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huntsman should wait until the hare has got a good start and is out of sight；
then let the young hounds go。＇14＇ The result of letting slip young hounds；
possessed of all the requisite points and full of pluck；＇15＇ is that the sight
of the hare will make them strain too violently and pull them to bits；＇16＇
while their frames are as yet unknit； a catastrophe against which every
sportsman should strenuously guard。 If； on the other hand； the young
hounds do not promise well for running；＇17＇ there is no harm in letting
them go。 From the start they will give up all hope of striking the hare； and
consequently escape the injury in question。＇18＇
＇13＇ For points see the same authority： the harrier； p。 59； the
foxhound； p。 54。
＇14＇ See Arrian's comment and dissent； xxv。 4。
＇15＇ Lit。 〃which are at once well shaped and have the spirit for the
chase in them。〃
＇16＇ Al。 〃they will overstrain themselves with the hare in sight； and
break a blood…vessel。〃 See Arrian； xxxi。 4； ｛regnuntai gar autais ai
lagones｝。
＇17＇ Or； 〃are defectively built for the chase。〃
＇18＇ Or； 〃will not suffer such mishap。〃
As to the trail of a hare on the run； there is no harm in letting them
follow it up till they overtake her。＇19＇ When the hare is caught the carcass
should be given to the young hounds to tear in pieces。＇20＇
＇19＇ Perhaps read ｛eos an thelosi｝； 〃as long as they choose。〃 The MSS。
have ｛elthosi｝。
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＇20＇ See Stonehenge； p。 287； 〃blooded； so as to make him understand
the nature of the scent〃； ib。 284。
As soon as these young hounds refuse to stay close to the nets and
begin to scatter； they must be called back； till they have been accustomed
to find the hare by following her up； or else； if not taught to quest for her
（time after time） in proper style； they may end by becoming skirters＇21＇a
bad education。＇22＇
＇21＇ ｛ekkunoi｝； cf。 Arrian； xxv。 5。
＇22＇ ｛poneron mathema｝； ib。 9。
As long as they are pups； they should have their food given them near
the nets； when these are being taken up；＇23＇ so that if from inexperience
they should lose their way on the hunting…field； they may come back for it
and not be altogether lost。 In time they will be quit of this instinct
themselves；＇24＇ when their hostile feeling towards the animal is developed；
and they will be more concerned about the quarry than disposed to give
their food a thought。＇25＇
＇23＇ ｛anairontai｝ sc。 ｛ai arkues｝； see above； vi。 26。
＇24＇ Or； 〃abandon the practice。〃
＇25＇ See Stonehenge； p。 289 （another context）： 〃。 。 。 the desire for
game in a well…bred dog is much greater than the appetite for food；
unless the stomach has long been deprived of it。〃
As a rule； the master should give the dogs their food with his own
hand； since； however much the animal may be in want of food without his
knowing who is to blame for that； it is impossible to have his hunger
satisfied without his forming an affection for his benefactor。＇26＇ ＇26＇ Or；
〃If want in itself does not reveal to him the cause of his suffering； to
be given food when hungry for it will arouse in him affection for the
donor。〃
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The Sportsman
VIII
The time to track hares is after a fall of snow deep enough to conceal
the ground completely。 As long as there are black patches intermixed； the
hare will be hard to find。 It is true that outside these the tracks will remain
visible for a long time； when the snow comes down with a north wind
blowing； because the snow does not melt immediately； but if the wind be
mild with gleams of sunshine； they will not last long； because the snow is
quickly thawed。 When it snows steadily and without intermission there is
nothing to be done； the tracks will be covered up。 Nor； again； if there be a
strong wind blowing； which will whirl and drift the snow about and
obliterate the tracks。 It will not do to take the hounds into the field in that
case；＇1＇ since owing to excessive frost the snow will blister＇2＇ the feet and
noses of the dogs and destroy the hare's scent。 Then is the time for the
sportsman to take the haye nets and set off with a comrade up to the hills；
and leave the cultivated lands behind； and when he has got upon the tracks
to follow up the clue。 If the tracks are much involved； and he follows them
only to find himself back again ere along at the same place；＇3＇ he must
make a series of circuits and sweep round the medley of tracks； till he
finds out where they really lead。＇4＇
＇1＇ Lit。 〃I say it is no use setting out with dogs to this chase。〃
＇2＇ ｛kaei｝。 Cf。 Arrian； xiv。 5。
＇3＇ Reading ｛ekonta｝ sc。 ｛ton kunegeten 。 。 。｝ or if ｛ekonta； kuklous｝
＇sc。 ｛ta ikhne｝＇； transl。 〃if the tracks are involved； doubling on
themselves and coming back eventually to the same place。〃
＇4＇ Or； 〃where the end of the string is。〃
The hare makes many windings； being at a loss to find a resting…place；
and at the same time she is accustomed to deal subtly＇5＇ in her method of
progression； because her footsteps lead perpetually to her pursuit。
＇5＇ ｛tekhnazein｝。 Cf。 Ael。 〃N。 A。〃 vi。 47； ap。 Schneid。 A fact for
Uncle Remus。
As soon as the track is clear；＇6＇ the huntsman will push on a little
farther； and it will bring him either to some embowered spot＇7＇ or craggy
bank； since gusts of wind will drift the snow beyond such spots； whereby a
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The Sportsman
store of couching…places＇8＇ is reserved＇9＇； and that is what puss seeks。
＇6＇ 〃Discovered。〃
＇7＇ 〃Thicket or overhanging crag。〃
＇8＇ ｛eunasima｝； 〃places well adapted for a form。〃
＇9＇ Al。 〃many places suited for her form are left aside by puss； but
this she seeks。〃
If the tracks conduct the huntsman to this kind of covert he had better
not approach too near； for fear the creature should move off。 Let him make
a circuit round； the chances are that she is there； and that will soon be
clear； for if so； the tracks will not trend outwards from the place at any
point。＇10＇
＇10＇ L。 Dind。 emend。 ｛oudamoi｝； 〃the tracks will not pass in any
direction outwards from such ground。〃
And now when it is clear that puss is there； there let her bide； she will
not sir； let him set off and seek another； before the tracks are indistinct；
being careful only to note the time of day； so that； in case he discovers
others； there will be daylight enough for him to set up the nets。＇11＇ When
the final moment has come； he will stretch the big haye nets round the first
one and then the other victim （precisely as in the case of one of those
black thawed patches above named）； so as to enclose within the toils
whatever the creature is resting on。＇12＇ As soon as the nets are posted； up
he must go and start her。 If she contrive to extricate herself from the
nets；＇13＇ he must after her； following her tracks； and presently he will find
himself at a second similar piece of ground （unless； as is not improbable；
she smothers herself in the snow beforehand）。＇14＇ Accordingly he must
discover where she is and spread his toils once more； and； if she has
energy still left； pursue the chase。 Even without the nets； caught she will
be； from sheer fatigue；＇15＇ owing to the depth of the snow； which balls
itself under her shaggy feet and clings to her； a sheer dead weight。
＇11＇ Al。 〃to envelop the victims in the nets。〃
＇12＇ Lit。 〃whatever the creature is in contact with inside。〃
＇13＇ Cf。 Aesch。 〃Prom。〃 87； Poto tropo tesd' ekkulisthesei tukhes｝。
＇14＇ Or； 〃if the creature is not first suffocated in the snow itself。〃
＇15＇ See Pollux； v。 50。 〃She must presently be tired out in the heavy