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when she is on the point of being caught by the hounds。＇56＇ At that instant
you may see her drop and shoot out aslant one of her ears towards the
point of attack； and then； apparently throwing her full weight on that pivot；
turn sharp round and in a moment leave her assailants far behind。
＇55＇ So Ael。 〃N。 A。〃 xiii。 14。
＇56＇ Pollux； v。 71。 For punctuation； see Lenz ad loc。 p。 25。
So winsome a creature is it； that to note the whole of the proceedings
from the startthe quest by scent； the find； the pack in pursuit full cry； the
final capturea man might well forget all other loves。＇57＇
＇57＇ See Arrian； xvi。 6； his criticism。 Schneid。 cf。 Plut。 〃Mor。〃 1096
C。 Hermog。 iii。 319； 11； ed。 Walz。
Here it should be added that the sportsman； who finds himself on
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The Sportsman
cultivated lands； should rigidly keep his hands off the fruits of the season；
and leave springs and streams alone。 To meddle with them is ugly and
base； not to speak of the bad example of lawlessness set to the beholder。
During the close season＇58＇ all hunting gear should be taken down and put
away。
＇58＇ Al。 〃wahrend der Jagdferien；〃 Lenz； 〃on Sundays；〃 as we might
say。 See some remarks on S。 34 in 〃Hellenica Essays；〃 〃Xenophon；〃
p。 349。
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VI
The equipment of the dogs consists of collar straps； leashes； and
surcingles；＇1＇ and the collar should be broad and soft so as not to rub the
dog's coat； the leash should have a noose for the hand；＇2＇ and nothing else。
The plan of making collar and leash all in one is a clumsy contrivance for
keeping a hound in check。＇3＇ The surcingle should be broad in the thongs
so as not to gall the hound's flanks； and with spurs stitched on to the
leather； to preserve the purity of the breed。＇4＇
＇1＇ ｛stelmoniai｝； al。 ｛telamonias｝； broad belts or girths； corselets。
Pollux； v。 55。
＇2＇ Pollux； v。 56。
＇3＇ Lit。 〃since those who make the collar out of the leash do not keep
hold （al。 take care） of their hounds well。〃
＇4＇ See 〃A Day with Xenophon's Harriers；〃 〃Macmillan's Mag。〃 Jan。
1895； p。 183。
As to taking the hounds out to hunt； no hound ought to be taken out
which refuses its food； a conclusive proof that the animal is ailing。 Nor
again； when a violent wind is blowing； for three good reasons： the scent
will not lie； the hounds cannot smell；＇5＇ neither the nets nor hayes will
stand。 In the absence； however； of any of these hindrances； take them out
every other day。＇6＇ Do not let your hounds get into the habit of hunting
foxes。 Nothing is so ruinous； and just at the moment when you want them；
they will not be forthcoming。 On the other hand； vary the hunting…ground
in taking them out； which will give the pack a wider experience in hunting
and their master a better knowledge of the country。 The start should be
early in the morning； unless the scent is to fail the hounds entirely。＇7＇ The
dilatory sportsman robs the pack of finding and himself of profit。＇8＇ Subtle
and delicate by nature； scent will not last all day。
＇5＇ 〃You cannot trust the hound's nose。〃
＇6＇ 〃Every third day；〃 ｛dia trites tes emeras｝。
＇7＇ Lit。 〃in order that they may not be deprived of following up the
scent。〃
＇8＇ Or； 〃a late start means the hounds will be robbed of a find and
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the huntsman of his reward。〃
The net…keeper should wear a light costume。 His business is to fix the
nets about the runs；＇9＇ paths； bends； and hollows； and darksome spots；
brooks； dry torrents； or perennial mountain streams。 These are the places
to which the hare chiefly betakes itself for refuge； though there are of
course endless others。 These； and the side passages into； and exits from
them； whether well marked or ill defined； are to be stopped just as day
breaks； not too early； so that； in case the line of nets be in the
neighbourhood of covert to be searched for game；＇10＇ the animal may not
be scared at hearing the thud close by。＇11＇ If； on the contrary； there should
be a wide gap between the two points； there is less to hinder making the
net lines clear and clean quite early； so that nothing may cling to them。
The keeper must fix the forked props slantwise； so as to stand the strain
when subjected to tension。 He must attach the nooses equally on the points；
and see that the props are regularly fixed； raising the pouch towards the
middle；＇12＇ and into the slip…rope he must insert a large； long stone； to
prevent the net from stretching in the opposite direction； when it has got
the hare inside。 He will fix the rows of poles with stretches of net
sufficiently high to prevent the creature leaping over。＇13＇ In hunting； 〃no
procrastination〃 should be the motto； since it is sportsmanlike at once and
a proof of energy by all means to effect a capture quickly。 He will stretch
the larger （haye） nets upon level spaces； and proceed to plant the road nets
upon roads and at converging points of tracks and footpaths；＇14＇ he must
attach the border…ropes to the ground； draw together the elbows or side
ends of the nets； fix the forked props between the upper meshes；＇15＇ adjust
the skirting ropes upon the tops； and close up gaps。
＇9＇ See Pollux； v。 35。
＇10＇ Al。 〃of the game to be hunted up。〃
＇11＇ ｛omou｝； 〃e propinquo。〃 Schn。 cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 III。 i。 2； VI。 iii。 7。
＇12＇ Or； 〃giving the funnel or belly a lift in the middle。〃
｛kekruphalon｝； Pollux； v。 31。
＇13＇ This sentence according to Lenz is out of its place； referring
solely to the haye nets； the order of the words should be ｛ta de
diktua teineto en apedois stoikhizeto de； k。t。l。｝ If so； transl。 〃He
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should stretch the hayes on level ground and fix； etc。； The road nets
should be planted 。 。 。 etc。〃
＇14＇ Al。 〃at convenient points or where paths converge。〃 See Schneid。
s。v。 ｛sumpheronta｝。
＇15＇ ｛sardonion｝； Pollux； v。 31。 Al。 〃fixing the stakes between the
edges。〃
Then he will play sentinel and go his rounds； if a prop or funnel wants
supporting； he will set it up； and when the hare comes with the hounds
behind her he will urge her forwards to the toils； with shout and halloa
thundering at her heels。 When she is fairly entangled； he is to calm the
fury of the hounds； without touching them； by soothing； encouraging tones。
He is also to signal to the huntsman with a shout； that the quarry is taken；
or has escaped this side or that； or that he has not seen it； or where he last
caught sight of it。＇16＇
＇16＇ Or； 〃'caught；' 'escaped；' （this side or that）； 'not seen；'
'marked。'〃
The sportsman himself should sally forth in a loose； light hunting
dress；＇17＇ and footgear＇18＇ to match； he should carry a stout stick in his
hand； the net…keeper following。 They should proceed to the hunting…field
in silence； to prevent the hare； if by chance there should be one close by；
from making off at the sound of voices。 When they have reached the
covert； he will tie the hounds to trees； each separately； so that they can be
easily slipped from the leash； and proceed to fix the nets； funnel and hayes；
as above described。 When that is done； and while the net…keeper mounts
guard； the master himself will take the hounds and sally forth to rouse the
game。＇19＇ Then with prayer and promise to Apollo and to Artemis； our
Lady of the Chase；＇20＇ to share with them the produce of spoil； he lets slip
a single hound； the cunningest at scenting of the pack。 ＇If it be winter； the
hour will be sunrise； or if summer； before day…d