So Silk and Scarlet, 



beautiful hand, and was a capital judge of pace ; and 



indeed quite a model of a horseman. 



Billy Butler the Amongst the birds who migrated from 



Parson. their own country, was Billy Butler, 

 from Dorsetshire. He was a lively jovial soul, and 

 loved the sport with all his heart. George the Fourth 

 when Prince of Wales took Mr. Sturt's house at 

 Critchell, and kept a pack of hounds. Billy Butler 

 hunted regularly with him, and was a great favourite. 

 One Saturday after hunting, his Royal Highness said, 

 " Billy, you will dine with me to-morrow T " To- 

 morrow, your Royal Highness," replied Billy, " is 

 Sunday, rather a bad day for a parson to dine out, but 

 I shall be very happy to dine with you on Monday.'" 

 " So you shall, Billy," said the Prince. No man was 

 ever more jealous of a proper respect, or ever resented 

 the breach of it more strongly, but with one so 

 thoroughly tiaif it was impossible that he could be 

 angry. 



A Word on To the majority of sportsmen who 

 Scent. compose the hunting field it may be 

 difficult to comprehend why they have not sport every 

 day, and they often attribute the want of it to the 

 inefficiency of the hounds, or lack of judgment in the 

 huntsmen. The mystery of scent they do not take 

 into account — a mystery which never has been, and 

 never will be solved. On the mornings which appear 

 the most promising the hounds can't run a yard ; 

 whilst in a bitter east wind with a pelting rain they 

 can't go wrong. On the most gaudy day in the 

 autumn, when there is a white frost the fallows 

 generally carry, and rain comes on. In spring a white 

 frost is the harbinger of a fine day, and oftentimes the 

 scent is perfect. When the dewdrops hang on the 

 hedges, when the gossamer floats on the bents, the 

 want of scent may be accounted for. When neither 

 of these causes exist, when it is dry both above and 

 below, and when the atmosphere is clear, it would 



