8o The Pytchley Hunt, Past and Present, [chap. m. 



country, that a member of the family was sent from the 

 Kettering district into that part of Yorkshire to act as 

 an " earth -maker '* for the foxes. A great improvement 

 on the artificial earth, which too frequently fails in its 

 purpose. 



Notwithstanding the depreciatory view taken by 

 " Nimrod ^^ of the hounds that had been brought out of 

 Nottinghamshire, another writer in the '^ Sporting 

 Magazine,^^ speaking of Mr. Musters, says : '^He remained 

 in the Pytchley country four or five seasons, showing 

 extraordinary sport, and convincing his numerous 

 admirers that, not only was he the most skilful hunts- 

 man that had ever appeared in that country, [shade of 

 Charles King ! where were you, when this was penned !] 

 but in any other.'" He goes on to say : " The stud- 

 hounds of Mr. Musters were much sought after by the 

 breeders of the day ; and the blood of that excellent dog, 

 ' Collier,^ was second to none.'^ The two great sporting 

 critics of the day, '^Nimrod ^' and '^ Acteon,^^ do not seem 

 by this to have taken at all the same view of the merits 

 of a fox-hound in point of make and shape ; and on 

 many other points connected with hunting they appear 

 to have walked on the lines of '^ two of a trade never 

 aorreeino-.'^ 



o o 



A fox at Hunsbury Hill afforded some excellent runs 

 at this time, and was so successful in evading his pursuers 

 that he was known as the *^ Hunsbury Hill Devil. ^^ On 

 the last occasion of his having been hunted by, and de- 

 feating the celebrated Jack Musters and his three merry 

 men. Saddler, Derry, and Wood, he took his usual line 

 through Wootton by Delapre, Brayfield Furze, and Yard- 

 ley Chase^ to near Olney Bridge, where he again sue- 



