soon become a sport of the 

 past. Within a mile and a half of Melton, 

 there is a single wire, about three feet high, 

 running parallel with a field road, by which 



