Thomas Hudson was gamekeeper to the dukes of Buccleuch at their Bowhill estate in the Borders. In this engraving Hudson is depicted at the age of sixty-seven on his pony, Duncan. He is accompanied by the dogs Ranger and Mungo which belonged to Charles, 4th Duke of Buccleuch. Gamekeepers managed a piece of land belonging to an estate in order to create a healthy surplus of wildlife which could be culled for sport and food. Hudson was still in service at the age of seventy-five when he was compelled to recommend ‘rigorous measures’ to combat the ‘rising generation’ of Selkirk youths who made ‘ill use’ of the freedom of the Bowhill estate.