CHAPTER XL 



RABBIT SHOOTING. 



THIS sport, like, indeed, all others, is differently 

 practised in different places, and by different persons. 

 The best sample of it we ever enjoyed was in the 

 woods belonging to the Earl of Winterton, adjoining 

 his seat, Shillinglee Park, in Sussex. This nobleman 

 keeps the most perfect pack of rabbit beagles pro- 

 bably in existence, and goes out with them quite en 

 prince. Having caused the covers he purposes shoot- 

 ing to be stopped (after the fashion of fox-hunting), 

 he sallies forth with his Lilliputian pack, cheers them 

 into cover, turns them with his horn, and, in short, 

 carries on his rabbiting with all the pomp and circum- 

 stance of perfect woodcraft. His hounds are about 

 the size of well-grown kittens, and as full of fire 

 as lucifer matches. Their cry is " as tunable as 

 lark," and quite as shrill, being the completest canine 

 counter-tenor that may be conceived. This is shoot- 

 ing the rabbit in such a style as ought to recon- 



