PUBLIC COURSING 141 



which rose steadily but surely, and before long began 

 to be recognised as the premier club of the country. 

 Membership was ne\er easily obtainable, and the very 

 highest standard was reached in a comparatively short 

 time ; so much so, in fact, that Altcar very soon 

 became what I may describe as the mother club of the 

 coursing world, and this position it has maintained up 

 to the present date. 



And here I may remark that various codes of rules 

 with regard to the course itself were adopted from time 

 to time, the first of which were ' amended from those 

 framed by his Grace the Duke of Norfolk in the 

 reign of Queen Elizabeth.' ^^ariou3 clubs made various 

 alterations in the Duke of Norfolk's rules ; but in 

 every code that ever was used the principle that the 

 dog who did most towards killing the hare should be 

 the winner was recognised. I have no space in whidi 

 to show how the many slight changes have crept in, 

 but herewith submit the code which has been in force 

 all over the country since J 884, when the National 

 Coursing Club (an outcome of the Altcar Club) f)ut 

 forth its constitution, bye-laws, and code of rules as 

 follows : — 



