442 HUNTING. 



we consider that, to any man who is a real lover of 

 hunting^ that is, of seeing hounds do their work, 

 and do that work well, a twenty minutes burst over 

 a good country, with a well-bred pack of harriers 

 of the present stamp and fashion, affords a high 

 treat. To see them to advantage, however, it should 

 be over a country in which the fields are large, and 

 the fences stone walls, like those of Oxfordshire or 

 Gloucestershire ; for harriers, being for the most 

 part obliged to meuse, strong hedges prevent their 

 carrying a head in chase, which is the chief beauty 

 in all hunting. 



Somerville has these appropriate lines on the 

 adaptation of hounds to their game : — 



" A different hound for every chase 

 Select with judgment ; nor the timorous hare 

 O'ermatch'd, destroy ; but leave that vile offence 

 To the mean, murderous, coursing crew, intent on blood and 

 spoil." 



Harriers should not be too large, certainly not more 

 than eighteen inches high, or, by their speed, and, 

 if good withal, they will much overmatch their 

 game ; but in a good and open country there should 

 never be less than from eighteen to twenty couples 

 in the field. A strong pack not only adds to the 

 respectability of the thing (at all events, a small 

 one greatly detracts from it,) but in our opinion^ 

 more hounds are wanting to pursue an animal that 

 runs short, than one which, like the fox, generally 

 makes for a distant point. The opinion of Mr. 

 Beckford is in opposition to us here. He says, 

 '•' the fewer hounds you have the less you foil the 

 ground, which you will find a great hindrance to 



