48 HUNTING 



they know that they will have their blood directly 

 they have earned it, while to whip hounds off, may, 

 and probably will, make them sulky. In subscription 

 packs, however, the M.F.H. wishes to be popular 

 with his subscribers, and is unwilling to 'risk his 

 popularity by adopting a course which prevents 

 them from gaining the trophies of the chase. The 

 custom of cutting up the fox dates from time 

 immemorial. Addison, in the 115th number of the 

 Spectator, writing of Sir Roger de Coverley at home, 

 says, "His stable-doors are patched with noses that 

 belonfred to foxes of the knidit's own huntincr down." 



o o o 



Up till a very recent period, it was usual for the 

 Master to give the brush to the man who had ridden 

 best to hounds throughout the run : now the gift 

 of the brush is purely complimentary. It is generally 

 given to a schoolboy who manages to be in at the 

 death, especially if it be his first day with hounds, or 

 to " a fair Diana " who has shown that she is a good 

 woman to hounds. We should add that the huntsman 

 expects a sovereign from the recipient of the brush, 

 that the first whipper-in expects ten shillings from 

 the recipient of the mask, and that the second whij)per- 

 in expects five shillings, or at the least half-a-crown from 

 the recipient of a pad. Perhaps it is needless to say 

 that hunt-servants are in favour of cutting up the 

 fox. 



We trust that the reader, who has not been initiated 

 into the mysteries of fox-hunting, will now have 

 gained some idea of the modern modus operandi of the 

 sport, so far as the hunting-field is concerned. But 

 much is required to be done before hounds, horses, and 

 men are fit to appear in the hunting-field. 



To Ireed a perfect pack of hounds is the labour of a 



