208 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



half of the guests had quitted the chateau, and two-thirds 

 of the beaters had been dismissed, but we brought back a 

 hundred and sixty-two hares, besides three foxes and two 

 roedeer. Thus, during three short days' sport, we had 

 bagged a sum total of seven hundred and thirty- six hares, 

 which number, when the wounded that had been picked up 

 afterwards were added, might easily be augmented to eight 

 hundred. Still, this was considered a very unfavourable re- 

 sult, and much inferior to some years ; indeed, our noble 

 hosts almost asked pardon of their guests for the bad sport 

 they had shown them. Such frequent massacres, such 

 " Sicilian Vespers," are sufficient, I should have imagined, to 

 destroy the whole race of hares in the country. But besides 

 the number of shots missed in one of these battues } a circum- 

 stance occurs in alleviation of the general carnage, and opens 

 a gate of comparative safety to the poor animals. When the 

 shouts of the beaters and the noise of their rattles are in full 

 operation, after some moments of hesitation, crossing, jostling, 

 and running about in contrary directions, they soon form 

 into little troops, like sheep in files, and taking one direc- 

 tion, attempt to break through the line or circle at a par- 

 ticular point, so that the two chasseurs between whom they 

 pass, after having fired their two barrels each or four if 

 they have a spare gun are left hors de combat, and the mass 

 of hares have escaped. 



It is a curious and singular sight at first, but soon loses 

 its charm; one takes pity on the miserable animals, mas- 

 sacred in this wholesale manner, which are seen struggling 

 in the agonies of death in all directions, and whose piercing 

 cries are mixed up with the sound of the music and the 

 beaters. Besides, it is accompanied with no exercise, no 

 fatigue, no variety ! It cannot be called sport, and it is 

 quite sufficient to witness it once during a year. Eight 

 hundred hares appear rather a heavy bag, but during dinner 



