42 HUNTING TOURS. 



cutting away the springing turf. An annual 

 festival was formerly held to perform this 

 ceremony, which, if not totally abandoned, 

 is only observed at uncertain intervals ; per- 

 adventure, when his coat becomes rough, and 

 clipping is therefore an act of necessity to 

 promote attraction. This peculiar emblem 

 being situated in a conspicuous boundary of 

 the Vale, the association of the name is 

 readily conceived, and hence the distinction 

 by which, the Hunt was known when the 

 whole extent was under one master ; conse- 

 quently, at the time that Lord Ducie made 

 arrangements for the division, he carried the , 

 title to that part of the country over which 

 he continued to preside. In its entirety it 

 was hunted at a very early date, but authentic 

 accounts are wanting prior to the close of the 

 last century. It has been said that a gentle- 

 man of the name of Loder was the first to 

 enliven these plains with the cheering accom- 

 paniments of hounds and horn, and that he 

 was succeeded by Mr. Symonds cotemporary 

 with Mr. Bowes. I believe, however, that the 

 fifth Earl Berkeley occasionally brought his 

 hounds to hunt portions of the country, as it 

 was his lordship's pleasure to remove his pack 



