344 HUNTING PRELIMINARIES. 



a-crown, although the South Union demand seven shillings 

 and sixpence. 



It is usual at the end of the season to give a present to the 

 hunt servants, who certainly deserve it. A suitable amount 

 for a man of moderate means in the Shires, would be three 

 pounds to the huntsman, and a pound to each whipper-in. 

 Formerly a " tip " of, say, a crown each, was often given to the 

 earth-stoppers. Stopping is now generally done by local 

 keepers, who are paid by the hunt or Master. In the spring 

 they are sometimes given a dinner, at which they usually pose 

 as lovers of the fox, and only tolerators of the pheasant. I 

 may mention in passing, that two is the full number of 

 whippers-in, as in Fig. 82. Each of the hunt servants carries 

 a stirrup leather over his right shoulder. The man who 

 has a horn-case on his saddle, and is behind Frank Gillard, is 

 the second horseman of the former great Belvoir huntsman. 



HOUNDS. 



The hounds we have to consider from a riding point of 

 view are as follows : 



1. Fox-hounds. Their height as a rule varies from 22 to 

 24 inches ; the latter measurement being equivalent to about 

 1 6 hands in a hunter. Bitches are generally about one inch 

 smaller than dogs of the same pack. Probably the best 

 height for bitches is 22 inches ; and for dogs, 23 inches. 



2. Stag-hounds. The term stag-hounds and that of buck- 

 hounds are derived from the game they respectively pursue, 

 and have no significance as regards the variety of hounds, 

 which are generally drafted fox-hounds. In the now defunct 

 Queen's, dogs ran from 24 to 25 inches. Lord Coventry, the 

 late Master, liked to keep up the size, and certainly had a very 

 smart pack. Baron Rothschild's are much smaller. The 

 Devon and Somerset have hitherto been 25 and 26 inches. 

 It is advisable not to have them over 22 inches for carted 



