AND STIELINGSHIRE HUNT 



It is almost impossible to tell from the perusal 

 of a number of descriptions of runs with hounds, 

 which represents what was really the best hunt, 

 for an inferior run may be " puffed " in such a 

 way as to make it appear equal to or even better 

 than a superior one simply and truthfully recorded. 

 As regards the many runs chronicled during the 

 seasons 1871 to 1876, — a time when sj^ort was 

 above the average, and second only perhaps to 

 that which signalised the mastership of Mr W. R. 

 Ramsay, — Mr Hope, who is well qualified to speak, 

 states that he considers that those after described 

 or referred to may be classed among the best. In 

 his first season, on the 29th of February 1872, 

 hounds met at Ecclesmachan, and, finding in the 

 covert near the village, went away at once and at 

 a great pace by Drumforth to the Braes o' Mar. 

 Touching the covert there they bent westwards, 

 crossed the road leading to Bridge-end, and ran 

 as if for the badger-earths at Champfleurie, but, 

 just skirting the young covert on the side of the 

 Haugh burn, wheeled almost at a right angle, 

 and leaving Wester Ochiltree on their left, 

 reached the base of Riccarton hill. The pace 

 up to this point had been very severe, and the 

 fox, instead of facing the steep incline in front of 

 him, turned towards Beecraigs, — hounds throwing 

 their tongues freely as they drove forward on the 

 old grass. From Beecraigs they stretched away 

 over the plough to Hillhouse quarries, and run- 

 ning the farm-road down to the Preston park- wall, 



235 



