1 54 Tally ho, 



of this splendid and majestic animal, seen by me for 

 the first time in his wild and natural state. 



The finish, though novel, was to me unsatisfactory. 

 I should have preferred seeing the stately animal run 

 into, and falling like a warrior on his native heath, 

 rather than rushing to his fate and being engulphed 

 by the dirty-looking waters in which he sought refuge 

 from his pursuers. Had there been a boat at hand 

 he might readily have been captured ; but as it was, 

 we were obliged to abandon him to his fate. The 

 season for hunting the stag commences on August 

 12th, and ends October 8th ; then, after a delay of 

 three weeks, hind-hunting commences, and may be 

 continued, if the weather is mild, until Christmas. In 

 former times hind-hunting recommenced in the spring 

 soon after Lady Day, continuing until the first week 

 in May, but this has been discontinued of late. 



In thus giving my fi.rst description of a run with 

 the far-famed Devon and Somerset hounds, it must 

 only be looked upon as a preliminary canter. In order 

 to see this exciting sport in perfection, I must wait 

 until the season is further advanced ; and then, when 

 the covers in the vicinity of Hadden Hill are drawn, 

 in which there are lots of noble stags and royal harts, 

 if one should go away across the open, taking the 

 direction of King's Brompton, and I can live to hounds 

 across that grand line of country, I shall have a tale 

 to tell which will rouse the spirit in the breast of every 

 real sportsman. There will be no complaint in respect 

 to the size of the fences. They will be big enough 

 to satisfy the best man that goes across the shires ; 

 and if he can negotiate them to his satisfaction, he 

 will thank me for having suggested a new pleasure, 



