no THE HUNTING FIELD 



as there is no such thing as modification in the forms 

 of vulpecide." This is expensive work certainly, but 

 we do not see how it is to be remedied. Foxhunting, 

 without foxes, will never do ; there is nothing more 

 disheartening than riding from cover to cover, with 

 the full conviction that each will be a blank. We 

 knew a man who went to an enormous expense with 

 his hounds, but somehow or other, he could not find 

 in his heart to pay his Earth-stoppers properly, conse- 

 quently the whole outlay some thousands per annum 

 was absolutely sacrificed for a paltry saving of a 

 couple of five pound notes, for we really do not 

 suppose the difference between what he did pay, and 

 what he ought, would have amounted to more in the 

 year. "Hertfordshire" does not sound much like 

 hunting, and doubtless this is an extreme case, and 

 one that is not likely ever to become general. In 

 fact, none but a rich country could stand such work. 

 A bad custom, however, is much easier introduced 

 than got rid of, and gentlemen in other countries will 

 do well to take warning by Hertfordshire. The 

 mischief here appears to be the "patent office" of 

 keeper, the fees to Earth-stoppers not being higher 

 than in other countries. Earth-stoppers should be 

 well paid. Theirs is the worst office connected with 

 hunting. A little pettyfogging economy is badly 

 exercised with them. 



Mr. Vyner says that in Warwickshire, in 1830, the 

 Hunt Committee reduced the pay of the Earth- 

 stoppers to half, and the result was, what might be 

 expected, in about half the covers " no find." 



An occasional " tip " to a keeper is all very well, 

 but the regularly "booked demand," described by 

 Mr. Delme Radcliffe, "carries absurdity and in- 

 consistency on the face of it," as exposed by the 

 honourable gentleman himself, who says "that it is 

 done, notwithstanding most of the great game pre- 

 servers in Hertfordshire have as much or far more 



