The Dulverton. 307 



of three horses, all told — working the country fairly 

 five days a fortnight throughout, and killing his foxes 

 day after day by fairly tiring them down. It should 

 be explained that at least an hour or two of a stag- 

 hunting day may be spent by the rider stretching his 

 limbs on the grass that his steed is peaceably nibbling; 

 that in foxhunting you may loiter half the day on 

 vantage points overlooking the valleys which hounds 

 are searching out ; and that the requirements for riding 

 to harriers frequently, though not always, extend no 

 further than a safe conveyance to a central hill round 

 which the hare runs herself to death. To reach otter 

 hounds gives opportunity for the stiffest of the stud 

 having his muscles relaxed by a jog to the public 

 nearest the venue; while, should the strain on the 

 stud require easing off for a day, a man who has 

 hitherto been content to go through life without 

 attaining to honours in the gentle craft, may here run 

 a hook through the mouths of as many small fishes as 

 it is worth his while to pull out for the morrow's 

 breakfast. Of a truth it is a sporting country, and a 

 man need never stop at home idle, for lack of oppor- 

 tunity. Horses good enough to carry him with the 

 staghounds are generally to be hired on the spot ; 

 on a rough pony he may see much of what goes on 

 with foxhounds, while a pair of strong boots will show 

 him all else when once he has reached the scene. 

 Besides staghounds, foxhounds, and harriers, there 

 are two packs of otter hounds at work in the Dulverton 

 district. 



April, which elsewhere is virtually an absolute 

 void as far as the sportsman is concerned, is 



z 2 



