1851] SCARCITY OF FOXES. 203 



eighty-four days — they killed fifty foxes, and ran thirty-one 

 to ground and left them, and had two blank days. 



Morris was out twenty-eight days and had three blank 

 days. He did not have the pick of the country, as far as 

 grass and small coverts were concerned ; but the Birmingham 

 countr}' and much of the woodlands ah\ays carried a good 

 scent. 



There is included in Stevens' diary a list of the horses 

 which he rode on each day's hunting, two of the best of 

 which were Grey ling and Harlequin. 



On the 8th of May, 1851, a meeting of the supporters 

 of the Warwickshire hounds was. held at Wellesbourne. 

 It was unanimously agreed that a circular should be sent 

 to all the principal landowners in the Warwickshire Hunt, 

 requesting them most respectfully, but most strongly, to 

 use their best exertions in their respective neighbourhoods 

 for the preservation of foxes. It was stated by Mr. 

 Barnard, and was well known to the meeting, that it 

 would be impossible for himself or for any other person to 

 show sport unless there are more foxes than there were 

 last season ; and as it was the opinion of the meeting that 

 it would be a subject of very general regret if the country 

 should not be hunted, it is hoped that every exertion will 

 be made by preserving foxes to enable Mr. Barnard to 

 continue to hold the situation he now does, and to prevent 

 the hounds being given up. In some coverts foxes are 

 always found, but in others (no doubt often unknown to 

 the owners) foxes are killed by rabbit traps and other 

 means,* which it is earnestly to be hoped will be dis- 

 continued when once attention is generally called to this 

 subject. 



There can be no doubt that the circular which had 

 been sent to the principal landowners throughout the 



* The following appeared in the Scotch Reformer's Gazette : The largest dog fox 

 that has been tilled in the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire was shot on Thursday near 

 Lanark by a young country boy while it was in the act of cursing a hare. He weighed 

 181b., and measured from tip of nose to rump, 29| inches; length of brush, 18 inches ; 

 entire length, 47i inches. Length of stretch from tip of fore legs to extremity of hind 

 legs, 2in. more. 



