An Evening in July 



Then they begin a mimic battle, snarling at 

 each other and rolling over each other, some- 

 times chasing one and sometimes the chasers be- 

 coming the chased. So they play for ten minutes 

 when the old vixen comes quietly on the scene 

 with a rabbit in her mouth. But to her ex- 

 perienced ear there is something wrong. She 

 has an undefined idea — but still an idea — that 

 her hereditary enemy is not so very far off. So 

 she drops the rabbit, gives a sharp " yap," and 

 immediately the young ones scuttle into their 

 earth, and then she picks up the rabbit and 

 follows them leisurely. 



" A nice litter," says our huntsman, " I shall 

 let them alone for a bit; they are rather late." 

 And then cigars are lighted, and a brisk walk 

 takes the party back to the kennels, quite ready 

 to turn in, for they are going out to early 

 exercise on the morrow. 



And as the huntsman, before closing his 

 door, looks round on the glorious July night, 

 with its scents and sounds, and hears some of 

 his favourites " baying the moon," he is con- 

 scious that he, at any rate, has made a good 

 beginning of the Hunting Year. 



19 



