48 The Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Hunt. 



home of Mr. A. A. Hagart Speirs, who has for so many years contributed 

 generously towards the welfare of foxhunting in the county. As a land- 

 owner it has always been the aim and ambition of Mr. Speirs that his coverts 

 should hold an adequate supply of foxes to furnish enjoyment for others 

 even though he never took part in the sport himself. A favourable oppor- 

 tunity for the members of the Hunt to show their appreciation now presented 

 itself, for Mr. Speirs had recently married and the wedding gift took the form 

 of a fine set of prints of old masters. Sir Thomas Glen Coats made the 

 presentation, and there was much enthusiasm in the complimentary remarks 

 associated with this pleasant function. Thereafter sport was entered upon 

 in the Houston country, and the season had a most auspicious and happy 

 opening. The first run of significance came after a meet at Dargavil, where 

 Major W. H. Goff then resided, on 22nd November. With a fox found in 

 Barochan Moss, hounds took a circuitous line, for after going through 

 Barochan to the left of North Brae they ran up country and back to the Moss. 

 This twisting specimen was ultimately left with the victory at Dargavil, 

 having kept followers on the move for fully two hours. Elphinstone after- 

 wards provided one of the right sort, and a capital hunt was had by Corslie 

 Hill, Barmore, and Formakin to Barochan, from which they ran by Cleaves, 

 Barfillan, and Witch Moss to Whinnie Hill, hounds being stopped near 

 Kilmacolm owing to darkness. 



On 19th December there was a meet at Woodside, the residence of 

 Mr. J. A. Findlay, who is deserving of a word of praise for the fine supply 

 of foxes invariably found here. Unfortunately Woodside is a very difficult 

 place to get away from satisfactorily, owing to so many people on foot 

 taking up position on the main road just above in their anxiety to get a 

 good view of the sport. With the first fox they had a nice ring by Cuffhill 

 and Trearne back to the starting point, but it was a much better hunt from 

 Cuffhill by Shutterflet and Hillend, past Old Hall, into Caldwell policies. 

 Running out of here to Caldwell Law, fresh foxes jumped up to spoil matters. 

 At the end of a good day hounds had blood at Peatman's Moss, a vast 

 expanse of heather and bogland very much favoured by foxes. 



In Duchal policies hounds had put in a very lively time during cubbing, 

 but there is such fine lying in the woodlands here that the matter of a find 

 is generally a certainty, and Duchal has fully sustained its prestige in this 

 respect since Sir J. P. Maclay acquired the estate. He has two sons who 



