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
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 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-dawn, and in the other seasons at some hour midway.] As soon as the hound has unravelled the true line[21] he will let slip another; and then, if these carry on the line, at rapid intervals he will slip the others one by one; and himself follow, without too great hurry,[22] addressing each of the dogs by name every now and then, but not too frequently, for fear of over-exciting them before the proper moment.
[17] {emelemenen} = neglige, plain, unpretentious.
[18] Pollux, v. 18.
[19] Al. 'intent on the working of the pack.'
[20] 'To thee thy share of this chase, Lord Apollo; and thine to thee,
O Huntress Queen!'
[21] Or, 'carries a line straight away from the many that interlace.'
[22] Or, 'without forcing the pace.'
Meanwhile the hounds are busily at work; onwards they press with eager spirit, disentangling the line, double or treble, as the case may be.[23] To and fro they weave a curious web,[24] now across, now parallel with the line,[25] whose threads are interlaced, here overlapped, and here revolving in a circle; now straight, now crooked; here close, there rare; at one time clear enough, at another dimly owned. Past one another the hounds jostle-tails waving fast, ears dropt, and eyes flashing.
[23] 'Discovering two or three scents, as the case may be';
'unravelling her line, be it single or double.'
[24] {prophoreisthai} = {diazesthai}, Pollux, vii. 52. Schneid. cf.
Aristoph. 'Birds,' 4, {apoloumeth' allos ten odon prophoroumeno}.
Still up and down, old sinner, must we pace; 'Twill kill us both, this vain, long, wearing race (Kennedy).
[25] See Arrian, xx. 2.
But when they are really close to the hare they will make the matter plain to the huntsman by various signs-the quivering of their bodies backwards and forwards, sterns and all; the ardour meaning business; the rush and emulaton; the hurry-scurry to be first; the patient following-up of the whole pack; at one moment massed together, and at another separated; and once again the steady onward rush. At last they have reached the hare's form, and are in the act to spring upon her. But she on a sudden will start up and bring about her ears the barking clamour of the whole pack as she makes off full speed. Then as the chase grows hot, the view halloo! of the huntsman may be
