o86 SYSTOr OF KENNEL AND 



CHAPTER XLV. 



Foxhunting fixtures — Various motives for meeting liounds — Change of 

 line in drawing coverts — Good foxes on the look out for squalls — 

 Witches and wizards — The poultry fancier — Scarcity of good 

 bipeds as well as quadrupeds — Counting noses— Keeping your 

 appointments — Hunting a cure for atra cura — Advertising 

 fixtures now imperative — Ludicrous scene in the field — ^An explo- 

 sion — The flight of Anak. 



Every pleasure in life has its alloy ; but of all field 

 sports, ^Ye believe foxhunting to be the most enjoy- 

 able. The ride or drive to the place of meeting on 

 a hunting morning cheers and exhilarates one ; the 

 expectation of meeting friends and neighbours ; the 

 anticipation of good sport; the scene of hounds and 

 horses grouped together at some favourite fixture; 

 all these aiford food for enjoyment to the genuine 

 lover of the sport. It is not our purpose to inquire 

 into the various motives by which one half, perhaps, 

 of the assembled horsemen are actuated ; but it 

 would be contrary to our experience to say that all 

 men go out hunting for the sake of hunting. Vtj 

 condescending to patronise the sport, however, they 

 arc doing good service to the cause, and we welcome 

 their appearance at the place of meeting with 

 pleasure. Foxhunting happens in these days to be 

 the fashion ; and, as the lady once said, " We may as 

 well be out of the world as out of the fashion.^^ 

 Tlie place of meeting never ought to be at or 



