and whatever excuses may be found for the pursuit of the Fox on the score of necessity, as
ridding the country of a noxious animal,— an
excuse, however, which can scarcely be made by
those who forbid its destruction by any other
means, as an unpardonable offence against the
sportman’s arbitrary code,—no such excuse can
be made for this sport; whilst, on the other
hand, the degree of danger and difficulty is scarcely
sufficient to invest it with enough of excitement
to conceal its character of cowardice and cruelty.
It is true that coursing is in a degree less cruel, as
the poor trembler’s agony is comparatively short-lived; but it appears to me that mercy and humanity can scarcely consist with the ardent love of
either variety of a sport, the whole interest of
which depends upon the intense exertion to which
a helpless and defenceless creature can be driven
by the agonies of fear and desperation.” [1]
Mr. Jesse adduces instances which shew that the sense of smell is acute and delicate in the Hare : poachers acquainted with this fact set their nets at some particular gap in a field, and then, going round the field, whiff tobacco-smoke over all the other gaps and runs. The Hares will not pass where the smoke has been blown, but selects the untainted egress, and so is caught.[2] The male or Jack-hare will seek his mate and trace her by the scent. Mr. Jesse has seen one when at fault make a cast, and hunt his ground as a dog would do, till he had again hit off the rim way, and follow with the greatest eagerness.[3] The male will readily take to the water in search of his companion.
