93 



ground. Another fox went away from the woods, but as the 

 Colonel wanted to draw the Houston country, he was not 

 persevered with. Found again in the Clives, and ran down 

 nearly to Houston Wood, where, being headed, he turned 

 back and was " worried." Chopped in the Wreas and in 

 Corslie Covert, thus finishing a most unsatisfactory day, and 

 I might almost call it cub-hunting. While I am writing it 

 looks very like that we will have — 



" An envious, sneaking frost, 

 That bites the first-born infants of the spring." 



But there is a time for all things. Many a keen fox-hunter 

 is also a curler, and likes to knock over a woodcock now and 

 then, when he gets a chance, in frosty weather. 



LANARKSHIRE AND RENFREWSHIRE FOX- 

 HOUNDS. 



" Let the man who's disturbed by misfortune and care 

 Away to the woodlands and valleys repair; 

 Let him hear but the notes of the sweet swelHng horn, 

 With the hounds in full cry, and his troubles are gone." 



Tuesday, December 2 (Johnstone Castle). — Found at once 

 an old dog-fox, ran him over the Rocks and killed. Found again 

 in the Skifflat. The fox slipped away out at the top end of 

 the covert and made a ring round to Loch Libo ; nobody with 

 them. When Squires got up some of the hound's came out of 

 a small strip of plantation with their muzzles bloody, so he 

 thinks they killed. Found again in Bardrain Wood. Went 

 down straight to Johnstone Castle, and killed. Another brace 

 of foxes went to ground. 



Saturday, 6th December (Duchal). — Found, and ran up 

 over the moor, and lost. Owing to wire, the field saw 

 nothing of it; back to Duchal, and went away from the 



