I PRACTICAL HINTS FOR HUNTING NOVICES. 



time or other, heard the youngsters abused, or at least 

 blamed, for doing something wrong at Christmas time, 

 when whole droves of boys and girls help to swell the 

 field. It is not every hunting field which possesses a good- 

 natured Master of the " Jovey Jessop " type, nor yet a 

 " Jug " to pioneer the children and keep them in order 

 throughout the day. Neither is every small boy when 

 he begins to hunt in the way of being quietly told what 

 he should or should not do. He may make his debut under 

 the auspices of an ignorant groom, who is totally unaware 

 of the etiquette of the hunting field; or he may be sent 

 out alone, and have to depend on himself entirely. 

 And it is the fact that many parents who allov/ their 

 children to hunt in these days know absolutely nothing 

 of the sport themselves, and are, therefore, not only 

 unable to ofiter any advice to their children, but actually 

 do not know that any knowledge is necessary, thinking 

 that if their boy can sit his pony without falling ofT he 

 is fully qualified to go out hunting. So the odd boy 

 in one hundred is that rara avis who has intuitive 

 knowledge, and who is far too sharp to commit himself 

 in any way. But the average boy wants a lot of in- 

 struction, and if he is not in the way of procuring that 

 instruction at home he must acquire knowledge by careful 

 observation and by gradual experience, or he may 

 profit by the experience of those who have made a life- 

 long study of the subject. 



The relation of an instance which came under my 

 notice some two or three years ago will serve to show 

 how necessary it is for youngsters to be introduced 

 to the sport by a person of experience, or one who will, 

 at least, obey instructions. A lady who knew nothing 



