HISTORY OF THE LINLITHGOW 



most noteworthy of which occurred on the 3rd 

 and 21st of December, followed the opening day. 

 On the first of these dates, after meeting at 

 Houstoun House, hounds ran and hunted alter- 

 nately for the space of two hours and twenty- 

 five minutes, covering a considerable tract of 

 country at a good pace all over. With a Cous- 

 land fox they ran fast to Livingstone wood, 

 crossed the railway beyond, and went on over 

 Dechmont parks to the Byres, where they checked. 

 But Morgan put them right, and after working 

 steadily by Drumcross and Rankin's wood to Craigs, 

 they again ran fast over the grass to Cairnpapple 

 and from that to Wallhouse. Then, breaking by 

 Broompark and swinging left-handed, they carried 

 the line by Hilderston, Ballencrieflf, Cairnpapple, 

 and the Witch craig towards B'ormie, just short 

 of which the hunt was brought to an end by 

 reason of the shooting of the coverts there.^ On 

 the 21st of the month, Philpstoun House was 

 the fixture, and two capital runs ensued. It was 

 a heavy country which hounds crossed when 

 holloaed away from covert near Fawnspark, but 

 the pace was of the best as they ran by Burnside, 

 the Braes o' Mar, Ochiltree Castle, Broomie- 

 knowes, Beecraigs and Whitebaulks to Hillhouse. 

 There they were at fault, and although they 

 recovered the line soon afterwards, it was only 

 to hunt slowly over the grass around Preston 

 and Williamscraig. In the afternoon scent was 



1 'The Scotsman,' 4th December 1907. 



322 



