264 The Hunting Field With Horse and Hound 



A few days' grouse shooting over the brown purple moors 

 in August and September and a few days' deer stalking in 

 October is enough to give Scotland such a character as few 

 other countries possess, but that is in pickle for some future 

 time, that may bring to hght Glorious Days With Guide and 

 Gun. For the present, at least, we will content ourselves with 

 a day's run to the Earl of Eglinton's hounds — fifty couple 

 hunting the Ayresliire country four days a week. 



James McDougal is the nom-de-plume of a very prosperous 

 Scotch tenant farmer, and noted breeder of Ayresliire cattle, 

 living near Kilmarnock. It is at his hospitable board we are to 

 stay the night, and with a bonnie start the morn, pay a visit 

 to several other noted breeders on the way to the meet of the 

 Eghnton hounds. 



The first thing to strike one's attention, on entering the 

 parlour, is the great array of challenge cups and other trophies, 

 awarded Mr. McDougal for liis skill in the breeding of cattle. 

 In this dei^artment of agriculture our friend is an artist. 



After a cup of tea and several varieties of Scotch scones 

 have gone the way, with a relish, our friend, who is himself 

 impatient to be with liis red and white beauties, says: 



"Maybe when ye ha' finished with yer tea, yer would no 

 mind a wee look roond among the beasties. Dinna j'e mind the 

 fifty pound challenge cup in the corner? Aye, well it is no all 

 mine, till I win it once more; twice I have brought it hame 

 from the Highland show, and it's been here noo sa lang a'm 

 thinking ma Missis would no like to see it removed. Perhaps 

 ye could say when ye see the coo a'm sending to win it fa good 

 and a', what yer thinking o' ma chances of pleasing the missis." 



Arriving at the stables, our host leads out a string of the 

 most perfectly formed dairy cattle to be found in Scotland, 

 which is to say they are the best and most perfect dairy cattle 

 in the world. McDougal had for months been fitting these 

 particular animals for the great "Highland" show. They were 



