AUTUMN SHOOTING. 829 
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 kecp 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, since it burrows only in the breeding 
season, and even then, I believe, rather uses some natural 
cavity in the ground, under a stone cr 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 ag 
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 tl.e scent, and spring to their 
companions when one opens on his game; but the way to 
