CLOTHING 19 



for hunting with harriers, with a drag, or for hunting 

 with fox or stae-hounds, in mufti or 'rat-catcher' kit." 



Figure 2 shows us the appearance, and the mode 

 of wearing this kit ; the material and colour of it are 

 more or less a matter of taste. Go to a good firm, 

 and they will tell you what is fitting. It may, 

 however, be said that the coat should not be too 

 thin or too light in colour, and that a grey Chipping- 

 Norton mixture is very hard to beat for the 

 breeches. The butcher-boots may be either patent 

 or blacking leather, according to taste and pocket. 

 The latter are, perhaps, the most workmanlike. A 

 huntsman's frock-coat, made of some darkish 

 material, may be worn instead of the morning coat, 

 if desired. 



" Rat-catcher " kit will, of course, do for hacking, 

 but it is perhaps better form, looks more knowing, 

 and certainly is better economy to wear rather a 

 different one. A round coat may be substituted for 

 the tail one, a pair of gaiters for the butcher-boots, 

 and a well-made cloth cap for the hard felt hat, 

 though it is safer to wear the latter if any "school- 

 ing" is to be done. 



Though the tail-coat (but not the frock) may be 

 worn with the gaiters, it does not look well to wear 

 the short coat with the butcher-boots. Why this is, 

 is difficult to say, but there seems to be a sort of 

 unwritten law of etiquette which has educated the 

 eye in this respect. 



It is wise to wear "rat-catcher" kit with any 

 hounds when riding a young green horse, a totally 



