CHAPTER XII 



HUNT SERVANTS AND THEIR DUTIES 



Qualities of a good huntsman — A hard life — But 

 many compensations — Conduct in the field — Drawing 

 — Use of the horn — Punctuality — Chopping hares — 

 An evil practice — Comparison of kills — Difficulties of 

 the huntsman — The whipper-in — The feeder — Hunt 

 servants an excellent class — " Stonehenge's " opinion 

 — Drawing hounds for hunting — Huntsman's distrac- 

 tions — His patience 



It has been well said that it is as difficult to find a 

 perfect huntsman as a good Prime Minister. The 

 huntsman of a pack of harriers needs certain quali- 

 fications which are not necessary and, indeed, would 

 be undesirable, in one who pursues the fox. His sport 

 is a more leisurely one, and there is not the same need 

 in it of youth, and fire, and occasionally, even, of im- 

 petuosity. Beckford counsels a huntsman d'un certain 

 age for harriers, and assigns to him, very properly, the 

 qualifications of quiet and perseverance. He adds : 

 " I know no family that would furnish a better cross 

 than that of the silent gentleman, mentioned by the 

 Spectator ; a female of his line, crossed with a knowing 

 huntsman, would probably produce a perfect hare- 

 hunter." 



Yet in many respects the huntsman, whether he 

 pursues hare or fox, ought to be possessed of similar 

 attributes. These are strength, activity, courage, 



