CHAPTER V 

 Otter Hunting, Falconry, and Shooting 



A CONTEMPLATED article by Lord Lilford opens with the 

 following words upon sport : 



" The word sport is untranslatable, and I must confess 

 that I find it almost equally indefinable, but I wish in the 

 following remarks to show to what an extent the term 

 is commonly abused or misunderstood. 



" To begin with the form of sport with which I am, 

 or rather was most intimately acquainted shooting, 

 ' good sport ' is generally applied to a considerable bag ; 

 and certainly, if the number of head slain in a day's 

 shooting in itself satisfies the sporting inclination, the term 

 is legitimately applied. But I contend that ' sport ' may 

 be enjoyed in the highest degree in the pursuit of wild 

 animals by fair means, without the attainment of success 

 in the death of any beast, bird or fish, and that disap- 

 pointment should only enhance the keenness of the real 

 sportsman. Here I feel sure I shall meet with the assent 

 of hunting men, but I am doubtful if my brother gunners 



