Greek Method of Hare Hunting,
from Xenophon.
THE trail of the Hare is long during the winter, on account of the length of the nights, and in the ſummer, ſhort, for the contrary reaſon. In the winter there is no ſcent early in the morning, when there is either a hoar-froſt, or ice; for the hoar-froſt by its proper force collecting the warm particles, contains them in itſelf, and the ice condenſes them.
When theſe happen [1], the dogs with the moſt delicate noſes cannot touch before the ſun diſpel them, or the day is advanced. Then the dogs can ſmell, and the trail yields a ſcent as it evaporates.
The trail is alſo ſpoiled by the falling of much dew, and by ſhowers that happen after a long interval, which, drawing out ſmells from the earth, ſpoil the ſcent till the ground is dry again. The South winds alſo hurt it by ſpreading moiſture [2]; but north winds, if not too ſevere, ſtrengthen and preſerve it.
Rains and drizzling miſts drown it. The moon alſo deſtroys it by the [3] heat, eſpecially at the full; the trail is alſo then moſt irregular [4], for, delighting in the light, they play together, and throwing themſelves, they make long intervals. And it becomes alſo perplexed when Foxes have paſſed over it before.
In the ſpring, on account of the mild temperature of the air, the trail would be very ſtrong, if the earth, being full of flowers, did not puzzle the dogs, by mixing with it the odour of the bloſſoms. In the ſummer it is ſlight and imperfect; for the earth being hot, it deſtroys the warm particles it contains; and the ſcent itſelf is not only ſlight, but the dogs alſo ſmell leſs, on account of the relaxation of their bodies. In the autumn it is pure; for, of the productions of the earth, the cultivated part is carried off, and the weeds are withered, so it is not at all injured by the ſcent of the fruits of the earth.
In the winter, the autumn, and the ſummer, the trail is for the moſt part ſtraight, but in the ſpring it is more perplexed; for, though theſe animals copulate at all times, they do it chiefly at that ſeaſon, and their neceſſary wandering on that account in ſearch of each other occaſions it.
The ſcent of the Hare going to her form laſts longer than that of her courſe when purſued. When ſhe goes to her form ſhe goes ſlowly, often ſtopping, but her courſe when purſued is performed running; therefore the ground is ſaturated with one, and not filled with the other. The ſcent is ſo ſtronger in woody places than in open ones, for there, ſometimes running, and ſometimes ſitting, ſhe is touched by many things.
She makes her ſeat under, upon, or within, every thing the earth bears on its ſurface, near or diſtant, ſometimes continuing a long time, ſometimes a ſhort time, ſometimes between both; ſometimes throwing herſelf as far as ſhe is able into the ſea, or other water, if any thing ſtands above it, or grows out of it.
[5] The trail of the Hare is the path ſhe takes going to her ſeat, which, in cold weather, will generally be in ſheltered places, and, in hot, in ſhady places. But her [6] courſe when purſued is not ſo, ſhe being frightened by the dogs.
When ſhe ſits, the lower parts of her joints are covered by her belly. Her fore legs are moſt commonly cloſe together, and extended, reſting her chin on the extremity of her feet; her ears are extended over her ſhoulders, and ſhe particularly covers her tender parts; her hair is well adapted for a covering, being thick and ſoft.
When ſhe wakes ſhe winks her eyelids, but when ſhe ſleeps ſhe keeps them continually open without motion, having her eyes fixed; ſhe moves her noſtrils frequently when ſleeping, but leſs often when awake.
When the earth begins to vegetate, ſhe is found oftener in cultivated places than among mountains; but wherever ſhe ſits ſhe continues even while they are trailing to her, unleſs ſhe has been much alarmed in the night, in which caſe ſhe will move.
She is ſo prolific, that at [7] the ſame time ſhe will have young ones, be bringing forth others, and have newly conceived. The ſcent of young Hares is ſtronger than that of full grown ones; for, their limbs being tender, their whole body drags on the ground.
Thoſe which are too young the [8] fair Sportfman will ſpare. Thoſe of a year old will run the firſt ring very ſwiftly, but not at all afterwards, being very active, but weak.
To take the trail of the Hare the dogs ſhould be drawn [9] from the cultivated fields upwards; (i. e. towards the mountains;) but thoſe who do not come into cultivated places muſt be tried for in meadows, marſhes, by ſtreams, on rocks, or in woods. When the Hare is moved there ſhould be no hollowing, leſt the dogs, being made [10] too eager, ſhould be hardly brought to find the ſcent.
When they are found and purſued, they will croſs ſtreams, or double, or hide themſelves in deep vallies, and roll themſelves up; for they are not only afraid of dogs, but of eagles, for they will ſometimes carry off Hares under a year old as they paſs over [11] high and expoſed places; but larger ones are only taken by the purſuit of dogs.
The mountain Hares are ſwifteſt, thoſe bred in a plain country leſs ſo, but the marſh Hares are the ſloweſt of any. Thoſe who wander in all places are the moſt difficult to purſue, for they know the neareſt ways. They generally run up hill, [12] or on level ground; if they find any uneven ground they run over it in an irregular manner, but very ſeldom run down hill.
When they are purſued they are moſt conſpicuous as they go over plowed land, if they have any red about them, and through ſtubbles, on account of their reflecting the rays of light: they are alſo conſpicuous in paths and highways, if they happen to be level; for then whatever is bright about them appears. They are leaſt viſible when they fly to rocks, mountains, rough places, and thick woods, on account of the ſameneſs of the color.
If they perceive the dogs firſt they ſtop, and, ſitting on their breech, raiſe themſelves up, and liſten if they can hear any noiſe or opening of the dogs near them, and then turn from the place where they hear it.
But if they hear nothing, then of their own accord they will return by the [13] ſame way they came, leaping all the way, and keeping in the fame track.
[14] Thoſe that are found in open places run the longeſt on account of their being more uſed to the light; thoſe in woody places ſhorteſt, being hindered by the darkneſs.
There are two kinds of them, one large, mottled with black, and with a great deal of white on the forehead; the other leſs, of a yellowiſh color, and having little white.
The tail of one is variegated on every ſide, that of the other is [15] more conſpicuous from being whiter. The eyes of one ſort are yellowiſh, of the other greyiſh, and the black at the tip of the ears is large in the one and ſmall in the other.
The ſmaller ſort are chiefly found in iſlands, as well thoſe inhabited as uninhabited, where Hares are in greater plenty than on the Continent; for in moſt of them there are no Foxes, who deſtroy both them and their young, neither eagles, who infeſt large mountains rather than ſmall ones, and the iſland mountains are generally ſmall.
And Hunters ſeldom frequent the uninhabited iſlands, and the inhabitants of the others are few, and in general not lovers of Hunting, and it is not permitted to carry dogs into the ſacred iſlands; few Hares, therefore, being deſtroyed, and others continually bred, there muſt neceſſarily be abundance of them.
Their eyeſight is by no means ſharp; for their eyes project, and their eyelids are ſhort, and not ſufficient to protect the ball, on which account their eyeſight is weak and indiſtinct.
Add to this, that the quantity of ſleep this animal takes is by no means beneficial to the ſight, and the ſwiftneſs of its pace contributes greatly to dazzle it, for ſhe paſſes ſwiftly by every object before ſhe diſcovers what it is.
When ſhe is purſued, the fear of the dogs and hunters takes away her preſence of mind, on which account ſhe often runs unknowingly againſt many things, and ſometimes falls into the nets.
If ſhe ran ſtraight forward theſe things would ſeldom happen to her; but running a ring, and loving the places where ſhe was bred and has fed, ſhe is taken; for Hares, when followed by the foot, are not often caught by the ſpeed of the dogs, but they are taken, contrary to the nature of the animal, by accident; for no animal of the ſame ſize equals the Hare for ſwiftneſs, her body being conſtructed in this manner:
The head is light, ſmall, inclining downwards, and narrow in front. The neck ſlender, round, not rigid, and of a convenient length. The ſhoulder-blades upright, and not joined at top, and the legs, which are under them, light and compact. The breaſt not too deeply extended. The ribs light and well proportioned. The loins round, hollow, and fleſhy. The flanks ſupple, and ſufficiently looſe. The hips round, entirely full, and divided properly at top. The thighs long and compact, extended on the outſide, but the inſide not turgid. The lower parts ſmall, and firm.The fore feet very ſupple, narrow, and upright. The hind feet firm, and broad, neither of them liable to injury by treading on any thing however hard; the hinder legs are much larger than the fore legs, and incline a little outwards. The hair ſhort and light.
It is impoſſible, therefore, being ſo conſtructed, but that ſhe muſt be ſtrong, agile, and very light. As a proof that ſhe is very light, when ſhe goes along without being frightened ſhe always leaps, (for a hare walking no one ever ſaw, or ever will ſee,) throwing the hinder feet beyond the fore feet and ſhe runs in that manner [16].The tail is inconvenient for running, being not proper to guide the body on account of its ſhortneſs: but ſhe does that with either of her ears; and when ſhe is near being taken by the dogs, ſhe lays down one of her ears and ſtretches it out toward the ſide in which ſhe thinks ſhe ſhall ſuffer hurt, by which means ſhe turns inſtantly, throwing the dogs that are daſhing at her a great way behind.
This animal is ſo pleaſing, that whoever ſees it either trailed, or found, or purſued, or taken [17], forgets every thing elſe that he is moſt attached to.
In hunting in cultivated places the Sportſman ſhould abstain from damaging the fruits of the earth that are in ſeaſon, and ſhould leave [18] fountains and ſtreams
unexplored, as it is both unbecoming and impious, and beiſides a violation of the laws in thoſe who do it. And when no game is found [19] , all the hunting apparatus ſhould be entirely taken away.
The accoutrements of the dogs conſiſt in a [20] collar, a leather leading thong, and a ſurcingle to guard the body. The collar ſhould be ſoft and broad that it may not rub off the dogs hair; the leading thong ſhould have a knot for the hand to hold by, and nothing more; neither do thoſe lead their dogs well who make part of the thong ſerve for a collar; the ſurcingle ſhould have broad thongs that they may not gall the belly of the dog [21], and ſharp points are ſewed on it to preſerve the breed.
Dogs ſhould never be taken out to hunt unleſs they eat their food heartily, for if they do not, it is a ſign that they are not healthy; neither if there is a high wind, for it diſſipates the ſcent and prevents their hunting, neither can the toils or nets ſtand.
When neither of theſe things hinder, they ſhould be taken out every third day. They ſhould never be ſuffered to hunt Foxes, as that does them the greateſt damage, and [22] they never are ſteady when it is neceſſary.
The places of Hunting ſhould frequently be changed, that the dogs maybe thoroughly acquainted with the nature of hunting, and the Hunter himſelf with the country. And it is neceſſary to go out early in the morning that the trail may not be gone. Thoſe who go out late deprive the dogs of the chance of finding a Hare, and themſelves of the ſport; neither will the ſcent, by reaſon of
the delicacy of its nature, continue in all weather.
* * * * * * [23]
The [24] Huntſman ſhould go out in a light eaſy dreſs, with ſandals on, and a pole in his hand, the man who carries the nets following him; and ſhould proceed with ſilence leſt the Hare being near ſhould hear him and ſteal off from her ſeat.
The dogs being brought to the wood ſo tied, each ſeparately, that they may eaſily be let ſlip, and the nets being pitched, and a man placed at them to watch, the Huntſman himſelf, taking the dogs with him, goes in ſearch of the game.
[25] And vowing a part of his ſpoils to Apollo and Diana the Huntreſs, he ſhould let looſe that of his dogs which has the fineſt noſe; if in the winter about ſunriſing, if in the ſummer before day-break and between thoſe times in the other ſeaſons.
If the dog picks the trail out [26] ſtraight forward from the works the Hare has been making, he ſhould ſlip another; and, as theſe perſiſt in the trail, he ſhould looſe the reſt one after the other without great intervals, and ſhould follow himſelf, but not too cloſely, encouraging the dogs by their names, but not vehemently, leſt they ſhould be too eager before the proper time.
They keep running on with joy and ſpirit, inveſtigating the trail through every turn, now in circles, now ſtraight forward, now obliquely, through thick and thin, places known and unknown, paſſing each other by turns, moving their tails, throwing back their ears, and their eyes darting fire.
When they are near the Hare, they diſcover it to the Huntſman by ſhaking violently not only their tails but their whole bodies, by ruſhing on in a warlike manner, by trying to ſurpaſs each other in ſpeed, by running eagerly together, by now crowding cloſe, and then diſperſing, and then again ruſhing on, till at length they come to the ſeat of the Hare, and run in upon her.
She immediately jumps up and flies, the dogs purſuing [27] her in full cry, thoſe who follow crying out, [28] Halloo, Dogs! Halloo Rogues! that's good, Dogs! that's right, Dogs! and the Huntſman, wrapping his coat round his hand, and holding his pole, ſhould follow the dogs, taking care to keep behind the Hare, and not to head her, which is [29] unſportſmanlike.
The Hare running off, and ſoon being out of ſight, generally comes back again to the place where ſhe was found; the Huntſman calling to the [30] perſon at the nets, To him. Boy! To him, Boy! Now, Boy! Now, Boy! and he ſignifies whether ſhe is taken or not. And, if ſhe is taken in the firſt ring, the dogs are called off, and they try for another; but, if not, they follow the dogs as ſwiftly as poſſible [31], and do not give her up, but perſevere diligently.
And, if he meets them again while they are purſuing her, the Huntſman ſhould cry out. Well done. Dogs! Forward, Dogs! But, if the dogs are got very forward, ſo that he is not able to keep up, but is [32] thrown out, and can neither perceive them near him, nor hear their cry, nor ſee them hunting by the ſcent, he ſhould continue running on, and call out to every one he happens to come near, and enquire if they have ſeen the dogs.
And, when he finds where they are, if they are ſtill on the ſcent, he ſhould come up to them and encourage them, calling each dog by his name as often as poſſible, and changing the tone of his voice to harſh, or ſoft, loud, or low, according to the circumſtance. And, if the Hare has made her courſe among the mountains, he ſhould alſo encourage them by faying, [33] That's good, Dogs! That's good, Dogs! but, if they have loſt their ſcent, he ſhould call them back, crying, [34] Halloo back, Dogs!
When they are brought back to the ſcent, he ſhould draw them round, making many rings. But, if the ſcent is quite loſt, he ſhould draw the dogs along by [35] the nets, and ſpeak to them, and encourage them, till they hit it off again.
When the ſcent is very ſtrong, they ruſh upon it leaping, crowding together, and ſtooping down, and, ſignifying it in this manner by well-known ſigns, they purſue very ſwiftly: but while they thus perſiſt in the ſcent cloſe to each other, the Huntfſman muſt reſtrain himſelf, and not follow the dogs too near, leſt, through emulation, they ſhould over-run the ſcent.
When they come near the Hare, and diſcover it plainly to the Huntſman, he ſhould be very careful, that, through fear of the dogs, ſhe does not ſteal off before he comes up; while they, ſhaking their tails, joſtling one againſt the other, ſpringing up often, doubling their tongues, and lifting up their heads towards the Huntſman, diſcover that they themſelves are certain of the
ſcent, and at laſt [36] ſtart the Hare, and purſue her in full cry.
The perſon who ſtands at the nets gives a particular hollow, to ſignify whether ſhe runs into them, or eſcapes by going beyond them, or turning ſhort. If ſhe is taken, they try for another; if not, they continue to purſue her, following the inſtructions already given.
But, when the dogs are tired with running, and it begins to be late in the day, it will be neceſſary for the Huntſman himſelf to look for the Hare, ſhe being nearly run down; and he muſt leave nothing unexplored that the earth produces, leſt he ſhould miſs of her, for the animal will lie very cloſe, and not get up, both from fear and fatigue. And he ſhould bring the dogs forward, encouraging the timid ones much, the eager ones little, and thoſe between theſe extremes moderately, till they kill her by overtaking her, or drive her into the nets.
After this, taking down the nets and toils, and calling off the dogs, he ſhould give over the ſport, ſtaying ſomewhere, if it is the heat of the day in ſummer, leſt the feet of the dogs ſhould be ſcorched by the way.
The beſt time for breeding dogs is in the winter, when the labors of the chace are over, the quiet of that ſeaſon, and the approach of ſpring, being moſt likely to contribute to form a generous race, for that time of the year agrees beſt with the growth of dogs. The time the bitch is fit to admit the male laſts a fortnight; they ſhould then be ſhut up with the beſt dogs, and in a quiet manner, that they may conceive the ſooner: and, while they are with whelp, they ſhould not be frequently taken out, but be often left at home, leſt the exertion ſhould injure them. They go ſixty days with their young.
The puppies when they are whelped ſhould be left with the mother, and not put to another bitch; for the care of others is not ſo good for their growth; the milk and even the breath of the mother is better for them, and her careſſes more endearing.
When the puppies can run about, they ſhould have milk for the firſt year (which is a proper food for them at all ſeaſons), and nothing elſe, for the filling them with too heavy food will diſtort their legs, fill their bodies with diſeaſes, and hurt their inſide.
Their names ſhould be ſhort, that they may eaſily know them, ſuch as, [37] Pſyche, Thymus, Porpax, Styrax, Lonche, Phrura, Phylax, Taxis, Xiphon, Phonex, Phlegon, Alce, Teuchon, Hyleus, Medas, Porthon, Sperehon, Orge, Bremon, Hybris, Thallon, Rhome, Antheus, Hebe, Geneus, Chara, Leufon, Augo, Polys, Bia, Stichon, Spude, Bryas, Œnas, Sterros, Grange, Æther, Actis, Alcme, Noes, Gnome, Stribon, Orme.
The bitch puppies ſhould be firſt taken out to hunt at eight months old, and the dogs at ten, but do not let them looſe during the trail, but, keeping them tied in long leather ſlips, ſuffer them to follow the dogs that are trailing, letting them alſo go over the ſcent.
And, when the Hare is found, if the puppies promiſe to have much foot, they ſhould not be let ſlip immediately, but, when the Hare is got fo far as to be out of ſight, then they may be let go. For, if thoſe, who are high-mettled and ſwift of foot, are let go while the Hare is near, and catch a view, being very eager, they will be apt to ſtrain themſelves before their limbs have ſufficient ſtrength; therefore the Huntſman ſhould be very cautious of this. But, if they are ſlow of foot, nothing hinders their being let ſlip directly; for, having no hopes of catching their game, they will not be ſo eager, but they may be permitted to follow the courſe the Hare takes, by the foot, till ſhe is ſtarted again, and if ſhe is taken they ſhould be permitted to [38] tear her. When they will not keep by the nets, but run ſtraggling about, they ſhould be called back till they are taught to run up and find the Hare; leſt, being uſed to hunt without order, they become Γίγνωνται ἔκκυνοι ſkirters, which is a bad thing to learn.
When they [39] find any thing while they are young, it ſhould be given them to eat near the nets, that if by reaſon of their careleſſneſs they ſhould ſtray during the chace, they may return thither, and not be loſt; but this may be omitted when, becoming more eager in purſuing the game, they prefer that to their food. And when they want their food, the Huntſman himſelf ſhould feed them, for they will not regard the perſon who feeds them when they are in no great need of food, but will diligently follow him who gives it them when they are very hungry.
- ↑ Αἱ κύνες μαλκιωσαι τὰς ῥῖνας κ.τ.λ. "The dogs whoſe noſes are tender." The common interpretation "that the dogs cannot ſmell at ſuch times on account of the tenderneſs of their noſes," is abſolute nonſenſe. How ſhould a hoar-froſt hurt a hound's noſe ſo as to hinder his ſmelling, or the tenderneſs of the noſe hinder the accuracy of the ſenſe? My interpretation is warranted by the original, and is exactly the caſe. See the Eſſays, p. 14.
- ↑ It is exactly the reverſe in this climate.
- ↑ This, I believe, will not be admitted.
- ↑ See the Eſſays, p. 112.
- ↑ It is impoſſible to tranſlate this paſſage more literally, as Xenophon explains one Greek word by another. He had before uſed the word εύναιος to expreſs a Hare going to her ſeat, in contradiſtinction to her running when purſued; and which he now explains ο μέν ούν εύναιος, ποιούμενος ευνήν.The Latin tranſlator, by not attending to this, has made nonſenſe of this paſſage. "Lepus cubans eſt qui cubile fibi ſtruit." "A Hare is ſaid to be lying when ſhe is making her form."
- ↑ Δρομαῖος. The words εὐναῖος and δρομαῖος relate to the Hare herſelf in this paragraph, and not to her courſe; but it was impoſſible to render ὁ εὐναῖος in this ſentence without anticipating the definition given in the latter part of it, we having no technical word to expreſs a Hare making her trail, which is the caſe of the Greek word εὐναῖος when oppoſed to δρομαῖος, and appropriated to this action of the animal. The giving the general inſtead of the appropriated ſenſe occaſioned the abſurdity of the Latin tranilation.
- ↑ Oppian apd Pliny make the ſame remark. Sir Thomas Brown, in his Treatiſe on Vulgar Errors, aſſerts it from his own obſervation. Fol. Ed. p. 118.
- ↑ Οἱ φιλοκυνηγέται ἀφιᾶσι τῆ Θεῳ.
- ↑ As we now try to hit the Hare from where ſhe has been at feed into heaths, covers, &c.
- ↑ Ἔκφρονες γιγνόμενος. Literally "becoming mad." This direction is one of the canons of modern Hare Hunting.
- ↑ Τὰ σιμὰ.
- ↑ The hind legs are formed remarkably long, and furniſhed with ſtrong muſcles; their length gives the Hare a ſingular advantage over its enemies in aſcending ſteep places, and ſo ſenſible is the animal of this advantage, as always to make towards the riſing ground when ſtarted—Pennant's Britiſh Zoology.
- ↑ Πὰρα τὰ αὐτα, διὰ τῶν αὐτῶν. Ariian has borrowed this expreſſion to deſcribe the method of beating for a Hare in courſing.
- ↑ The truth of this fact Is known to every Sportſman, but it certainly does not ariſe from the cauſe aſſigned by Xenophon.
- ↑ Παρασήρον. I can find no ſuch word in any Lexicon. Leunclave renders it, "Albedine infignis longiore ſpatio;" another commentator, "terſa:" perhaps we ſhould read παρασήμον.
- ↑ Here follow the words δῆλον δὲ τουτο ἐν χροῖ, which have puzzled all the commentators, who have moſt of them left them unexplained. Leunclave, however, propoſes δῆλον δὲ τουτο ἐν χρεία, which he boldly inſerts in the texts, and ſays, "Senfum autem eſt quantum lepus ultra pedes priores in curſu poſteriores collocet in neceſſitate conſpici, quum ea premitur," But this ſenſe, as he calls it, is abſolutely nonſenfe, for Xenophon expreſſly ſays ſhe goes in this manner when ſhe is not frightened, ὃταν ἀτρέμα διαπορεύηται, and ſurely the faſter ſhe goes the leſs opportunity there is of obſerving her manner of going. I would propoſe a reading not much more different from the text, viz. δῆλον δὲ τουτο ἐν χιὸνι, i. e. "this diſpoſition of the feet is manifeſt in the ſnow." And this, becauſe it is the only mean by which it can be obſerved, and becauſe Xenophon muſt have been particularly attentive to this circumſtance, he having an entire chapter on Tracing.
- ↑ Where are their ſorrows, diſappointments, wrongs,
Vexations, ſickneſs, cares? All are gone,
And with the panting winds lag all behind.
Somerville's Chace. - ↑ I ſuppoſe as being deemed ſacred.
- ↑ Αναλύειν χρὴ τὰ πὲρι κυνηγέσιον πάντα. Meaning, I ſuppoſe, that none of the nets ſhould be ſuffered to remain on the ground for another day; which ſhews, that though the Greeks uſed nets and dogs together, contrary to the practice of the modern fair ſportſman; yet it was not allowable to have ſnares ſet, except during the chace.
- ↑ Δέραια ἱμάντες ϛελμόναι.
- ↑ This species of policy, for which we have no name in our language, but which the French call l'infibulation, from the Latin word infibulo, was not confined to dogs only, but uſed by the ancients to preſerve the chaſtity of the youth of both ſexes.
- ↑ Ἑν τῶ δεόντι πάρεισιν, literally, when it is neceſſary they never are ready.
- ↑ I omit what immediately follows, as It only relates to the manner of pitching the toils.
- ↑ >Ὁ κυνηγέτης. The word in the original exactly correſponds with the Modern Huntſman.
- ↑ The great attention of Xenophon to the forms of Religion is evident in all his works.
- ↑ Ὀρθον ἑκ τῶν ἀπηλλαγμένων
- ↑ Ἐφ᾿ αὐτὸν ὑλαγμὸν ποἰησει τῶν κυνῶν, καὶ κλαγγὴν φεύγων.
- ↑ Ἰῶ κύνες, ἰῶ κακὰς.
- ↑ Ἀπειρον γὰρ.
- ↑ This is the only ſenſe I can make of the words ἀναβοὰν δ᾿ ἐκεὶνον, as Leunclave reads. The common reading is κοὶνον, i. e. the whole field calling out: but then we muſt ſupply ſome word to expreſs "to the man at the nets," to make any ſenſe at all of the paſſages.
- ↑ This, with the ſucceeding account, is a full confutation of the notion that the Ancients only uſed ſcenting dogs to find the Hare, but never purſued her by the ſcent
after ſhe was ſtarted. Neither would Mr. Somerville's friend have made this miſtake, had he been as converſant with this accurate deſcription of the Attic Xenophon, as he was with the deſultory account of Oppian, one of thoſe
―――quos Graecia non fuos alumnos
Agnovit, in pejus ruentis ævi. - ↑ Ἀλλὰ διημαρτηκὼς ἦ τῶν δρόμων.
- ↑ Εὖ κύνες, εὖ ὦ κύνες. Juſt as we do when a dog hits the Hare over a hard highway, or any other place, unfit to retain the ſcent, as was moſt probably the caſe with the rocky mountains of Attica. Mr. Beckford juſtly obſerves, it is as difficult to pen a hollow as a whiſper.
- ↑ Οὺ πάλιν οὺ πάλιν ὦ κύνες, or, as Leunclave reads, τ' ούμπαλιν.
- ↑ Σημείον θέσθαι ϛοῖχον ἑαυτω. Στοῖχον, in the hunting language of Greece, ſignified a range of nets by which the woods were ſurrounded; therefore, the trying them round was to find through what mews the Hare had eſcaped, or whether ſhe had made a ſhort turn back, juſt as we now try round the hedge of an encloſed ground.
- ↑ This is from her quat.
- ↑ Theſe names are all diſſyllables, which is generally the caſe with our prefent names, which they greatly reſemble. What is Thymus, but Fury, Hyleus, Daſhwood, Antheus, Bloſſom, Œnas, Tipler, Grange, Ratler?
- ↑ "I think it but reaſonable to give the hounds a Hare ſometimes. I always gave mine the laſt they killed, if I thought they deſerved her."— Beckford's Thoughts on Hunting.
- ↑ For ὅταν ἀναιρῶνται, Leunclave reads ὅταν εὑρώσι τι