CONTENTS. IX. 



Mostyn's kennel.— Mr. Palmer and " Drops of Brandy."— 

 Deputy. — Old favourites never parted with. — Anecdotes of old 

 Pilgrim HO 



LETTER XII. 

 Laws of fox-hunting.— How countries are held.— Coverts. — Right 

 of master to dispose of. — Mr. Assheton Smith and the Craven 

 country.— Sir John Cope in Collingbourne Woods. — The right 

 of earth stopping. — On running into a neighbour's country. — 

 The necessity of good feeling in neighbouring hunts. — A club 

 for masters of hounds. — Foxes destroyed by keepers setting 

 traps for vermin . . . . • • • • .122 



LETTER XIII. 



On game preservers. — Food of foxes. — Real good foxes do not fre- 

 quent hen-roosts. — Old woman and fox at Castlecoombe. — 

 Anecdote of Lord. — And a foxhunting squire whose parks 

 adjoined. — A " novus homo." — His keeper setting poison and 

 traps. — The battue system. — Poachers 131 



LETTER XIV. 



On the destruction of vermin. — Various traps and methods of des- 

 troying them.— Martin.— Stoat.— Weasel.— Owls. — Hawks and 

 Kites. — House cat. — All landed proprietors not fox-hunters. — 

 Their right to amusement in game preserving. — Anecdote of a 

 notorious poacher in my father's time. — Troublesome times in 

 my younger days . . « • • • • • .142 



LETTER XV. 



On some of the difficulties which occur in a fox chase. — Difference 

 of huntsmen on hounds breaking covert.— Knowledge of coun- 

 try essential to a huntsman. — Foxes early in the season.— After 

 Christmas.— Speed of foxhound and his game.— Run.— First 

 check the most critical.— Attending to halloas.— Consequences 

 of doing so.— An instance of difficulties overcome by perse- 

 verance.— A pretty subject for the pencil of Landseer . .155 



LETTER XVL 



On hounds that run wide.— Running the foil.— A month's hunting 

 in another country.— Fox that had baffled the huntsman there 

 three years.— Run.— Death of the fox.— A stranger in the 



