142 HUNTING 



stimulants or tobacco to be gradual and not sudden. It 

 is a common mistake for the novice on the eve of a 

 day's hunting to abstain from stimulants and tobacco 

 of any sort, under the impression that such abstention 

 will improve his nerve. It will do nothing of the 

 sort, but it will cause him to pass a sleepless night. 

 By all means he should have a glass of wine or a 

 glass of whisky-and-water less than usual ; he should 

 smoke a cigar or pipe less than usual; he should go 

 to bed half-an-hour earlier than usual. But he might 

 just as well — perhaps better — go without his dinner 

 as go without any stimulant or tobacco. Let it be 

 remembered that when we speak of a rider having a 

 good nerve, we mean that he is composed in the saddle, 

 therefore any cause of action likely to injure his 

 ordinary composure must be bad for his nerve as a 

 rider. 



ISTot only the novice, but the experienced man, has 

 often asked us what ought to be the proper breakfast 

 on a hunting morning. Our answer is, "Whatever 

 you like, so long as it is digested before you arrive 

 at covert-side." However, we venture to offer the 

 following suggestions. Now that the old prejudice 

 in favour of nothing but tea or coffee as drink at 

 breakfast is disappearing, we suggest a glass — never 

 more than a couple of glasses — of sound bitter beer, 

 or two glasses of light wine, or a small bottle of 

 champagne — in the last case the cork must be drawn 

 sufficiently long before drinking to permit of the 

 effervescence subsiding — as the best drink for a hunt- 

 ing breakfast. Many men prefer weak whisky-and- 



