84 



runs it has seen, and thinking whether it will do another 

 year. " No," he says, " too many bog stains; I have made a 

 good spec, in 'pigs' this year, and I will have a new one." 

 M'Ewen accordingly " suffers." There is no doubt hunting 

 has been from time immemorial the king of sports, but I 

 have no patience with those who run down other sports 

 because they don't care about participating in them. A true 

 sportsman can enjoy every pastime in its season in modera- 

 tion, without neglecting the duties of that situation in which 

 it has pleased God to place him. Before proceeding to the 

 business part of my article, there is one question I have often 

 been asked, " How is it you can see anything of the sport on 

 foot?" I can only answer that any one who knows the 

 country, and is acquainted with the run of foxes, sometimes 

 sees more on foot than those on horseback (although the 

 latter is preferable). There are plenty of excellent coin de 

 vantage in Renfrewshire, from whence you can see a panorama 

 of the whole chase, very often the hounds coming close to you. 

 For instance, any of the hills above Finlayston, the Fereneze 

 Hills, the Pad, &c., &c., not taking into consideration the 

 magnificent views to be had from all these points. I shall be 

 happy to pilot any lover of sport who can do his twenty miles 

 a day (he may not have to walk five) any day there is a good 

 meet, and I will guarantee him plenty of sport, a good 

 appetite, and a sound sleep. I may mention that in all my 

 wanderings I have always experienced the greatest kindness 

 from the farmers, and whenever there was a " wee drappie " 

 in the bottle it was never long in making its appearance! 

 Owing to an unaccountable scarcity of foxes in their best cub- 

 hunting country. Squires has not had such a good opportunity 

 of schooling his hounds as in former years; but, with their 

 extraordinary •' dash," it is wonderful how he has managed to 

 " steady " them so well. Notwithstanding unfortuitous cir- 

 cumstances, he has brought six brace of cubs to hand with 

 one or two very good spins. In the Lanarkshire county, at 

 Medrox Gorse, thanks to the laird, who is a genuine sports- 

 man and a keen preserver of foxes, they found at once, and 



