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 andthe 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,"givingthefunnelorbellyaliftinthemiddle."{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. "Heshould stretch the hayes on level ground and fix, etc.; Theroad 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]
