84 /// Scarlet and Si/k 



him on one occasion that I got a curious 

 fall, for galloping at a fence my girths flew, 

 and so did I ! whilst almost at the same 

 moment my horse slipped up on his side 

 and measured his leno-th on the ground. 



Harriers ought to be encouraged to spread 

 themselves well when drawing a field, for 

 many a hare almost requires to be kicked 

 up ; they are real adepts at lying low, and 

 " sitting tight." The " field," too, may be 

 of considerable service here, especially in 

 beating up hedgerows, for harriers are none 

 too keen on doing this for themselves. A 

 hare will rarely give much sport before 

 January, and in that month and February I 

 have occasionally seen them make a four or 

 five mile point, and go a great pace, too, in- 

 stead of constantly ringing, as is their wont. 



Beckford says, in speaking of harriers, 

 that " you should never exceed twenty couple 

 in the field " ; but in most countries little 

 more than half that number will be found to 

 suflice ; they run better together, and there 

 is less chance of their foiling the ground. As 



