144 THE SOUTH DEVON HUNT 



forward. They all remained in the pack for five 

 seasons, and the three last went through a sixth 

 season. If I remember rightly, all except Ardent 

 were badger-pies, and all turned out excellent 

 hunters. 



Another capital home-bred dog was the red-pied 

 Samson, by the Haldon Saracen, who had completed 

 his second season when he came to Oxton. That his 

 blood was thought well of is shewn by the hound list 

 for 1892 (after Dr. Gaye had come into office) which 

 comprises, besides his direct offspring (then in their 

 seventh season), namely. Saraband, Plausible and 

 Platoff, six-and-a-half couple of hounds got by the 

 last-named dog. 



On the other hand, the fashionably bred Wagtail, 

 Watchful and Welcome, by the Belvoir Weathergage 

 out of Lord Macclesfield's Rosemary, had all to be 

 put away after the first year, their second season, 

 which affords an illustration of the uncertainty of 

 hound-breeding. 



Bandsman, by the Heythrop Bugler, a good 

 worker and comely, was an example of how a hound 

 sometimes belies his name, for^ despite his musical 

 name and ancestry, he was quite mute and had to go. 



Of the sport itself in Mr. Studd's first mastership 

 the follo^\ang notes will give some idea : 



In his first season : December 23rd, a five hours' 

 hunt, with repeated changes, on Haldon and around 

 Oxton and Mamhead, whipping off finally in the 

 dark at five o'clock. This was typical of many a day 

 which provided several hours' sport without any 

 great point being made. 



On the 8th January, one of a brace in Haldon 

 Belvidere gave the pack an hour's run. Another fox 

 from Lakecombe took the hounds to Doddiscombs- 



