HUNTING LOCALITIES 151 



include a single man who was properly dressed for 

 hunting. The master was an enthusiast, but his en- 

 thusiasm was not quite the same as other people's, 

 and though he was himself immensely popular, and 

 had a wonderful huntsman, his fields were of the 

 smallest, and his turn-out very rough and ready. The 

 horses were screws, the hounds suffered from curious 

 experiments in breeding, and there was a lack of 

 smartness about the establishment, though very good 

 sport was at times forthcoming. In these days there 

 is a small subscription to the same pack, and the 

 country has not improved, wire being far too com- 

 mon and foxes all too scarce, but the establishment 

 would pass muster anywhere, and considering the 

 difficulties which the country presents, the sport is very 

 good indeed. A beautiful pack of hounds has been 

 bred, master and men are mounted on valuable horses, 

 each always having two out, and the smallest details of 

 equipment and appointment are as carefully considered 

 as they are in the Quorn or the Pytchley hunts. 

 Fields are ten times as large as they used to be, and 

 — as is generally the case where the master sets a good 

 example — both men and women are well mounted and 

 well turned out. A slovenly master often has a shock- 

 ing effect on his field, for so many think that what is 

 good enough for the master must be good enough for 

 them — a point of which a good deal was made by 

 Surtees in his various books. 



And now we propose to give some brief description 

 of the hunting districts or localities. Scores of books 

 on hunting have been written, and quite lately an 

 important work, Tlie Foxhounds of Great Britain and 

 Ireland^ has given a historiette of every pack in the 

 kingdom, but the countries have never been grouped, 



