i88i — 1885. loi 



It may not be amiss, in conclusion, to give a word 

 of counsel which may, perhaps, be of advantage to 

 those who may feel inclined to come down for a week's 

 sport with the Devon and Somerset. 



First, it is a fallacy to think that any pony is a good 

 enough animal for a run with the staghounds. There 

 are some ponies, from 14. i to 14.3 hands high, which 

 will carry a light weight as well as can be desired over 

 the moor ; but this is not simply because they are 

 ponies but because they are well bred, being gene- 

 rally got by a thoroughbred horse out of an Exmoor 

 pony. Hounds run both fast and far on Exmoor; 

 and though a little short-legged horse is the best 

 suited for so hilly a country, yet blood is a more im- 

 portant thing than size to ensure speed and endurance. 



Secondly, it is a fallacy to think that Exmoor is 

 simply a bog. The owner of the Forest asserts that 

 there are no such things as bogs in Exmoor, and he 

 acts up to this assertion in a way that surprises 

 strangers. There are, however, soft places (as he 

 admits), but (as he is wont to add) the great beauty of 

 Exmoor is that it is like a sponge, for beyond a 

 certain point it can get no wetter. In fact, with the 

 exception of the main watershed (known not quite 

 correctly as the Chains), there are few places which a 



