DEVON AND SOMERSET. 377 



Some musical member of the company is then 

 called upon by the master to oblige with a 

 song, and many singers have sung the same 

 song with unfailing popularity year after year 

 on these occasions. The honorary secretary 

 is next entrusted with the toast of the 

 " Owners of coverts and the occupiers of 

 land," and he couples with it the names of 

 three or four representatives of the larger 

 estates present. The persons named, after due 

 deliberation, reply, and then the singer of the 

 last song exercises his right of call by invit- 

 ing some other tuneful guest to promote the 

 harmony of the evening. It is worthy of 

 remark that etiquette seems to require a not 

 too hurried compliance with the request for a 

 song, and until recent years it was apparently 

 more fashionable to sing sitting down than 

 standing up, and at the conclusion of the song 

 it was, and is, de rigeiir to give its title. 

 An especially popular song is acknowledged 

 by jumping to the feet, glass in hand, with 

 the remark, "Your health and song, Sir." 



The names of such songs as the " The 

 Marking Iron," "The Ivy and the Myrtle" and 

 " The Tarpaulin Jacket " will recall memories of 

 bygone feasts to many a staghunter. 



Sitting down about six o'clock, the high 

 table rises as soon as the toast list has been 

 disposed of with the usual songs and a 



