A huntsman's life. 143 



others of the rough-coated species of original fox- 

 hounds. All huntsmen are ambitious, and justly 

 so, of tmiiing their pack out in blooming con- 

 dition, some succeeding with little trouble, whilst 

 others labour in vain to produce this great de- 

 sideratum ; but to a genuine experienced fox- 

 hunter there are other indications besides a silky 

 coat which show the proof of the pudding. 



Taking it altogether, the rough time with the 

 smooth, a huntsman's life is replete with as much 

 happiness as falls to the lot of the greater portion 

 of mankind. He is well paid for doing that 

 which others are obliged to pay heavily to obtain. 

 His w^ork is his amusement — at least so it ought 

 to be, and is no doubt, in the great majority of 

 cases ; although I have known tw^o instances to 

 the contrary, in a huntsman and whipper-in, who 

 being brought up in the profession, followed it 

 afterwards, not from choice, but from necessity. 

 No man, however, will attain the perfection of the 

 art or science of fox-hunting, who has not natural 

 talent and inclination towards it, with a thorough 

 knowledge of the habits of the animal he is pur- 

 suing, joined with those essentials, patience and 

 perseverance. Good temper is also of essential 

 service to a huntsman, although some of our most 

 brilliant performers in the field have lacked sadly 



