HAKE-HUNTING. 437 



hunting also has the kind of hound been altered ; 

 there being now no longer occasion for that nice 

 distinction of scent which was wanting to be a 

 match for the windings and doublings a hare was 

 able to make in her course when hunted by the 

 slow and fastidious southern hound, and which was 

 essential to the finding her at all, in countries 

 where hares were scarce, by the perplexing means 

 of a very cold trail. In fact, we do not think we 

 can better elucidate the gradual but great change 

 that has taken place in this highly popular and 

 ancient British diversion, than by the following 

 extracts from a very old work upon sporting, called 

 the GentlemavCs Recreation^ published nearly two 

 centuries back. 



" Your large, tall, and big hounds," says the 

 author, " called and known by the name of the 

 deep-mouthed or southern-mouthed hounds, are 

 heavy and slow, and fit for woodlands and hilly 

 countreys ; they are of deep mouths, and swift 

 spenders ; they are generally higher behind than 

 before, with thick and short legs, and are generally 

 great of body and head, and are most proper for 

 such as delight to follow them on foot, as stop- 

 hunting^ as some call it ; but by most it is termed 

 ' hunting under the pole \ that is, they are brought 

 to that exactness of command, that, in their hottest 

 scent and fullest chase, if one but step before them, 

 or hollow, or but hold up or throw before them the 

 hunting pole, they will stop at an instant, and hunt 

 in full cry after you at your own pace, until you 

 give them encouragement by the word of com- 



