viii CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



substance to its prosperity ; and now in place of 

 the gloomy forebodings expressed by Dr. Collyns, 

 the thoughts of those who in annually increasing 

 numbers join in the sport turn rather to wonder 

 in what respect, besides the financial support 

 required by a Budget that does not grow less, the 

 present state of affairs falls short of perfection. 



Before tracing the upward steps of the Devon 

 and Somerset Stas" Hunt from the dubious con- 

 dition' in which it yet was when Dr. Collyns died, it 

 would be well to sketch in brief outline the life of 

 the author of this book, which, come what may, 

 will always be regarded as the classic of this 

 peculiar branch of sport. 



Charles Palk Collyns, youngest son of William 

 Collyns, surgeon, of Kenton, a village some few 

 miles distant from Exeter, was born on the iith 

 September 1793. Owing to an elder brother of 

 the same profession practising with his father at 

 home, he had to look elsewhere for a livelihood, 

 and soon after he had passed successfully through 

 St. Bartholomew's Hospital and become a member 

 of the Royal College of Surgeons he settled at 

 Dulverton, the sporting attractions of which 

 doubtless appealed to him and compensated for 

 the arduous nature of the work before him. He 



