Cynegetica/Ancient Method of Coursing, from Arrian

ON

COURSING:

FROM

ARRIAN.


――Canis in vacuo leporem qui Gallicus arvo
Vidit; et hic prædam pedibus petit ille ſalutem:
Alter inhæfuro ſimilis, jam jamque tenere
Sperat, et extento ſtringit veſtigia roſtro:
Alter in ambiguo eſt, an ſit deprenſus, et ipſis
Morſibus eripitur; tangentiaque ora relinquit.

Ovid

The Ancient Method Coursing,

from Arrian.

THE advantages that ariſe to mankind from Hunting, and how dear to the Gods, and honourable throughout Greece, thoſe were eſteemed who were inſtructed in this Art by Chiron, has been related by Xenophon, the ſon of Gryllus. He has alſo declared how much this Art conduces to military knowledge; and what time of life, conſtitution, and underſtanding, are moſt proper for entering on it. He has written alſo concerning Hares, their manner of feeding, and ſeating themſelves, and how they are to be looked after. He has, beſides, written about dogs, deſcribing which were good for inveſtigating the ſcent, and which were bad, and how they were to be diſtinguiſhed both by their ſhape and their actons. What he has omitted does not appear appear to have been occaſioned by negligence, but from his ignorance of [1] greyhounds and of the uſe of Scythian and Libyan horſes. Theſe things I ſhall treat of, being of the ſame [2] name and country, and from my youth addicted to the ſame purſuits of War, Hunting, and Philoſophy; juſt: as he, when he thought proper to write concerning thoſe matters relating to Horſemanſhip, which were omitted by Simo, did not do it by way of entering into a competition with [3] Simo, but that his Treatiſe might be uſeful to mankind.

That he was ignorant of the uſe of greyhounds ſtands, I think, in need of no proof. For the inhabitants of that part of Europe, where they were bred, were unknown, except thoſe places in Italy which the Greeks poſſeſſed, and thoſe with whom they had an intercourſe by means of their maritime commerce; and that he knew no dogs equal in ſwiftneſs to greyhounds is evident from theſe words: [4] "Thoſe Hares that are caught by the dogs are taken, contrary to the nature of the animal, by accident." But, if he had known the uſe of greyhounds, he would rather have ſaid this of the dogs, viz. "That, when they let a Hare eſcape, it happened, contrary to the nature of the animal, by accident." For a Hare never can eſcape from thoſe that are well formed, and of a generous ſpirit, unleſs it happens, through the difficulties of the country, either by hiding in woods, or by concealing herſelf in the hollows and caves of the ground, or by running down ditches. On this account, I ſuppoſe, Xenophon dwells ſo long on the mode of driving the Hare into the nets, and in directing, if ſhe avoids them, how to follow and find her again by the ſcent, till ſhe is taken by being run down and tired. But he never fays, that, to thoſe who have good dogs, there is no occaſion either for nets, or to try for a Hare again after eſcaping: but he only teaches the mode of Hunting practiſed by the Carians and Cretans.

Thoſe Gauls, who only courſe for the ſport, and not to live by what they catch, never uſe nets. They have alſo a breed of dogs, not leſs excellent in running by the ſcent than the Carian and Cretan breed, but of a diſagreeable and ſavage form; and they give their tongues, and open on the ſcent, in the ſame manner with the Carians; but they are more vehement when they find the ſcent. They are too eager on the trail, and ſo noiſy, that I must condemn them, giving their tongues as freely on the trail as after the Hare is found; but in following and finding again after ſhe is ſtarted, they are no way Inferior except in ſpeed, to the Carian and Cretan dogs; ſo that, in the winter, it is very well if they [5] kill one Hare, as they require ſo long a time to reſt, unleſs ſhe is taken by being aſtoniſhied at the noiſe they make. Theſe are called [6] Seguſii, from a part of Gallia, where I ſuppoſe they are bred, and held in eſteem. As for theſe, every thing that can be ſaid concerning them has already been ſaid by [7] Xenophon; for they have nothing peculiar or different in their manner of hunting or finding, unleſs we were to ſpeak of their form, which is hardly worth while, except merely to ſay that they are very ſhaggy and ugly, and thoſe moſt ſo that are the beſt bred; therefore, it is a common thing in Gallia to compare thoſe who beg by the highway ſide to theſe dogs, for their voice is mournful and plaintive, and they do not open on the ſcent as if they were eager and angry with the game, but in a whining and miſerable voice, and of theſe nothing has been written worthy of notice. But the ſwifter dogs of the Gauls are called, in the Celtic language [8], Vertragi, not from any particular country, as the Cretan, the Carian, or the [9] Laconian, but, as among the Cretan dogs, ſome are called [10] Diaponi, from their love of labor, ſome [11] Itami, from their eagerneſs, and ſome [12] Micti, from being a mixture of both, ſo theſe are named for their ſwiftneſs. The figures of ſuch of theſe as are of the beſt breed, are very fine, as well with regard to their eyes as to their ſhape, their hair, and their color: thoſe that are ſpotted are moſt beautifully variegated, and thoſe that are of one color are very ſmooth and ſhining, ſo as to afford a moſt pleaſing appearance to the Sportſman.

The moſt opulent and luxurious among the Gauls courſe in this manner. They ſend out good Hare-finders early in the morning, to thoſe places where it is likely to find Hares ſitting, who ſend back word if they have found any, and what number; then they go out themſelves, and put them up, and lay in the dogs, themſelves following on horſeback.

Whoever has good greyhounds ſhould never lay them in too near the Hare, nor run more than two at a time. For, though the animal is very ſwift, and will oftentimes beat the dogs, yet, when ſhe is firſt ſtarted, ſhe is ſo terrified by the hollowing, and by the dogs being very cloſe, that her heart is overcome by fear, and, in the confuſion very often the beſt ſporting Hares are killed without ſhewing any diverſion. She ſhould, therefore, be ſuffered to run ſome diſtance from her form and recollect her ſpirits, and then, if ſhe is a good ſporting Hare, ſhe will lift up her ears, and ſtretch out with long rates from her ſeat, the dogs directing their courſe after her with great activity of limbs, as if they were leaping, affording a ſpectacle worthy the trouble that muſt neceſſarily be employed in properly breeding and training theſe dogs.

Thoſe are the beſt Hares that are found in open and expoſed places, for, being bold, they do not hide themſelves, but ſeem as it were to challenge the dogs; and theſe, when they are followed, do not immediately try to avoid the danger, by running to woods and brakes, though they ſhould happen to be near, but take over the open country; and, when they are contending in ſwiftneſs with the greyhounds, if the dogs that purſue them are not fleet, they moderate their own ſpeed according as they are preſſed. But, if they are very fleet, they then run as faſt as they can; and, when running in an open country, if they find themſelves ſo preſſed by a good dog, that they perceive his ſhadow, they try to throw him beyond them by frequent turns, making for the woods, or the neareſt ſhelter they know of; and this is a ſure ſign that the Hare is overmatched by the dog. The true Sportſman does not take out his dogs to deſtroy the Hares, but for the ſake of the courſe, and the conteſt between the dogs and the Hare, and is glad if the Hare eſcapes; and, if ſhe flies to ſome brake that is too thin to hide her, and tries to conceal herſelf, and ſeems to decline the conteſt, he will call of the dogs, eſpecially if ſhe has run well. I myſelf often, when I have followed the courſe on horſeback, and have come up time enough to ſave the Hare alive, have taken her from the dogs, and tied them up, and let her go: and ſometimes, when I have come up too late to ſave her, I have not been able to avoid ſtriking the dogs on the head for killing ſo good an antagoniſt. In this alone I cannot agree with [13] Xenophon. I will allow, indeed, that whoever ſees this animal either found, or running, or purſued, may forget any thing elſe he is moſt attached to; but to ſee it taken, is neither pleaſing, nor a ſtriking fight, but rather diſguſting, and by no means likely to produce the forgetfulneſs of any thing elſe one is fond of. But is it excuſable for Xenophon, who was ignorant of the uſe of ſwift dogs, to think the taking the Hare alſo an agreeable fight. I know alſo, that it is impoſſible for thoſe who ſee a courſe, to avoid hollowing, without any advice being given for it, ſince it would moſt make a dumb perſon ſpeak, as is related of the ſon of Croeſus.

It is proper ſometimes to ſpeak to the dogs, for they rejoice to hear the voice of their maſter, and it is a kind of encouragement to them to know that he is preſent, and a witneſs of the excellence of their running. In the firſt courſe, there is no objection to ſpeaking to them as often as we chuſe; but, in the ſecond or third courſe, when they will probably be weakened, I do not think it right to call them too often by name, leſt, through too eager a defſire to pleaſe their maſter, they ſhould exert themfelves beyond their flrength, and hurt their inſide, which has been the deſtruction of many a good dog; but they ſhould be permitted to run as they pleaſe, for there is no greater conteſt than that between the Hare and the dog. This flies where ſhe chuſes, and the other purſues: this run firſt, turning her courſe, and throwing out the dog; the other, if thrown out, is ſo far out of his way, and is obliged to follow with greater ſpeed to recover the ground he has loſt. The difficulties of the country country alſo are more advantageous to the Hare than the dog, ſuch as rough and [14]ſtony ground, and [15] ſteep or uneven places, both becauſe ſhe is light, and becauſe her feet, on account of the fur, is not hurt by the roughneſs of the ground; beſide, the being running for her life takes away all ſenſe of difficulty.

If the [16] dog has caught the Hare, or otherwiſe behaved well, you ſhould diſmount and encourage him, and pat him, ſtroking his head, and putting back his ears, and calling him by his name, as, Well done, Cyrrah! Well done, Bonna! There's a good Orme! and ſo each by his name, for they love to be praiſed, as well as men of a generous ſpirit, If the dogs, through fatigue, let the Hare eſcape, they will nevertheleſs approach with pleaſure and careſs their maſter. It is then good for them to roll on the ground, as we fee horſes do; for, by that means, they will not ſeem tired, and, at the ſame time, will recover their fatigue.

Thoſe who have not good Hare-finders, go commonly out, a number in company, on horſeback; and, coming to a likely place, when they happen to ſtart a Hare, let the greyhounds looſe after her. But thoſe, who are more diligent after the ſport, go out on foot; and, if any one accompanies them on horſeback, it is his buſineſs to follow the dogs when they run. [17] They beat about, being drawn up in a regular rank; and, having proceeded in a direct line to a certain point, wheeling round, they turn about together towards the place from whence they ſet out by the fame way they came, leaving, as far as poſſible, no likely place unexplored. If many dogs are taken out, they ſhould not be ſtationed promiſcuouſly; for, when the Hare is ſtarted, no one will refrain from ſlipping his own dog, each being deſirous of ſeeing his own dog run, and the Hare, confuſed and terrified by the noiſe and number of the dogs, will be taken without ſhewing any ſport, and the diverſion, which is the chief

object, will be ſpoiled. A perſon, therefore, ſhould be appointed to take the command of the ſport, and the greyhounds being in ſlips, two together, he ſhould give theſe orders, "If the Hare takes this way, you looſe yours, and no one elſe; if that way, you yours;" and theſe orders ſhould be punctually obeyed.

The Gauls, ſometimes, when courſing, mix their finders with the greyhounds; and, while theſe try, the others are led by the hand at a little diſtance, taking care to lead the good dogs where the Hare is moſt likely to come, that they may be let go when ſhe runs off, and here the greyhounds ſupply the uſe of Xenophon's nets. But, by this method, the courſe is irregular, and the Hare however ſtout ſhe may be, is ſo much alarmed by the cry of the dogs, that, if ſhe is not a conſiderable way before, ſhe is ſo confuſed, that ſhe will eaſily be caught; therefore, whoever lets ſlip a good dog, ſhould not do it while ſhe is aſtoniſhed, but let her make her firſt ring before he looſes him, unleſs he means to ſpoil the diverſion.

It is not right to looſe the greyhounds at a young Hare, which, according to the advice of [18] Xenophon, ſhould be ſpared, and the finders, if poſſible, ſhould be called off, which is very difficult, as they are not under good command, being eager through hunger; and ſo deſirous are they of eating up what they catch, that it is hard to get them off even by beating them with ſticks.


  1. Courſing being firſt uſed by the Gauls, a Greyhound was called Κυὼν Κελτικὸς, and in Latin Canis Gallicus.
  2. Arrian was a military officer under the Emperor Hadrian. He was a native of Nicomedia, in Bithynia; but, being admitted to the freedom of Athens, being a ſoldier alſo, and a diſciple of Epictetus, as Xenophon was of Socrates, he was fond of imitating him in his ſtyle and manner of writing, as well as in the ſubjects he wrote on, calling himſelf Ξενοφῶν ὁ δεύτερος, The Second Xenophon.
  3. Xenophon, ſpeaking of Simo, ſays, "Wherever I think with him, I ſhall not leave it out of my own Treatiſe, but the more readily communicate it to my friends, thinking they will eſteem my ſentiments more worthy of credit for coinciding with thoſe of ſo ſkilful a Horſeman. But what he has omitted I ſhall endeavour to ſupply."
  4. See page 29 of Xenophon's Treatiſe on Hunting.
  5. In the text of Blancard's Arrian it is κατακίνοιεν, "if they move;" but he adds in a note, Lege cum libro ſcripto κατακαίνοιεν. I have preferred the MS. though there is a difficulty in both readings. Unleſs ſhe is taken," εἰ μὴ ἀλὼη, can only refer to the laſt word; but the making it not unuſual for theſe finders, who are allowed to be ſlower than Xenophon's hounds, to kill one Hare a day, ſeems extraordinary, after what he has ſaid before.
  6. In the text of Blancard's Edition, it is Εγεσίαι, Eguſiæ, But he ſays, in a note, Sic quoque codex noſter, ſed legendum Seguſii. Seguſia is a town of Piedmont, now called Suſe. H. Stephens propoſes Accuſii, the antient name for Grenoble being Accusiorum Colonia.
  7. Πρὸς Ξενοϕῶντος του πάλαι.
  8. Ὁὔετραγοι, Vetragi. I ſuppoſe the omiſſion of the firſt ρ muſt be a miſtake, as both Blancard and Hen. Stephens write it Vertragi. Martial mentions a ſort of dog, called Vertagus, which brought the Hare to his maſter without tearing it, which many greyhounds will do. Grotius calls it Vertrahus; Ainfworth renders it a tumbler, (i. e. a ſort of dog ſo called,) from the Latin word verto, to turn. But Arrian puts the matter beyond diſpute, by ſaying it is derived from a Celtic word, denoting ſwiftneſs; and he takes particular pains to explain this by the analogy of Greek derivations. There can be no doubt of its being a greyhound.
  9. The Spartan dogs were in particular eſteem. So Shakeſpear: "My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind," &tc.
  10. Διάποναι.
  11. Ιταμαὶ
  12. Μικται, i. e. Mongrels. Both Xenophon and Arrian, when they ſpeak of dogs in general, uſually give a feminine termination.
  13. Τῶ έμαυτοῦ ὅμωνύμαι. See Xenophon's Treatiſe on Hunting, p. 31.
  14. Φελλεῶνες. Φελλεῖς. So the Athenians call rocky places, that are ſtony at bottom, with a very thin covering of earth at top.—Suidas.
  15. Τὰ σιμὰ. The word is uſed in this ſenſe by Xenophon. See p. 25, note.
  16. Arrian did not always follow this rule. See p. 56.
  17. Ἐκπερίασιν δὲ ἐπὶ μετώποȣ ταχθέντες, ἔπειτα ἐπ' εὐθείας προσελθόντε ὅσον ξυμμέτρον διανύσαι, ἐπιϛρέψαντες αὖ ἅμα κάμπτȣσιν παρὰ τὰ αὐτὰ διὰ τῶν αὐτῶν. Of which Blancard gives the following extraordinary interpretation: "Circumeunt autem fronte ſibi invicem obverſi: dein refta ad juſtum aliquod ſpatim progreſſi, rurſus per eadem loca, eodemque tramite, iter fleftunt." "They go round, being drawn up oppoſite each other; and, proceeding ſtraight forwards to a certain ſpace, return to the ſame place, by the ſame way they came," I believe this manœuvre would be very difficult to execute. To draw up, or march, ἐπὶ μετώπȣ was a military expreſſion, exactly equivalent with our ſaying, in battalion; that is, with an extended front; or, in Dr. Hutchinſon's words, "Exercitum recta fronte et bene compoſita ducere." For the meaning of ἐπιϛρέψαντες I will take the words of Blancard himſelf, in his tranſlation of the Tactica of this author, and in the ſame volume: "Κλίσις eſt motus qui fit a viris ſingulis; Ἐπιϛοϕὴ autem eft cum ſyntagma totum condenſatum, velut unius viri corpus, in haſtam vel in clypeum inclinamus." In modern military language the one is a turn, or face,the other a wheel. The reaſon of the wheel is obvious, viz. that in returning the way they came, παρὰ τὰ αὐτὰ, διὰ τῶν αὐτῶν, (a ſentence copied from Xenophon, ſee p. 26,) they might not exactly beat the ſame tract, but take freſh ground. I need not add, that this is exactly the way of beating for a Hare in courſing, both on foot and on horfeback.
  18. Τῷ ἐμῷ ὁμονύμῷ. See Xenophon, p. 24, note †.