J. C. GERNDT.
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RABBIT COURSING.
FOR every man who owns a greyhound, at least a dozen own some kind of a terrier. The terrier is essentially man’s companion among all the dogs. Bright, intelligent, and full of spirits, he also has the happy knack of knowing how to make his presence unobtrusive. Among the many breeds which have at the present day attained popularity, the fox-terrier is facile princeps, and of late years owners have bethought themselves of a good plan to avail themselves of the natural instinct of the dog. The fox-terrier is naturally possessed of a speed out of proportion to his looks, and since “the nature of the beast” is to pursue anything in the line of game or vermin, he has readily fallen in with man’s scheme to course the rabbit with his aid.
The advantages of this sport over coursing with greyhounds are many. The grounds have not to be so spacious or complete; the dogs are not so expensive, either in initial cost, maintenance, or elaboration of training; impromptu matches can be easily arranged, and, especially in this country, the difficulty of supplying the requisite quarry for greyhounds is obviated. The rabbit, on the contrary, is fairly plentiful in the Eastern States, and a goodly supply of them is generally forthcoming. The meetings that have hitherto been held have been very successful, and it is a cause of great satisfaction to all sportsmen that the recent case at Hempstead reached such a favorable termination.
This sport has not as yet, in America, gone beyond the limits of the select circle which patronizes polo and fox-hunting; but no real reason exists why this should be so. The writer has witnessed and taken part in very successful impromptu coursing-matches in the South, where the intentions of the dogs were better than their looks or breeding. It is, in fact, a sport open to every man who owns a decent terrier, and as such it is regarded in many parts of England, where the farmers will not only allow but will take part in matches run over their land.
SPORTING TRAMP.
