so 



not be uninteresting to those who would aspire to the 

 name of sportsmen to know what we, who are certainly 

 the parties most interested in the chase, think of the 

 changes which have been introduced. Being somewhat 

 young and inexperienced myself, I will not presume to 

 give my own ideas on the subject, but fiiithluUy record 

 a conversation I had with a wise old hound who had 

 seen many countries, during one of the hot days of the 

 past month. He had come to our kennel, situated in a 

 rare sporting but somewhat rural country, as Nimrod 

 would have termed it, the autumn before, from the 

 grass, for which I have my own suspicions he was getting 

 rather slow, although he never would own to it, and 

 consequently was looked up to with respect, and treated as 

 an authority by all of us — an honour he well deserved, 

 not only on account of his high Hneage, but also for his 

 really excellent qualities ; for once or t\\ ice during the 

 preceding season he had set us right when our fox was 

 nearly lost, and been the means of killing him. 



Our huntsman, as was his wont, had walked out with 

 us in the park, and allowed us an hour of thorough 

 enjoyment, rolling in the short crisp turf, or stretched 

 under the shade of the stately elms ; when, seeing old 

 Rally wood was not disposed for his usual nap, I ven- 

 tured to ask if he did not think hunting in our land of 

 ploughs and big woods a very tame affair in comparison 

 with \\ hat he had been accustomed to on the grass. 



" Why, no, youngster," was his reply ; *' though, I tell 

 you, I did not much like the thought of exchanging 



N for D shire, and quite intended the first 



day I was taken out to give the lot the slip, and make 

 the best of my way back to my old kennels. I was so 

 pleased with the fun (you remember it was a rare 

 scenting day) and the sportsmanlike behaviour of 



