THE ANALYSIS OF 



THE HUNTING FIELD 



CHAPTER I 



THE MASTER MONTH, OCTOBER 



ITH a very slight touch of 

 summer, 1 here we are 

 again close upon hunt- 

 ing nay, in some parts it 

 has commenced already. 

 In London the " sear and 

 yellow leaf" reminds us 

 of the old "red rag." 

 What can compensate for 

 the beauties of departing 

 summer, but the glories 

 of the chase ? Confound 

 it, we believe we'd almost compound for the absence 

 of summer altogether, if we could but enlarge the 

 operations of the pack. Well, however, " Here we are 

 again ! " as Mr. Merryman exclaims, as he bounds into 

 the circle. " Here we are again ! " Another month, 

 and the season will be in its pride. Let us indulge 

 the pleasures of anticipation by giving our mind's-eye 

 a canter round the hunting field. 



1 The summer of 1845 was singularly wet and unseasonable ; 

 for further particulars, see Preface. 



I 



