KS88] JAMES COOPER. 161 



I heard at this time that on the adjoining ground, a 

 French gentleman had been out with the party for a grouse 

 drive. When the di-ivers came ujd to him, they inquired 

 what he had killed ? He replied: " Grouse have I none, but 

 of the moiifons sauvn(/es there are six over the hill." On the 

 other side of the ridge they found six dead sheep. 



This story was published by Punch several years after- 

 wards. — C. M. 



SEASON 1888-89. 



James Cooper came this season to be second whipper-in. 

 He was born at the Belvoir Kennels on March 17th, 1865. 

 During the fourteen years he spent at home lie received 

 many lectures and lessons of instruction on hunting science 

 from his father and grandfather. At fourteen years of age 

 he went into the Belvoir hunting stables, where the late 

 Duke was very kind to him, and had him sent out into the 

 hunting field on every possible occasion. He remained 

 there two seasons, and went to Mr. E. P. Eawnsley, 

 Master of the South wold, for a few months, who soon 

 passed him on to Captain Slingsby, of the York and 

 Ainsty, where he rode second horse to his huntsman, 

 (leorge Grillson, now huntsman of the Cottesmore. He 

 remained there two seasons, and then arrived in Notting- 

 hamshire in the service of Lord Harrington as second 

 horseman, and second whipper-in when required. After 

 two seasons he went into Essex with Captain Carnegie, 

 where he remained one season only. He next went into 

 what he calls dear old Scotland, 



" Tlie land of the browii heatli and shaggy wood." 



where he was second whipper-in under William Shore for 

 two seasons, and has always preserved a keen remembrance 

 of the hunting lore he there learned. He then, as he 

 <[uaintly says, very luckily came into Warwickshire, and, 

 like most of Lord Willoughby's servants, proved " a 

 sticker," for he has been here eight seasons, and says that 

 he has come to the best county, the best pack of hounds, 

 and the best huntsman he has been with yet, and that here 

 he has seen better sport than in any other county. It 



Vol. II. M 



