The Duke oj Buccceuch. 3 5 1 



iliiit of tlno deadly choke-bore. The lustrous skiu of the 

 old dog-fox — the duller coat of '^ my lady in the straw ' 

 — and the soft round form of the rolling cub — have 

 beauties in their eyes^ ^^1. exceeded by that of the broods 

 of healthy chicks, picking and pecking in the adjacent 

 pasture — '^ food for powder " in its early stage. 



So much did the famous " Squire " value the services 

 rendered to hunting by the Fletcher of his day, that he 

 presented him with a favourite horn, as the best mark of 

 his appreciation and esteem. Highly valuing the compli- 

 ment, the worthy veteran was wont to carry it in the top 

 of his right boot when hounds were in his beat, and post- 

 ing himself at the corner of a ride, would sound upon 

 it a sad imperfect note to proclaim that the fox had 

 crossed. The '^^ Squire " and his pack were quickly on 

 the spot; and away rode the proud bearer of the horn, 

 keen to render assistance in some other quarter of the 

 wood. 



That he set a due value upon the things coming more 

 immediately within his own province, and that he was 

 given to gauge the worth of his neighbour according to 

 his skill with the gun, is amusingly exemplified by his 

 comment upon hearing that Mr. Vernon Smith — pro- 

 pi'ietor of the adjoining woods — was about to be made a 

 Peer. " Mr. Smith a Peer ! What's the good of making 

 him a Peer ? He can^t shoot ;" was the somewhat super- 

 cilious remark of the old and unerring gunner. To a 

 member of this worthy family was it given to solve the 

 problem — one which seems to have baffled many a *^ pre- 

 server's " brain — of '^ fox plus pheasant " — a discovery of 

 far more importance to the "noble science " than " squar- 

 ing the circle," or the discovery of ''^ perpetual motion." 



