Preparing for the Opening Meet

All is bustle and activity in the hunting world. The preliminary period of cubbing, so necessary for the education of the young hounds, and, it must be added, of the young foxes as well, is nearing its end, and within less than three weeks of the appearance of these pages, most of the opening meets will have been held. All the best hunting quarters in the Shires and the most attractive provincial and Irish countries have long since been secured for the regular season, and very many of them are already occupied by those who are keen enough to go out with the hounds during cub-hunting. The hunting tailor and the dealer in horses have

the wane, it must be confessed that very few signs of declining interest can be detected in any direction at the present time.

The Chances of Sport

Whether sport will come up to the average of recent years during the ensuing season depends largely, of course, upon the weather. Granted an open winter and favourable scenting conditions, the likelihood is that it will prove a most successful season. Rarely have the reports from the different countries been more encouraging than those which have just come to hand. With very few exceptions, they tell of an abundance of foxes, of a tolerably satisfactory period of cubbing, and of the uniform excellence of young entries. Distemper wreaked sad havoc in some kennels a few months

alike been kept at high pressure during the past few weeks, and though we are continually being warned that the grand old sport of fox-hunting is on

It will be seen, therefore, that Captain Forester's reign starts very promisingly, and the removal of the hounds into their newly erected kennels will tend to increase the chances of his success. The new buildings will probably be ready at Christmas, but Captain Forester tells me the hounds will not be moved until the end of the season, as it would be inconvenient to make the change in the middle of hunting. Lord Lonsdale, as well as the retiring Master, will give his valuable assistance to the new M.F. H., and his lordship has generously guaranteed the annual sum of £500 so long as Captain Forester remains in office. There is no alteration in the arrangements of the Cottesmore, and those who hunt with the Oakham pack are very glad that things will go on as before, for their sport has been extraordinarily good since Mr. Hanbury became the

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has always distinguished it, and if the pack itself has suffered in any respect during recent years it has not been for the want of a capable and painstaking Master, but rather because the accommodation at the kennels has become quite inadequate and, in fact, unsuitable for the requirements of the leading packs. Everyone in the Quorn country has extended the warmest of welcomes to the new MF.H., Captain Frank Forester, who is well known with the pack, and has the advantage of having previously served in the Mastership of Hounds, though he will certainly find the leadership of the Quorn and its hard-riding field a very different task from managing the Old Berkshire and Muskerry countries. In the Shires there are not many to beat Captain Forester in a quick thing with hounds, and his knowledge of horses, hounds, kennels, stables, and all that concerns hunting, is exceptional.

Plenty of cubs have been found by the Meynell Hounds, and they have every prospect of good sport. In the adjoining country, formerly known as the South Notts, that indefatigable sportsman, the Earl of Harrington. enters upon his twentythird season in the Mastership He is as keen pack, goes out and is looking Earl Manvers

as when he first took over the five or six days a week as a rule forward to a successful season. is equally hopeful in the Rufford country, which is plentifully stocked with foxes.

An Extra Day for the Warwickshire

Lord Willoughby de Broke had a very difficult man to follow in his father, who raised the Warwickshire Hounds to a state of

the highest perfection, but in all respects he has proved a worthy successor. The only complaint against fox-hunting in Warwickshire that has been made is that the country is not hunted often enough, fa:mers-who would like to see hounds over their land twice a week-in consequence suffering rather acutely from the depredations of Reynard. This season Lord Willoughby intends to attempt to remove that source of complaint by hunting five days a week instead of four. From Wheatley Wood to Gaydon is a considerable stretch to cover in one day, and in order to equalise matters the Master has resolved to give the extra day to that country, hunting it on Mondays and Saturdays. Tuesdays, as usual, will be devoted to the Shipston side, Thurs days to the Shuckburgh side, and on Fridays the Edgehills and Banbury side will be covered. Mr. J. P. Arkwright continues in the Mastership of the North Warwickshire Hounds, but they have a new huntsman in James Cockayne, who has brought a good reputation wi h him from the Puckeridge.

though in a country like the Grafton the task is one of some magnitude, the new M.F.H. is not likely to disappoint his followers. While looking forward cagerly to Lord Southampton's term of office, the members of the Grafton Hunt do not forget the debt they owe to Mr. Douglas Pennant for the splendid way in which he hunted the country for many years, gaining the regard and admiration of all. Their gratitude to him is shortly to take the pleasant shape of a presentation. The prospects of sport are excellent in the Grafton country, a good show of foxes having been found in all parts, but owing to the want of rain the ground is very hard, and there has been little or no scent so far. But hounds have been working hard, and have accounted for a number of cubs.

Pytchley and Others With the Pytchley, Lord Annaly has found plenty of cubs, and the prospects of sport are very good, and the same may be said of the Woodland Pytchley, for whom Mr. W. M. Wroughton has engaged a new huntsman in Tom Carr, late of the North Warwickshire. In the Bicester country Mr. J. P. Heywood Lonsdale is still in the Mastership, and the ties which have attached him to the district were made still stronger by his recent marriage with a daughter. of Lord Valentia, a former Master of the pack. Six years ago Mr. Heywood Lonsdale came from Shropshire-where his name is as a household word in hunting circles a comparative stranger to the Bicester country; but he is universally popular there now, and is considered one of the best M.F.H. of the moment. The Bicester started the cubbing season auspiciously, and they have plenty of foxes. Mr. George Fitzwilliam's Hounds have likewise done well during cubbing; while the Heythrop Hounds have found a splendid lot of foxes without mange. Their Master, Mr. Albert Brassey, now enters upon his thirty-third season in office. Mr. W. H. Barber, who has done very well with the South Oxfordshire Hounds in company with the capable young huntsman, Walter Keyte, starts the season with a country full of foxes, and a strong young entry.

A notable feature of the present Lord Southampton in season is the return to office of O.fice Again Lord Southampton, who is recognised as one of the best men to hounds in the kingdom, and one who possesses all those qualifications which go to make a successful M.F.H. The Hon. E. Douglas Pennant, who makes way for him in the Grafton country, had the assistance of a professional huntsman; but Lord Southampton prefers to hunt his own hounds, and

Not many changes from last season are to be recorded in the county of broad acres, where, in spite of the growth of the manufacturing towns, the construction of railways in all directions, and the spread of the mining districts, the love of the chase is as keen to-day as ever it was. Only one Yorkshire M.F.H. has actually placed his name on the retired list since April last, and in this solitary case the matter of increasing years alone brought about the change. Reference is made to Mr. Arthur Wilson's retirement, after having hunted. the Holderness country with the greatest success since 1878. Mr. Charles Brook, the new Master of the Holderness, is hunting the hounds himself, and there is a good show of foxes nearly all over the country. Mr. Brook has changed from the Badsworth Hounds, whose followers greatly regret his departure, but they have found a popular successor to him in Mr. H. J. Hope Barton, who since his boyhood days has been a regular supporter of the pack, which, moreover, for seven years enjoyed the Mastership of his father.

The Earl of Harrington

Who enters on his twenty-third sason as Master of the South Notts Hou:.ds

Mr. J. P. Heywood Lonsdal:

which actuated Osbaldeston and the fox-hunting squires of old is dead when we have such an example of enthusiasm before us as is presented by the head of the noble house of Fitzwilliam ? Among Yorkshire Masters, Mr. E. Lycett Green also holds a fine record, having been for twenty years at the head of the York and Ainsty Hunt. Mr. Green is now joined by Mr. H. E. Preston, and the Joint Masters will hunt the hounds themselves, Mr. Green taking the dog pack, and Mr. Preston the bitches. The latter gentleman is well known as one of the best judges of hounds in the country. Under the generous and sportsmanlike Mastership of Mr. Lycett Green, the York and Ainsty have shown good sport, and hopes are entertained that similarly good fortune is in store for the country for many seasons. Capping is about to be practised for the first time. Will Gray, who has been first whipper-in and kennel huntsman for many seasons, has retired, and the subscription list which is being got up for him is already filling well. The York and Ainsty young hounds are entering satisfactorily, though scent so far has not been of the best. Nevertheless, a good number of cubs have been accounted for. Equally hopeful reports come from the Hurworth, Bedale, and Bramham Moor countries, our report from the last named telling of an abundance of good strong cubs in most places, and a good entry of young hounds.

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Linco'nshire Packs

The Earl of Yarborough is expecting a good season in the famous Brocklesby country, "plenty of foxes in all parts" being his report on the present position. There is a favourable outlook, too, in the Burton country; and Mr. E. P. Rawnsley