XENOPHON ON HARE-HUNTING. 303 



his days in something of the same fashion as in more recent times. It certainly would be 

 contrary to a modern sportsman's ideas to use a net in which it is hoped to drive the hare, 

 and the appearance of the huntsman in the field with his coat over his arm, and carrying a 

 long pole, would also provoke considerable astonishment in these more enlightened days. 

 Again, Xenophon's remarks upon breeding, in which he advocates breeding in the winter 

 season, on account of hunting operations being over, clearly tend to prove that at the time 

 he wrote it was customary to hunt earlier in the year than modern masters do. How- 

 ever, there is so much good sense in all he says that the quotation from his work must 

 surely be read with interest, if not with actual benefit, by those who take an interest in and 

 support the science of hare-hunting. 



For more modern experiences of the art we are again driven to the writings of that 

 great authority whom we have already quoted Mr. Peter Beckford, whose letters have been 

 freely made use of by the editor of the " Sportsman's Cabinet," . from which we quote the 

 following : 



" As the trail of a hare lays both partially and imperfectly in proportion to the length of 

 time elapsed since she went to her seat, so is the difficulty of finding increased in proportion 

 to the late or early hour at which the hounds are thrown off; hence it is that the attendance 

 upon different packs, under the denomination of hare-finders, so very little known or required 

 at that time, are now become so truly and unavoidably instrumental to the sport of the day. 

 Although the services of these people are always welcome to the anxious and expectant 

 sportsman, yet it is admitted by every judicious and competent observer, they are exceedingly 

 prejudicial to the good order and regular discipline of hounds; for having occasionally such 

 assistance, they become habitually indolent and progressively wild ; the game being so fre- 

 quently and easily found for them, they become individually and conjunctively indifferent to 

 the trouble of finding it for themselves. Those who are accustomed to have their hares 

 found sitting, know the hare-finders as well as they know the huntsman, and will not only 

 upon sight set off to meet him, but have their heads eternally thrown up in the air in expec- 

 tation of a view hollaa ! 



" Packs of harriers well managed, and regularly disciplined, should be quietly brought 

 up to the place of meeting, and when thrown off a general silence should prevail, that 

 every hound may be permitted to do his work. Those well bred and properly broke seldom 

 stand in need of assistance. Officious intrusions frequently do more harm than good ; 

 nothing requires greater judgment, or nicer observation in speaking to a hound, than to 

 know the critical moment when a word is wanting. Young sportsmen, like young hounds, 

 arc too much accustomed to babbling when newly entered, and often by frivolous questions, 

 or obtrusive conversation, attract the attention of the hounds, and ensure the silent curse of 

 or public reproach of the huntsman, as well as the contemptuous indifference of every ex- 

 perienced sportsman present upon such occasions. 



' Those who keep harriers vary considerably in their modes of hunting them ; but the 

 humane and liberal-minded never deviate from the consistency and strict impartiality of the 

 chase. If a hare is found sitting, and the hounds too near at hand, they should be imme- 

 diately (and as it were accidentally) drawn off to prevent her being chopped in her form ; 

 the hare should then be silently walked up by the individual who found her, or knows where 

 she is seated, that she may be permitted to go off without alarm at her own pace. The 

 hounds should then be drawn quietly over the spot from whence she started, where being 



