HUNTING DIRECTORY. 219 



Of Hare Finders and Chopping Hares. 



hounds ; it also shows their goodness to the huntsman 

 more than any other hunting, as it discovers to him those 

 who have the most tender noses. But, I confess, I seldom 

 thought it worth while to leave my bed a moment sooner 

 on that account. I always thought hare-hunting should 

 be taken as a ride after breakfast, to get us an appetite 

 to our dinner. If you make a serious business of it, I 

 think you spoil it. Hare-finders, in this case, are neces- 

 sary : it is agreeable to know where to go immediately 

 for your diversion, and not beat about for hours perhaps 

 before you find. It is more material, I think, with re- 

 gard to the second hare than the first : for if you are 

 warmed with your gallop, the waiting long in the cold 

 afterwards is, I believe, as unwholesome as it is disagree- 

 able. Whoever does not mind this, had better let his 

 hounds find their own game ; they will certainly hunt it 

 with more spirit afterwards, and he will have a pleasure 

 himself in expectation, which no certainty can ever give. 

 Hare-finders make hounds idle ; they also make them 

 wild. Mine knew the men as well as I did myself; could 

 see them almost as far, and would run full cry to meet 

 them. Hare-finders are of one great use : they hinder 

 your hounds from chopping hares, which they otherwise 

 could not fail to do. I had in my pack one hound in 

 particular that was famous for it ; he would challenge on 

 a trail very late at noon, and had as good a knack at 

 chopping a hare afterwards ; he was one that liked to go 

 the shortest way to work, nor did he choose to take 

 more trouble than was necessary. Is it not wonderful 

 that the trail of a hare shoidd lie after so many hours, 

 when the scent of her dies away so soon ? 



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