82 CHASING AND RACING 



peculiarities and varieties of the huge country rendered 

 it one which took an infinity of " knowing ") had I 

 not had the constant and thoroughly sportsmanlike 

 guidance and advice of Bob Webber, of Croxley Green 

 (who succeeded me as M.O.B.H.), for he knew every 

 inch of the country, the normal run of the foxes, and 

 where, and under what circumstances, they were 

 likely to be " At home " to my call. Bob was a heavy 

 weight, and therefore not one of the flying division ; 

 but he was always there, or thereabouts. Huntsmen 

 as a rule dislike any particular individual who per- 

 sistently rides in their pocket ; but I not only en- 

 couraged Bob to do so, but was unfeignedly thankful 

 and grateful for the fact. He was an enthusiastic 

 hound man, as distinguished from a rider to hounds, 

 for he was a constant visitor to the kennels, and took 

 as much interest in what I may call the personality 

 of each unit of the pack as I did, which is saying 

 a lot. 



I have noticed that not one in ten who poses as 

 a hunting man knows one hound from another, 

 or cares a tinker's curse about them, so long as, 

 jointly considered, they can furnish a bright run in 

 which he can display his horsemanship for the benefit 

 of the admiring fair, or the envious hatred of male 

 rivals. 



If only those who patronize a particular hunt 

 would devote a reasonable portion of their time to 

 visiting the kennels during the summer, and becoming 



