284 HUNTING DIRECTORY. 



Huntsmen must assist the Dogs in killing the Boar. 



In the first case, it is proper to accompany the hounds 

 with a few clogs, produced hy crossing the breed of the 

 mastiff with the hound : these animals, which are ex- 

 tremely ardent, will closely press the boar and drive him 

 round the enclosure. The dogs are powerfully sup- 

 ported with the voice and the horn, and are followed 

 close to prevent the boar from making head against them. 

 After the chase has continuedsome time, the large mas- 

 tiffs and greyhounds are then slipped, and these rush 

 upon the boar with fury. The huntsmen advance ; one 

 pierces the animal with his hunting knife in the small of 

 the back ; the others, armed with sticks, are ready to 

 receive him, in case he should make towards the person 

 who wounded him, and strike him upon the snout, 

 keeping him off with the end of the stick, till they have 

 despatched him. When the proposed number of boars 

 are taken, the dogs are called off." 



It would, at first view of the case, appear hardly cre- 

 dible, that a boar should stand so long before hounds ; 

 but this animal, in a state of unlimited freedom, is, beyond 

 all question, a very different creature from the heavy, 

 sluggish, domesticated boar, which frequently appears 

 scarce able to support his own unwieldy bulk. From a 

 private letter of the late Colonel Thornton, to a friend, I 

 copy the following observations respecting the wild boar, 

 and also of the pursuit of it:— " I sent you a paper M^iich 

 contained something about a noble wild boar, which I 

 ordered to be hunted ; and, when killed, in Chambord, 

 to send it here at my expence ; and thus to try to let 

 such sportsmen here (London) as never saw one, be able 

 to judge for themselves. Accordingly, it being arrived, 



