STAGRUNTING WITH THE DEVON AND SOMERSET, 1887-1901.
Staghunting with the Devon and Somerset, 1687-1901. By Philip Evered. (Chatto and Windus. 16s.)—The chase of the wild red-deer on Exmoor has formed the subject of several books. Mr. Evered, who is the Hunt secretary, describes this fine sport as it exists at the present day. He knows the country and the method of procedure thoroughly. His style is more agreeable than the common run of sporting writers, and he is imbued with a love of Exmoor and a delight in the indescribable pleasures of the chase. But his book bears traces of hurried compilation. Repetition and want of order make it less pleasant reading than it might have been had he devoted more time to the sub- ject. Under the mastership of Mr. Sanders, who has combined the advantages of education at Balliol with natural keenness in field sports, the Devon and Somerset have had some wonderful runs. The herd of deer, we are glad to think, shows no signs of diminishing, the hunting days have been increased from three to four in the week, and two additional packs have joined in keeping down the numbers and the destructive practices of the deer, It was in September, 1899, that the greatest run of the last half-century took place, and this, with others, is described in detailed and lively language. To those who are ignorant of the geography a minute description of the line taken is dull; to others there is no better read- ing. We could have read also with interest more on the art of "harbouring" and drawing with " tatters " which is so im- portant a part of this venerable sport. That wretched parody of hunting, the chase of the carted deer, is far removed from the Exmoor methods of hunting the wild deer; but we do not doubt that in course of time the same class of well-meaning humanitarians who protested against the Royal Bnckhounds will turn their attention to the Devon and Somerset. We hope their efforts will he unsuccessful in putting a stop to what is not only one of the oldest, but also one of the finest, of our English field sports. Mr. Evered's book is illustrated with a number of photographs ; some give a good idea of the country and the sport, others are so unsuccessful that they were not worth reproducing.
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