178 FAULTS OF HARRIERS 



behind his back. A sensible man will soon discover 

 whether the hare is a flier or not, and act accordingly. 

 In some localities hares run tolerably straight, having 

 a point to gain in some distant covert ; but field-bred 

 hares almost invariably make a circuit, returning to the 

 place where they were found. 



The two greatest faults in harriers are skirting and 

 hanging on the scent, for which there is no remedy but 

 a charge of powder and shot, in place of a halter, hanging 

 a dog being, in my opinion, a horrible mode of destroying 

 life by slow degrees, his weight not being sufficient to 

 dislocate his neck. 



To those who enjoy hunting, and the working of hounds, 

 hare-hunting presents many allurements ; it has also 

 several recommendations. There is a total absence of 

 all that bustle and parade attending the meeting of 

 fox-hunters. There is no earth-stopping to be done 

 over-night, or preparations of any moment to be made. 

 There is no necessity for scalding your throat with a 

 hot cup of tea, if late for breakfast, in dread of being too 

 late at covert side ; should the day prove boisterous, 

 or torrents of rain fall, you may defer your amusement 

 until the morrow ; and even if the fixture be regularly 

 advertised, it is most probable few objections would be 

 raised by your friends to such a proposal. 



A hunted hare is not bad eating, which is more than 

 can be said of a fox, although the hounds are entitled 

 to their share also, for rest assured, to make harriers 

 good, they require blooding as well as fox-hounds. What- 

 ever the weather, your game is sure to be above ground, 

 although hares change their sitting with the wind, 

 seeking the most sheltered situations when the elements 

 are boisterous. Down hares are the best and stoutest. 



