The Lanarkshire and Renfrezvshire Hunt. 43 



a particularly enjoyable day coming on the 23rd of this month after a meet 

 at Castle Semple East Lodge. 



They killed one in the policies, and then hunted another from here by 

 Littleton, Marshall Muir, and Burntshields, through Glentyan. On the 

 Kilbarchan side of these policies hounds could make nothing of the line, 

 and Molyneux was suspicious of having left his fox behind. Investigations 

 revealed the fact that Reynard had obtained hiding in a very dark coal cellar 

 at the rear of a house by the side of Glentyan, and although the supply of 

 matches was nearly exhausted in the efforts to find him among coals and 

 lumber, hounds ultimately had their reward. Molyneux at the time 

 asserted that this was the biggest fox he had ever seen, and he had furnished 

 a fine gallop of nearly an hour. Another most acceptable bit of hunting 

 was afterwards had from Littleton, hounds taking a fox from here by Green- 

 side to Castle Semple and out again over the open to Calder Glen. 

 Returning from here to Castle Semple the run was carried on by Littleton 

 and Greenside, and when this fox once again retreated to Castle Semple 

 it was thought advisable to stop hounds owing to darkness coming on. 



There was a very rainy time during January, and although this does 

 not dampen the ardour of enthusiasts, it may be said that the sport was 

 enjoyed under unpleasant conditions. 



In Renfrewshire digging for a fox is not such a common practice as 

 in former years, although there are times when it becomes an absolute 

 necessity, even though there may be some grumbling on the part of those 

 impatient riders who simply hate to hang around while operations are going 

 on. When hounds mark a fox to ground it is only in the natural course of 

 things that they should occasionally get him, otherwise they could not be 

 expected to reveal the presence of foxes underground. The Master and 

 huntsman can always gain a certain measure of satisfaction when hounds 

 mark a fox, even if it only conveys the notion that one may be found above 

 ground when they call again. 



I wonder what present-day sportsmen would think of the many long 

 hours of digging often resorted to during the reign of the late Sir David 

 Buchanan ? Sir David was most persistent when he thought hounds required 

 blood, and more than once I have known them at that time to dig for a fox 

 from the afternoon until late in the evening. Meanwhile the field lingered 

 patiently shivering at the covert side in the vain hope of another gallop. 



