322 Tally ho, 



hunting/^ but let those who do not appreciate the fun 

 stay away, and there will be more room, if less 

 company ; whilst those who thoroughly enjoy a rattling 

 spin across a stiff country can avail themselves of 

 the opportunity which is offered by the Master of the 

 Surrey Staghounds ; and it is to be hoped that his 

 successor (a change in the Mastership being about 

 to take place at the close of the season) may maintain 

 the eflficiency of the pack up to the present standard 

 of excellence. 



The kennels of the Surrey Staghounds are situate 

 at Smitham Bottom, near Coulsdon, not very far from 

 Croydon. The pack consists of thirty couples of 

 hounds, and if they are all of equal quality with those 

 I saw out on the occasion of my visit, they will well 

 repay the trouble of an inspection by any one 

 desirous to see a fine lot of animals. These hounds 

 hunt twice a week, namely, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, 

 the fixtures not being advertised, for obvious reasons, 

 though no doubt particulars of the meets may be 

 readily obtained by those desiring to have a look 

 at them, by means of a post-card addressed to the 

 huntsman at the kennels, the locality of which I have 

 pointed out. 



There are in all thirteen packs of staghounds in 

 England and four in Ireland, and it does not look, 

 therefore, as if the interest in this branch of sport is 

 diminishing, and I think there is little likelihood of 

 the national pastime being affected by the occasional 

 feeble and contemptible bowlings of those who take a 

 delight in running down sport of every description, for- 

 getting that by indulging in such manly amusements as 

 hunting that the youth of England can furnish, when 



