272 FIELD AND FERX. 



would have had quite a brown-bread relish, after the 

 formalities of our five great meetings, conducted as 

 they are with as much precision as a Glynn or a 

 Westminster Bank parlour. Two small stands, with 

 striped curtains, sufficed for the Perth and Caledo- 

 nian Hunt members ; but the "bits of pink" were hid 

 by the overcoats and the scarlet cap of a gentleman- 

 rider ready dressed for Bonnington was the only bit 

 of colour visible. 



There were the Earl of Mansfield, Lord Stormont ; 

 Mr. Whyte Melville, Mr. John Grant, Captain Thom- 

 son of The Fife, Mr. Willie Sbarpe (hugging his 

 plaid as of yore), and others whom we did not know 

 by sight, all evidently striving to make the best of 

 things. Mr. Nightingale, the great ex-coursing judge, 

 stood on his platform, facing the members' stand 

 (which is not on the same side as the Grand) ; and 

 the weighing and dressing were conducted in two 

 little canvas tents. Mr. Elliot, that " Manning of 

 the North," was the clerk of the scales and starter, 

 and the members of the Perth Hunt had a compre- 

 hensive view of the weighing from their stand above. 

 The telegraph was certainly a weak point ; and it was 

 amusing to hear Tom Ruddick rush after Mr. Night- 

 ingale into the dressing-tent, and ask what had won, 

 as " there is a lad outside with some bets on" ; and 

 so the chief justice duly referred to his pencil entries 

 thereof. The betting was quite a farce. A few 

 speculators walked about, and did a little on the 

 Hunters' Stakes ; but there was no one to devour, 



