126 THE WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. [1884 



killed. While we were breakiug up the fox. nuotlier went away, and they 

 liuuted hiui very pretty up to Miller's Gorse, through that, and away across 

 the Vale, to groimd almost in ^iew at Avon Dassett. A good day's sport. 



November 20th. Idlicote. — Still hard and dry. Found at Hell Brake, and 

 ran slowly to Spencer's Gorse, and on to Broom Hill, and killed. Foimd at 

 Oxhill Gorse, and ran well to Pillertou Old Covert, and across to Kiuetou 

 Oaks, where we changed foxes and ran up Edge Hill, and lost just above 

 Ratley. 



December 11th, Long Itchington. — Drew Debdale blank. Found at Uftou 

 Wood, and after one or two turns round it they got away and settled dow^l 

 as if they meant running. They pointed a.s^ if for Ladbroke, and left Deppei-'s 

 Bridge on the right, and went over Ladbroke Hill, and down to the canal 

 where the road to Napton crosses it. They all tlashed over except Amity, 

 who put them right, and they ran along the canal side as if the fox did not 

 mean to cross it. He did so a few fields on. and the point then seemed to be 

 Priors Marston ; but they turned to the left again as if for Shuckburgh 

 Hill, skirted the bottom of it, and went nearly to Catesby ; turned rather 

 short to the left here, and crossed the road half-way between Shuckburgh 

 and Staverton, near the bridge over the brook. On over the brook, 

 now being in the Pytchley country, and up to Drayton Spinneys, where 

 there was a lougish check, and we never really ran afterwards, the pace 

 up to there having been good, and the hounds having only been cast 

 once. When they hit oft", we hunted him over the Daventry Road as if for 

 Bragborough or Welton Place. He tried a drain a few fields from the 

 road, and finding it stopped, turned liack for Braunston Gorse. near which 

 place Ave lost him. Twelve miles from point to jjoint ; seventeen as the pack 

 ran. All there at the finish. 



From Sir Charles Mordaunt's diary : 



On Saturday December 11th, the hounds had a splendid run from Ufton 

 Wood, from which no such v\m has been seen for many years. The meet was 

 at Long Itchington, and Debdale. a much more favourite covert, was dra^vu 

 blank, thus causing Ufton to be drawn. A holloa at the end of the covert 

 nearest Ufton Yillage drew a large number of the field there, and many of 

 these did not see the hounds again. This had the effect of clearing the south 

 end of the covert, where the fox broke. No one but one of the whips saw 

 him,* and he said he was a very long, thin, greyhound fox ; this perhaps 

 accoimted for his staying poAvers. About a hundred of the field started near 

 the hounds, but these soon began to be scattered l)y the pace, the fii-st 

 obstacle being the river Itchen, one mile from the wood. Several rode at this 

 and got in, and some did not ride at it at all, and got no further ; ))ut those 

 who knew the country skirted the river, and Avent round by Depper's Bridge, 

 and thus gained a great advantage, the hounds crossing the road from 

 Southam to Harbury just in front ; they ran with a burning scent, pointing 

 at first as if for Ladbroke Village, Avhicli they left on the right, and then 

 Avent over Ladbroke Hill, and thence to the canal close to Xapton 

 Hill. Avhere the first check occurred at the end of forty minutes, during 

 Avhich the pack had ran. as they Avent. eight miles. The field at this time 



* Sir Charles is not quite correct here. I had a good sight of him, aud he Avas the 

 longest, leanest, blackest fox I CA-er saAv. — W. R. Y. 



