46 PRACTICAL HINTS FOR HUNTING NOVICES. 



finished appearance to the toilette, this is a matter 

 of opinion. It is quite certain that a top boot on a 

 man looks lonely without a spur, but the one boot on 

 which a woman wears her spur is only half visible, 

 and probably few people regard the spur as a necessary 

 adjunct of the toilette. It comes to this, in fact, that 

 only really fine horsewomen ought to wear spurs, 

 and the rank and file should avoid them. I am 

 also asked to be more definite as to the colour of 

 ladies' habits, but I have already stated that I am 

 not going to commit myself on this point, but I may 

 say that dark colours are in better taste than 

 light ones. Dark grey and black are, perhaps, the 

 most sporting, but light brown and drab are con- 

 spicuous and become shabby much sooner than the 

 dark colours. I have seen a habit the colour of which 

 was more like mignonette than anything else — green 

 with white spots all over it — and not long ago I saw a 

 girl in a purple hunting costume ; but my advice is to 

 stick to the dark, quiet colours, and this especially 

 applies to novices, who most certainly should not 

 attempt to attract attention until they are quite 

 sure of themselves, and feel that they can get 

 through a day's hunting as if they had been at it all 

 their lives. 



Doubtless the question mil arise in the minds of 

 many as to where the novice is to go when he wishes 

 to commence his hunting career. If the man who 

 wishes to hunt lives in the country, his course is clear 

 enough. He may first subscribe to and then go out 

 with the local pack ; but as regards the townsman 

 the case is different. He may be a man of large means 



