OTTER HUNTING, FALCONRY, SHOOTING 99 



and anglers will entirely go with me. I look upon fox 

 and otter hunting, falconry and fly-fishing, as the highest 

 kinds of sport to be enjoyed in this country, simply 

 because in the first instance science is assisted by horse 

 and hound ; in the second the falcon is reclaimed with 

 infinite pains to serve man by its natural instincts ; and 

 because in the third you can only rely for success upon 

 your own skill and knowledge of the habits of the 

 creatures to be captured. 



" Let me say at once that, with all due respect to the 

 lover of racing and athletic games, I look upon these as 

 more or less excellent forms of amusement that do not 

 legitimately come under what I hold to constitute * sport ' 

 in its true sense. 



" I quite admit that to watch a number of thorough- 

 bred horses doing their best, and fairly ridden, is a 'joy 

 for ever ' ; and a good match at cricket or football, or an 

 evenly contested yacht or boat race are full of charm to 

 the lookers on ; but in all these three there is lacking the 

 interest of outwitting wild animals, with the odds against 

 the pursuer, and this latter condition is, in my humble 

 opinion, the one essential constituent of real ' sport.' 



" A great many gallant followers of foxhounds go out 

 simply for the excitement of a glorious gallop and plenty 

 of jumping, not a few simply to display their horse- 

 manship and cut down others ; and these objects are 

 obtainable without hounds or fox. But the joy and pride 

 of hunting is, to those who know the habits of the fox, 



