PREFACE. 



The following papers, which by the courtesy of the 

 proprietor of the Field are now published in book form, 

 were written chiefly because of the inci'eased difficulties 

 which Masters of Hounds and Field Masters have 

 lately found with regard to the management of their 

 fields. And as much of the want of discipline which is 

 seen from day to day is the outcome of ignorance on the 

 part of the offenders, and is by no means intentional, it 

 appeared likely that a few practical hints as to behaviour 

 would be of assistance to those hunting people who had 

 not been in the way of securing what may be called a 

 hunting education. While the papers were appearing 

 from week to week in the Field, many of the public 

 expressed the wish that they should be published in 

 book form, and this, therefore, has been done. The 

 author now takes the opportunity of informing his 

 readers that he has no wish to be didactic, but that 

 the ideas and suggestions which are conveyed in the 

 following pages have been gathered during a lengthy 

 experience acquired in nearly half of the English 

 hunting countries, and are the result of his own per- 

 sonal observations. 



