62 THE HARE 



know Lucky Alphonso still inhabits the grass patch on the left bank 

 of the Fen Ho. 



As already intimated, coursing after hare with greyhounds is, 

 to many minds, the most sporting method of huntmg them. In com- 

 pany with a party of fellow devotees one goes out to the appointed 

 place in a wagonette or by train, as the case may be. Here the 

 ponies are waiting, and mounting these, the sportsmen spread out in a 

 line and ride forward. All except two of the hounds are kept in leash 

 behind the riders. Suddenly a hare jumps up and the two free hounds 

 give chase. A wild scurry ensues, the riders taking ditches and mounds 

 as they present themselves, while the hounds and hare stretch out in 

 a race for life. The latter usually heads for graves, where perchance 

 it may go to earth in some badger hole, or elude its pursuers by doub- 

 ling amongst the homniocks. It is the business of tlie hounds to catch 

 the hare before it reaches the desired haven. Therein lies the chief 

 excitement, though the cross country run is liable to prove harrowing 

 enough, for your China pony does not always take the jump when 

 he is expected to, and loves nothing, better than to dump his rider 

 into a ditch. To the man with a sense of humour, the antics of the 

 hounds, when a hare suddenly disappears, will prove very diverting. 

 The Chihli hare is a fine runner and often escapes its pursuers, so that 

 general satisfaction follows a pretty kill on the part of the hounds. 



Last, but not least, the sumptuous luncheon provided for the 

 occasion is a very attractive part of the days outing. Some say that 

 the numerous cocktails indulged in have most to do with the success 

 of the proceedings, and fomi the real attraction of the sport. Per- 

 haps they do to some, but on the whole, a day behind the greyhounds 

 is well spent, and is as healthy and enjoyable a form of recreation as 

 there is. 



Unfortunately this form of sport is not what it used to be — to 

 judge from the accounts of exciting runs and wonderful kills, told by 

 the old stagers. It is a fact, however, that hares are not nearly so 

 numerous as they were, and those that remain are both fast and cun- 

 ning, so that the percentage of kills is very much lower than it was. 

 The difficulty in securing fresh hounds, and also of keeping in health 

 those already brought out from home, further tends to prevent the 

 sport from becoming very universal. 



There is one other method of hunting the hare, and that is with 

 hawks. This is undoubtedly the most sporting of all, though it is 

 seldom, if ever, practised by Europeans, It used to be very popular 

 with the Manchus, and is still kept up by Chinese hunters, who find 



