Fox-hunting Past and Present 



inactivity, hind-hunting commences. This con- 

 cludes at the end of March, and is followed by 

 a few more weeks of stag-hunting. Many of the 

 runs after the hinds are never chronicled. It is 

 not the exciting affair that a stag-hunt is. The 

 state of the country affects the sport less than 

 it does fox-hunting. The idle period here lasts 

 only from the beginning of May to the end of 

 July. 



I have told you before in this chapter that the 

 fascination of stag-hunting grows and grows ; and 

 as for the native of North Devon or West Somerset, 

 he or she is a born hunting enthusiast. However, 

 two days a week can no longer be reckoned on 

 the Quantock side ; and the herd in and about 

 Slowly is small. This detracts from Dunster as a 

 hunting centre ; does not affect Minehead much. 

 So Porlock, Exford, and Dulverton are now the 

 best centres, while Lynton, Lynmouth, and Ilfra- 

 combe accommodate other sets of visitors annually. 



Exmoor is a huge country, and there is stag- 

 hunting four days a week. There are the Exmoor 

 foxhounds and harriers when staghounds are out 

 of reach, and always the beautiful air, that com- 

 bination of moorland and sea air which distin- 

 guishes Exmoor from all other hunting localities 

 of the kingdom. 



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