104. The Hunting Field With Horse and Hound 



What have shady trees, mares in-foal and fattening bul- 

 locks, to do with hounds and foxes? They are, like the Indian 

 tradition of the countrj', the essence of the sport; these are 

 the things, when once you are introduced to them, or come 

 to understand them, that wed you to country life. 



The writer may be pardoned for dwelling over long on 

 tliis introduction to fox hunting in the valley, and country 

 life in general. On the other hand, had he failed to notice 

 this feature, he would have omitted what to some is the most 

 important part and left hidden the very soul of the game. 

 Country life, after all, is about the only hfe. It has been sadly 

 lost sight of in our mad rush for dollars, since the war of 

 secession. 



"Visit the Kennels? Why certainly." Our Master excuses 

 himself to his other guests and accompanies us on the rounds 

 of the kennels. He loves a hound and never tires of singing 

 the praises of the pack or of displaying the superior points in 

 conformation, colour and markings of each individually. 



Passing the pheasantrj^ from which is annuallj' liberated 

 a goodly number of ]\Iongolian or ring-necked pheasants, we 

 arrived at the breeding kennels or special lying-in-rooms for 

 the bitches during the whelping season. 



Buttry, the kennel huntsman, joins us here. Buttry has 

 occupied this position for years, and knows more about hounds, 

 hound breeding, foxes and pheasants, "than any other man 

 in America," at least that is what the Hunt club members 

 claim for him. The kennels have been erected in accordance 

 with the ideas of the immortal Somer\'ile, who says, 



"First let the hennel he the huntsman's care, 

 Upon some little eminence erect. 

 And fronting to the ruddy dawn; its court 

 On either hand wide opening to receive 

 The su7i's all cheering heams when mild he shines." 



