130 HUNTING 



best, and we feel sure that it is more economical in the 

 long run to go to one of them, though there are many 

 other good firms whose prices are not so high. Some 

 men when hunting in mufti prefer to wear breeches 

 and gaiters, in which case a short coat must be w^orn- 

 The advantage of these breeches is that they can be 

 used for ordinary riding, and be worn generally in the 

 country. In wearing gaiters, it must be remembered 

 that the buttons should come straight down the centre 

 of the leg, and not at the side, so as to correspond 

 exactly with the buttons of the breeches. There is a 

 slight hole in a man's leg beneath the knee-cap, which, 

 to use the language of one of the best men who ever 

 rode to hounds, was placed there by Providence for the 

 top button of the breeches to rest in, and that is the 

 proper position for the top button of the breeches. One 

 final word anent leathers, which some of our readers 

 may think that we have spoken too strongly against : 

 they may be smart in appearance and comfortable in 

 fine weather, but they are miserable wear when wet 

 through, and are conducive on these occasions to severe 

 colds, rheumatism, and other ills. Therefore, we con- 

 demn them, if only for the reason that hunting, and all 

 the accessories of hunting, should be conducive to health. 

 As we have already said, the single-breasted frock 

 or cut-away tail, drab, box- cloth coat is the most correct 

 coat for mufti. Of the two, the single-breasted frock 

 coat is the more fashionable, besides affording more 

 protection to the thighs in cold or rainy weather. The 

 same is the case with pink coats. It is the wiser plan 

 to go to a sporting tailor for a coat than to an ordinary 

 tailor, who is too apt to build it on Hyde Park lines ; 



