15 



natural state are useless for hunting, and, should any 

 survive hounds* first visit, will kill more fowls and 

 pheasants than ten litters of wild animals. It should 

 be remembered that the wild fox seldom hunts for 

 food anywhere near his kennel, and nearly always 

 wanders far afield in search of a night's supper. 



The war seems to have bred a spirit of sport amongst 

 those with no inclination that way before, and the 

 result is we have numerous recruits to hunting, who 

 had little opportunity to acquire knowledge in boy- 

 hood. The more the merrier 1 They would, however, 

 do well to learn the rudiments of venery ere they 

 launch forth in pursuit. By this means they would 

 be enabled to appreciate and understand the finer 

 points which otherwise would be lost to them. 



Here let me reiterate what I have already written, 

 that the full enjoyment of any sport must entail the 

 capacity to endure discomforts and hard work. There 

 are, I regret to say, a number of people each winter 

 who fly to warmer climes, thereby sacrificing the 

 hardy element in their northern blood to the soft, 

 sensuous luxuries of the south. 



