2. No; but I am certain that a heavy hare has comparatively little scent.
3. Yes, of course, but owing to her carrying less scent and to her short running, a doe hare is seldom killed when heavy. I have been particular to observe when hunting in March for years past whether a heavy hare is often killed, and have found it not to be the case. I doubt if my hounds kill on an average more than one each season. This year a brace have been killed—one in February.”
On the first point Beckford says, “It is a question which I know not how to answer, as it depends as well on the quantity of game that you have as on the country you hunt.”
In conclusion, I think that without doubt, when looking back on the Great War, the country owes a deep debt of gratitude to all sports which tend to make a man manly (I am afraid I do not include such sports as coursing or pigeon shooting among them, as I am of opinion that woodcraft is a sine qua non to a manly sport). Of all sports hunting most engenders initiative, close observation, quick decision, and courage, qualities essential to all leaders in the several branches of the Forces of the Crown, and which were conspicuous during the late War in the cases of men who had been entered to hunting. The horses too were a great national asset in that crisis. There could be no better initial training for the hunting field than running with beagles. I can look back on five years as M.F.H. and twenty-two seasons with harriers, but my initiation was with the Eton beagles, and I did not follow them without learning many useful lessons in the noble art. I hope many future generations of Etonians will profit by them. I still have a hare’s pad set up killed by them on 18th February, 1879. I have a warm feeling for the hare, and never quite like shooting one: she has afforded me much sport, much pleasure, and much benefit, and if I could forget the fox—and, of course, the hound and the horse—I could agree with Martial that
“Inter quadrupedes gloria prima lepus.”
APPENDIX I.
LIST OF MASTERS AND WHIPS.
| College Pack. |
| 1857 |
| R. H. Carter | | (Master) |
| J. A. Willis | | |
| 1858 |
| R. H. Carter | | (Master) |
| H. St. A. Goodrich | | |
| T. J. Huddleston | | |
| 1859 |
| R. H. Carter | | (Master) |
| H. St. A. Goodrich | | |
| H. M. Palmer | | |
| 1860 |
| T. J. Huddleston | | |
| T. J. P. Carter | | |
| E. E. Witt | | |
| 1861 |
| E. E. Witt | | (Master) |
| A. C. Custance | | |
| H. W. More-Molyneux | | |
| 1862 |
| E. E. Witt | | (Master) |
| H. W. More-Molyneux | | |
| C. R. Moore | | |
| 1863 |
| G. G. J. Thackeray | | (Master) |
| C. R. Moore | | |
| J. B. Wood | | |
| 1864 |
| R. H. J. L. B. Lewis | | (Master) |
| J. B. Wood | | |
| A. A. Wace | | |
| R. V. Somers-Smith | | |
| 1865 |
| A. J. Pound | | (Master) |
| R. V. Somers-Smith | | |
| A. G. Tindal | | |
| 1866 |
| A. J. Pound | | (Master) |
| F. E. Armitstead | | |
| G. Gosset | | |
| Oppidan Pack. |
| 1858 |
| N. E. Charrington | | (Master) |
| G. C. K. Johnstone | | |
| 1859 |
| N. E. Charrington | | (Master) |
| G. C. K. Johnstone | | |
| C. Tayleur | | |
| 1860 |
| R. E. Moore | | (Master) |
| H. O. L. Baker | | |
| 1861 |
| J. G. Chambers | | (Master) |
| J. H. A. Schneider | | |
| H. P. Senhouse | | |
| 1862 |
| W. T. Trench | | (Master) |
| Hon. F. G. Pelham | | |
| H. M. Meysey-Thompson | | |
| 1863 |
| Hon. F. G. Pelham | | (Master) |
| H. M. Meysey-Thompson | | |
| W. R. Griffiths | | |
| 1864 |
| H. M. Meysey-Thompson | | (Master) |
| A. Turnor | | |
| S. H. Sandbach | | |
| 1865 |
| C. S. Newton | | (Master) |
| R. F. Meysey-Thompson | | |
| E. Royds | | |
| 1866 |
| E. Royds | | (Master) |
| W. M. Milner | | |
| G. R. Sandbach | | |
| Amalgamated Hunt. |
| 1867 |
| W. C. Calvert | | (Master) |
| F. E. Armitstead, K.S. | | |
| Hon. H. P. C. S. Monck | | |
| 1868 |
| W. C. Calvert | | (Master) |
| F. E. Armitstead, K.S. | | |
| F. Johnstone | | |
| 1869 |
| F. Johnstone | | (Master) |
| W. M. Browne, K.S. | | |
| E. P. Rawnsley | | |
| 1870 |
| G. H. Longman | | (Master) |
| F. A. Currey | | |
| G. L. Wickham | | |
| 1871 |
| G. H. Longman | | (Master) |
| G. H. Armitstead, K.S. | | |
| Hon. H. C. Legge | | |
| 1872 |
| F. Fenwick | | (Master) |
| Hon. R. Parker | | |
| A. H. Charlesworth | | |
| 1873 |
| Hon. C. Harbord | | (Master) |
| W. A. Harford | | |
| V. W. Vickers | | |
| 1874 |
| W. A. Harford | | (Master) |
| Hon. E. W. Parker | | |
| L. H. Jones | | |
| 1875 |
| Hon. E. W. Parker | | (Master) |
| A. C. B. Mynors | | |
| J. B. T. Chevallier, K.S. | | |
| A. M. Wilson | | |
| 1876 |
| R. Hunt | | (Master) |
| J. B. T. Chevallier, K.S. | | |
| G. H. Portal | | |
| C. P. Selby-Bigge | | |
| 1877 |
| R. Hunt | | (Master) |
| G. H. Portal | | |
| E. K. Douglas | | |
| C. A. Fellowes | | |
| 1878 |
| E. K. Douglas | | (Master) |
| R. D. Anderson | | |
| A. Gosling | | |
| C. B. Harvey | | |
| 1879 |
| A. W. H. Beach | | (Master) |
| Hon. M. B. Hawke | | |
| Lord Eskdail | | |
| G. Streatfeild | | |
| 1880 |
| Hon. D. H. Lascelles | | (Master) |
| N. MacGregor | | |
| Hon. G. E. Milles | | |
| G. L. Holdsworth | | |
| 1881 |
| Hon. D. H. Lascelles | | (Master) |
| G. L. Holdsworth | | |
| Hon. A. E. Parker | | |
| J. Hargreaves | | |
| 1882 |
| Hon. A. E. Parker | | (Master) |
| J. Hargreaves | | |
| T. C. Toler | | |
| F. S. Maude | | |
| 1883 |
| Hon. A. E. Parker | | (Master) |
| J. Hargreaves | | |
| Lord Newtown-Butler | | |
| F. Douglas-Pennant | | |
| 1884 |
| Lord Newtown-Butler | | (Master) |
| F. Douglas-Pennant | | |
| B. G. H. Vernon | | |
| F. A. Soames | | |
| 1885 |
| T. H. Barnard | | (Master) |
| F. P. Barnett | | |
| Hon. G. H.-D.-Willoughby | | |
| C. M. F. Luttrell | | |
| 1886 |
| F. P. Barnett | | (Master) |
| Hon. G. H.-D.-Willoughby | | |
| C. M. F. Luttrell | | |
| Hon. C. Douglas-Pennant | | |
| 1887 |
| Hon. T. W. Brand | | (Master) |
| Lord C. Cavendish-Bentinck | | |
| E. G. Hills | | |
| W. H. L. Allgood | | |
| 1888 |
| W. S. Gosling | | (Master) |
| F. E. Goad | | |
| Hon. J. H. Ward | | |
| G. Fenwick | | |
| 1889 |
| Hon. J. H. Ward | | (Master) |
| M. B. Furse, K.S. | | |
| L. Caldecott | | |
| C. G. Dalgety | | |
| 1890 |
| Hon. R. A. Ward | | (Master) |
| V. Nickalls | | |
| E. Lee | | |
| A. H. Dickinson | | |
| 1891 |
| E. G. Campbell | | (Master) |
| E. Lee | | |
| Lord Brackley | | |
| F. W. Wignall | | |
| 1892 |
| A. M. Grenfell | | (Master) |
| F. Hargreaves | | |
| Hon. R. Ward | | |
| J. A. Morrison | | |
| 1893 |
| W. R. O. Kynaston | | (Master) |
| Hon. F. W. G. Egerton | | |
| R. S. Grenfell | | |
| J. V. Hermon | | |
| 1894 |
| H. Baker-Creswell | | (Master) |
| T. D. Pilkington | | |
| F. M. A. Atkinson-Clark | | |
| E. R. Davson | | |
| 1895. |
| G. C. Sanford Hodgson | | (Master) |
| A. W. F. Baird | | |
| D. O. Dunlop | | |
| Hon. G. E. F. Ward | | |
| 1896 |
| Hon. G. E. F. Ward | | (Master) |
| C. M. Black | | |
| Hon. C. W. H. Cavendish | | |
| G. Robarts | | |
| 1897 |
| G. Robarts | | (Master) |
| A. D. Legard | | |
| J. J. Pawson | | |
| R. Lubbock, K.S. | | |
| 1898 |
| H. R. Milvain | | (Master) |
| W. H. Chapman | | |
| A. D. Pilkington | | |
| W. T. Hodgson | | |
| 1899 |
| F. O. Grenfell | | (Master) |
| R. N. Grenfell | | |
| E. B. Denison | | |
| H. K. Longman | | |
| 1900 |
| H. K. Longman | | (Master) |
| L. Heathcoat-Amory | | |
| Lord Dalmeny | | |
| G. Hargreaves | | |
| 1901 |
| R. G. H. Howard-Vyse | | (Master) |
| C. E. Lambert | | |
| J. S. Mellor | | |
| N. M. Wilson | | |
| 1902 |
| R. G. H. Howard-Vyse | | (Master) |
| N. M. Wilson | | |
| A. F. Lambert | | |
| J. H. Drake | | |
| 1903 |
| A. F. Lambert | | (Master) |
| C. R. H. Wiggin | | |
| K. I. Nicholl | | |
| St. J. M. Lambert | | |
| 1903-1904 |
| C. Romer Williams | | (Master) |
| A. R. Gilbey | | |
| N. W. Loder | | |
| Lord Maidstone | } | (3rd Whips) |
| P. M. N. Wroughton | } |
| 1904-1905 |
| P. M. N. Wroughton | | (Master) |
| E. A. Lycett-Green | | |
| M. C. Albright | | |
| G. J. C. Browne | | |
| 1905-1906 |
| P. M. N. Wroughton | | (Master) |
| H. S. Loder | | |
| J. F. Montagu | | |
| G. Buxton | | |
| 1906-1907 |
| H. S. Loder | | (Master) |
| G. R. Wiggin | | |
| S. G. Menzies | | |
| G. Kekewich | | |
| 1907-1908. |
| S. G. Menzies | | (Master) |
| G. Kekewich | | |
| G. H. Gilbey | | |
| I. A. Straker | | |
| 1908-1909. |
| S. G. Menzies | | (Master) |
| F. W. M. Cornwallis | | |
| G. W. Barclay | | |
| R. F. Drake | | |
| 1909-1910. |
| G. W. Barclay | | (Master) |
| R. F. Drake | | |
| W. S. Cornwallis | | |
| K. S. M. Gladstone | | |
| 1910-1911 |
| K. S. M. Gladstone | | (Master) |
| L. C. Gibbs | | |
| W. P. Browne | | |
| W. Holland-Hibbert | } | (3rd Whips) |
| J. C. R. Rawnsley | } |
| 1911-1912 |
| L. C. Gibbs | | (Master) |
| W. P. Browne | | |
| G. K. Dunning | | |
| N. W. H. Gladstone | } | (3rd whips) |
| E. G. K. S. May. | } |
| 1912-1913 |
| G. K. Dunning | | (Master) |
| N. W. H. Gladstone | | |
| H. A. St. George | | |
| R. E. F. Courage | | |
| 1913-1914 |
| C. C. H. Hilton Green | } | (Masters) |
| R. D. Crossman | } |
| Lord Apsley | | |
| L. C. Nash | | |
| R. W. G. Dill | | |
| 1914-1915 |
| R. D. Crossman | } | (Masters) |
| G. G. Cox-Cox | } |
| R. W. G. Dill | } | (1st Whips) |
| A. Knowles | } |
| B. A. Wilson | | |
| P. H. G. H. S. Hartley | | |
| 1915-1916 |
| G. G. Cox-Cox | } | (Masters) |
| W. A. D. Eley | } |
| G. Clapham | | |
| R. F. Goad | | |
| T. M. Nussey | | |
| 1916-1917 |
| R. F. Goad | } | (Masters) |
| H. K. M. Kindersley | } |
| T. M. Nussey | } | (1st Whips) |
| J. A. Dewhurst | } |
| S. A. Parker | | |
| Hon. E. V. Rhys | | |
| 1917. Winter Half. |
| S. A. Parker | | (Master) |
| Hon. E. V. Rhys | | |
| P. G. Ward Jackson | | |
| Marquess of Worcester | | |
| 1918-1919. No hunting. |
| 1920. Easter Half. |
| F. M. G. Glyn | | (Master) |
| J. P. Dewhurst | | |
| C. H. S. Dixon | | |
| T. C. Barnett-Barker | | |
| 1920-1921. |
| T. C. Barnett-Barker | | (Master) |
| J. M. Hopkinson | | |
| T. C. Gouldsmith | | |
| A. C. Crossley | | |