BUTTONS. 363 



coat at dinner or ball, instead of a black evening coat, is a 

 matter of local custom and varying fashion. At Melton it 

 is usually worn, except on Sundays, when black is substituted ; 

 but at Belvoir, in the late Duke's time, it was worn, even on 

 Sundays. At hunt balls, all the members are supposed to 

 wear it. Some men commit the solecism of appearing in 

 scarlet in the evening, and in black with the hounds. The 

 Master of the Old Berkeley West wears a yellow dress 

 coat in the evening ; and the ordinary members, pink with 

 yellow facings. The members of the Hampshire and Mon- 

 mouthshire wear a dark blue coat in the evening. 



The large majority of hunts have distinctive buttons, which 

 the Meynell gives to each subscriber of 2$ ; and the 

 Taunton Vale, to any subscriber of seven guineas. With 

 a hunt which does not make a rule of this kind, it is best 

 for a stranger, even though he is a subscriber, not to wear 

 them, until he has been invited to do so by the Master ; 

 for the unauthorised wearing of hunt buttons is a fertile 

 cause of unpleasantness. The same remark applies to collars 

 and other forms of special hunt dress. A man who hunts 

 a country at his own expense, has of course the right to 

 institute a personal button. 



Hunting breeches are made either of white buckskin, white 

 cotton cloth or white cord. Those of the former material 

 look smarter and give a better grip in the saddle than those 

 of the latter ; but cost a good deal more, and are very 

 uncomfortable if they happen to get wet. The chief points 

 about breeches are that they should have plenty of length 

 from the knees to the fork, and should be loose about the 

 thighs, so that they may allow perfect freedom of movement 

 to the legs ; and should be made in such a manner that 

 when they are drawn on, the openings at the knees shall 

 be in their proper places. If the knees of the breeches 

 require to be twisted round, in order to get them into correct 



