342 THE QUORN HUNT 



riding, which was really a dark brown, but for several 

 days afterwards her appearance was a curious mixture of 

 gold streaks on one side, and in the Hunt the mare was 

 promptly christened " Aureoline." 



In the April of 1877 the Queen's staghounds paid a 

 visit to the Cottesmore country, meeting at Barleythorpe, 

 Lord Hard wick being then the master. 1 



There was, it need hardly be said, an enormous field, 

 and there was a breakfast at the hall, where Lord Lons- 

 dale entertained a great many people ; and at ten minutes 

 past twelve the deer-van drove into the park, and a deer 

 called the Baron was uncarted, making his way towards 

 Langholm. Then turning to his left, he took a capital 

 line, so far as the spectators were concerned, as the deer 

 could be seen going on leisurely for more than a mile. 

 After fifteen minutes' law, Frank Goodall (who had 

 formerly been huntsman to Mr. Tailby) laid on the pack, 

 and a capital run succeeded, though most of it took place 

 in Rutlandshire and not in Leicestershire. Lady Dixie 

 was not then so averse to stag-hunting as she has subse- 

 quently shown herself to be, for we read that she was 

 present, and that none went better until Launde Brook 

 brought her to grief. 



The August of 1877 saw another hound show at 

 York, on the Knavesmire, but on this occasion the 

 Quorn only succeeded in taking one prize, for entered 

 bitches, with the badger pied Comely. 



So well had Mr. Coupland worked as head of the 



1 In olden times the Queen's staghounds used to go to Aylesbury for a 

 week or two, and also to the New Forest, while in addition they have made 

 sundry excursions out of their country. About the year 1849 they had a day 

 in Berkshire, meeting at Buckland ; in 1868 the Duke of Beaufort invited 

 them to meet at Troy House, in the Badminton country ; in 1869 they again 

 met in the old Berkshire country, at Goosey Green, where a field of about a 

 thousand people were present ; and in November 1882, during the master- 

 ship of Lord Cork, the Royal hounds were taken to the town of Frome, 

 at the coming of age of Lord Dungarvan, Lord Cork's son ; while later still 

 they met on the downs near Winchester. 



