AUTUMN SHOOTING. 329 



large parties with hounds, toward Christmas, and driving 

 the woods as in European battues, when at times much 

 sport is to be had. 



Wherever hares are plentiful, it would well repay the 

 ardent sportsman to keep a couple or two of small beagles 

 on purpose for this sport, which is much prettier and more 

 advantageously pursued than the famous English rabbit- 

 shooting, which it much resembles ; inasmuch as the hare 

 never, like the rabbit, frustrates both dog and gun by 

 taking to the earth, sirco it burrows only in the breeding 

 season, and even then, I believe, rather uses some natural 

 cavity in the ground, under a stone or in a hollow stump, 

 than excavates a hiding-place for its own use. 



There is not much art in hunting these timid little 

 animals ; one has only to be out betimes with the busy little 

 beagles along the wood edges, which abut on meadows or 

 grain stubbles, while the dew is on the herbage ; or in the 

 green woodpaths among the coverts which they love, such 

 as bushy barrens, with bare spaces intervening among 

 scrub oaks, dwarf pines and laurels — to find their trail as 

 they come in from feeding. 



The merry little hounds will soon push them up, and 

 will stick to them stanchly, following them through all 

 their mazes with unerring industry, and making the low 

 woods vocal with their small but sonorous melody. 



One may easily keep up with them if he pleases, for 

 their speed through the covert does not exceed a man's 

 fair jog-trot, and it is beautiful to see them work and cast 

 themselves, and feather to t! e scent, and spring to their 

 companions when one opens on his game ; but the way to 



