CHAPTER I 



THE ATTRACTIONS OF FOX-HUNTING 



Age cannot wither, nor custom stale 

 Its infinite variety. 



The distinguishing feature of the inhabitants of 

 the United Kingdom is the love of sport. On 

 moor and loch, by the side of sluggish stream or 

 the foaming current, amongst the turnips and 

 stubbles, or by the woodside when the leaves are 

 falling and the pheasants are rocketing, the votaries 

 of rod and gun are to be found, as the season 

 comes round, busily engaged in the sport they 

 chiefly affect. If a man cannot afford a trip to 

 Norway, or a salmon river in Scotland, he is con- 

 tent with what coarse fishing comes in his way, 

 and in his dreams only does he hear the mighty 

 rush of Salmo salar. Or if the gun should be his 

 sport, though the moors may not be attainable, he 

 manages to put in some happy hours amongst the 

 partridges, and even if these be but few, Lepus 

 cuniculus affords rare sport when in the humour 

 for bolting. An excellent sportsman of my ac- 

 quaintance had taken a game certificate for thirty 

 years before he had an opportunity of shooting a 

 grouse. At last the opportunity came, and as he 



B 



