CHAPTER XVI 



THOUGH the oldest of our field sports, coursing is a rather 

 difficult one to understand ; but it is said that if one 

 of its votaries through misfortune or circumstance has 

 had to abandon it pro tern., he or she, as the case may be, is 

 sure to return at the very first opportunity that presents 

 itself. 



Some 120 years B.C. Arrian wrote of coursing, and it is 

 evident that he pursued his recreation in the spirit of true 

 sportsmanship as understood to-day. He slipped only a 

 brace of greyhounds to the hare, gave her plenty of " law," 

 and very often called his dogs off when a gallant quarry had 

 given them a hard and exciting course ! 



It is not my intention to enter upon a treatise on coursing 

 and greyhounds. Those who seek information on the subject 

 will find it meticulously dealt with in my " Coursing " volume 

 of " The Badminton Library,"* and also in that part of 

 " Dogs "f which relates to greyhounds. I simply wish to 

 chronicle my own reminiscences of the sport as they affected 

 me personally. 



My aim in writing this book and its predecessor J is to deal 

 with my experiences in various field sports, not chronologi- 

 cally, but, as it were, in sections ; since my enjoyment of them 

 constantly overlapped. For instance, my early endeavours 

 as a follower of The Leash synchronized with my mastership 

 of the O.B.H. and part of my race-riding days, to say nothing 

 of intervening shooting and angling exploits. 



At my first venture I had the luck to purchase at auction 



* The Badminton Library : " Coursing," by Harding Cox, and " Falconry," 

 by the Hon. Gerald Lascelles. 



| " Dogs," Edited by Harding Cox (Fawcett, McQuire & Co.). 

 J " Chasing and Racing " (John Lane). 



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