ao NIM ROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



and the rapidity of his action although not perhaps to be put 

 in comparison with the " antlered monarch of the forest," when 

 )ie first darts before the opening pack, he realized the flattering 

 allusions to his form and qualities by the various writers, both 

 sacred and profane. One Asahel, for example, one of the three 

 sons of Zeruiah an active chap, no doubt is said to be " as 

 light of foot as a wild roe," in the description given us of a 

 mortal skirmish, in the second book of Samuel; and even female 

 race and beauty in the human race have found similitude with 

 the roe. 



But these highly picturesque and poetical animals are very 

 devils in the sight of huntsmen and their masters ; for they not 

 only leave a ravishing scent behind them, but they have the pro- 

 voking propensity of describing a circle in their flight, so as often 

 actually to overtake hounds that have been induced to follow 

 ihem, and thus to make it more difficult to get them stopped. 

 For this reason, they have been so seldom thought worthy of 

 being considered beasts of chase ; and, with one exception,* 

 joe-buck hounds have long been discontinued in England. In- 

 deed the last English roe-buck was said to have been killed by 

 44 one Squire Whitfield, of Whitfield, in Northumberland," and I 

 am quite sure all the fox-hunters in Scotland would be very glad 

 to see another " Squire Whitfield" among them, if he could per- 

 form a like act. There would then be no occasion for the use of 

 the very unfoxhunting-like rate of " Ware haunch." " Ware 

 liare" is quite enough. 



Sunday the I4th, was passed as that day is usually passed in 

 she houses of country gentlemen, namely, with that respect 

 ivhich is its due ; and at an early hour on the following morning, 

 Sir Ralph Anstruther's carriage was at the door to take himself, 

 myself, and Mr. Daly ell to meet the Forfarshire fox-hounds, of 

 which Mr. Dalyell was at that time the owner, at Gregstone- toll- 

 bar, about seven miles on the Forfar side of Dundee, and nearly 

 ihirty from where we then were. The cause, however, of this 

 *arly start was, the necessity of being at the Dundee ferry at the 

 precise time the steam boat passes the Tay, and we did but just 

 nick it. A good breakfast awaited us at the inn in Dundee, and 

 we proceeded to the place of meeting in post chaises. 



According with my usual practice, on my first appearance with 

 Lounds in a country which is new to me, I shall offer some re- 



The late Mr. Pleydell, of Whatcombe House, Dorsetshire, kept a 

 .t until his decease, which took place a few years back. Xenophon 

 ^millions chasing the roe, by horsemen on thorough-bred horses no 

 See Percy's Rel. Anc. Eng. Poetry. 



