HUNTING.
NOW that the Prince of Wales and his brothers have become prominent in their affection for fox-hunting, the prospects of sport with the packs they follow cannot fail to be of general interest. The Prince of Wales, after considerable experience of various packs, has settled down in the Duke of Beaufort's country, and would have hunted regularly had it not been for his unfortunate accident ; alas ! one of many owing to the polished macadam roads. He will not be bothered by that dreadful menace wire, as in the Duke's country it has all been removed ; would that it were so in other first-class hunts, both provincial and shire.
The country covers some 760 square miles in Gloucester, Somerset and Wilts. Every sort of fence occurs; there is a big proportion of grass, some light riding plough and a good deal of woodland.
Malmesbury and Chippenham are perhaps the best centres. Lord Worcester hunts himself a bitch pack and a mixed one four days a week, and Newman, the professional huntsman, carries the horn two days. Cubbing started on August 22nd, and forty-three and a-half brace of foxes were killed up to November 1st. Hedge-cutting competitions will be organized in various districts, and the hunt offers £250 in prizes.
Prince Henry is staying with Colonel E. W. Stanyforth at Kirk Hammerton Hall, midway between York and Knaresborough ; Captain Ronald Stanyforth is his equerry. Prince Henry has been out several times both with the York and Ainsty and also the Bramham Moor, the Master of the latter being Lord Lascelles. Cubbing in both countries has been restricted owing to the late harvest, and still a good many coverts have not been hunted. The York and Ainsty is an awkwardly shaped country, but contains much natural hunting area. That in the Ainsty of York is as little affected by the advance of time as any in England, there being few new railways and roads and little addition to population. They have the best and most popular of Masters in Captain H. Whitworth and a really good huntsman in Cumpstone. The Bramham Moor for generations has been in the hands of the Lane-Fox family, but came back this season to the Harewoods, who had it about one hundred years ago. They have some fine galloping grass; the triangle contained between the points Harrogate, Wetherby and Otley is not to be beaten in the classic shires. Lord Lascelles turns out regularly, but when his many public duties prevent him he hands over to Mr. Edward Lascelles, his brother, who is keenness itself. They have had this season since the opening day more than one capital hunt, but scent has never been of the killing order.
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