The Stag hound. 75 



continues to April, and as far as a hundred stags and 

 hinds have been killed in one season. 



The present pack dates actually from 1827 

 (though antiquarians may identify it with that at 

 Simonsbath two hundred and thirty years earlier), 

 and, with slight exception, the Devon and Somer- 

 set have ever since shown the perfection of 

 sport. 



It may be interesting to note that the " old pack," 

 which had been bred on Exmoor, was sold to go to 

 Germany in 181 1, and what has been produced from 

 it, with no doubt suitable crosses, is hunting there 

 still. Although the staghunting in the West is 

 carried out on modern lines, .its ancient history is 

 not forgotten. The houses of the country families, 

 of the Aclands, Fortescues, Fellowes, Bassets, and 

 many others are hung with "heads" dated in the 

 last century ; the silver buttons with the hunt device 

 on them are handed down from generation to 

 generation, and those worn by the present master, 

 whose grandfather hunted the hounds from 1780 

 to 1786, are over one hundred and twenty years 

 old. 



In some other parts of the country, stags and 

 hinds are hunted indiscriminately (the Queen's prefer 

 haviers, cut at four years old), the former being 

 deprived of their antlers in order that they cannot 



