80 THE WAEWICKSHIRE HUNT. [1882 



and went by Broom Hill Gorse nearly to "Wiiidei*toii ; but turned back, and 

 hunted as far as Shutford Clump, where we gave it up at six o'clock, after 

 running for about an hour and twenty minutes. Rode Beaconsfield and 

 Ballynegall. 



On March 22ncl, at the annual meeting of the sub- 

 scribers to the hounds at Wellesbourne, the usual vote of 

 thanks was recorded to Lord Willoughby for the handsome 

 manner in which he had hunted the country during the 

 past season, and for the sport he had shown, and he was 

 guaranteed the sum of 1800/. for the purpose of hunting 

 the country during the ensuing season. 



Although there were only two blank days during the 

 season, a great deal of time was spent after February 14th 

 in drawing blank. From that day until the end of the 

 season, during twenty-seven days' hunting, there were 

 thirty-nine finds and ninety-eight blank draws. 



Hunted from August 30tli to April 6th ; 117 days in all. Killed eighty- 

 four foxes, and ran thirty -nine to ground. Had two blank days ; one cub- 

 hunting in the Red Hill coimtry, and the other when we met at Faniborough 

 the last time. Were stopped two days by frost, and the hounds did not go 

 out for a week, owing to the sudden death of Mrs. Tritton. A very fair 

 scenting season, and the sport was good, without having anjiihing wonderful 

 in the way of jjoint. 



During 1878, and afterwards, our summer jaunts took 

 place at Grlenfeshie, in Inverness-shire. During that 

 season and the seasons following, up to 1883, we had fine 

 and varied sport. The following table gives an analysis of 

 what was killed by deerstalking of two rifles and shooting 

 of four guns during six successive years ; the average for 

 each year amounted to 106 stags, and 1280 brace of 

 birds. 



Next to hunting, deerstalking is the finest of sports, 

 and the next best is salmon fishing, which is only inferior 

 to stalking because it is more uncertain. I have often 

 thought that it is a nice j)oint to decide which of the 

 following is the hardest day's work : A day's hunting, 

 after which you have ridden a tired horse a long distance 

 home ; a day's deerstalking ; a day's salmon fishing from 

 the bank of a river where wading is required ; or a day's 

 grouse shooting over dogs on severe ground. — C. M. 



