322 HUNTERS. 



propoj'tion to the deficiency in the other 

 part of his aliment. On the morning of 

 hunting he should be dressed and fed early ; 

 having his head strapped up till saddled for 

 the field, to prevent (if a coarse feeding horse) 

 his making the clean straw a necessary sub- 

 stitute for the artificial scarcity of hay. 



The day preceding which, every judicious 

 or experienced sportsman arranges all his af- 

 fairs to prevent the least probability ofdelaj% 

 disappointment, or interruption to his sporty 

 by accurately ascertaining the adequate state 

 of his horse and the safety of his apparatus. 

 He descends to ah attentive survey of the feet 

 and the clinches of the shoes ; thereby avoid- 

 ing the distressing dilemma of compulsively 

 exploring a smith*s shop, in a strange 

 country, during tlie heat and happiness of 

 the chase, by the inexpressible mortification 

 of casting a- shoe : a circumstance that will 

 seldom or never happen under the occasional 

 inspection of the smith, who will most cer- 

 tainly never forget the proper or accus- 

 tomed time of examination ; provided he is 

 retained upon the principle of mutual conve-- 



