64 



LANARKSHIRE AND RENFREWSHIRE FOX- 

 HOUNDS. 



" There are soul-stirring chords in the fiddle and flute, 



When dancing begins in the hall, 

 And a goddess in muslin, that's likely to suit. 



Is the mate of your choice for the ball ; 

 But the player may strain every finger in vain. 



And the fiddler may rosin his bow, 

 Nor flourish, nor string, such rapture will bring 



As the music of sweet Tally-ho!" 



I can imagine some of your fair readers perusing the above 

 verse of Whyte Melville's, and saying, "There's that rude 

 Stringhalt putting fox-hunting before dancing;" but J can 

 assure the dear creatures that this is far from my intention, 

 I have always found that genuine sportsmen, and especially 

 fox-hunters, are most assiduous in their attention to the fair 

 sex; and whenever their services are required in getting up 

 assemblies, &c., &c., it is never " hoick-back," and most of 

 'em can hold their own when "tripping the light fantastic 

 toe" against the majority of the "Jeunesse dore" who do 

 not hunt. I must now struggle through an account of the 

 " run of the season," and it is with a good deal of difficulty I 

 do so, as, having had the pleasure of writing so many 

 accounts of sport with these hounds this season, it is difficult 

 to vary one's accounts. 



Saturday, 11. — Met at Craigends — one of the largest meets 

 I have seen this season. After partaking freely of the hospi- 

 tality of the Laird, Squires trotted off, and drew the west 

 covert blank. Just as he had drawn his hounds out, and was 

 going towards the north covert, he cried to the Colonel, " I 

 think I heard a hollo! sir." It appears that the footpeople 

 had disturbed the covert, and a fox had broken away down 

 the avenue and through the lodge gate. Although hardly 

 applying to this run, I cannot help quoting again from 

 Melville — 



