208 THE WAEWICKSHIRE HUNT. [1890 



It was the severest winter since 1854-1855. There 

 were two rare specimens of ducks shot on the lake at 

 Walton, one being a sheldrake, and the other a scaup 

 duck, the Latter not often seen in this country, and called 

 the bkie bill in North America. A wild swan was also 

 for a week backwards and forwards on the water. His 

 size, which was smaller than an ordinary swan, and his 

 black bill, could be seen with a telescope without disturbing 

 him. There was frost during the greater part of February, 

 and on many days there would have been no hunting if it 

 had not been for the bright sun which came out after the 

 frost. In High Leicestershire there was no hunting during 

 the whole of this month. It was too dry for scent in 

 February and March, and hardly any rain fell before April. 

 — C. M. 



SEASON 1890-91. 



From Lord Willoughby de Broke's diary : 



First day of cubliuiiting ou September 1st, at Bowshot at 5 o'clock, with 

 forty-seven aud a half couples of houuds out. Killed one fox. 



Cubhuuted ou thirty-uine days. Killed thirty-five foxes aud rau twelve 

 to grouud. 



Fu'st day of regular hunting on November 6th, at 

 Lower Shuckburgh. 



On November 6th, to the great regret of all who knew 

 him, the sad and very sudden death of Mr. H. Spencer 

 Lucy, of Charlecote, late master of the Warwickshire 

 Hounds, occurred. He had been staying with Mr. T. 

 Fitzhugh in Wales, and from there he went to Colonel 

 Tower, at Weald Hall, Essex, and when out shooting at 

 one of these places, or on the journey down, he caught a 

 violent chill, and died of inflammation of the lungs. He was 

 buried at Charlecote on November 1 1th, in his sixtieth year. 



He had a favourite retriever bitch called Jet, who was 

 his constant companion. On the first occasion after his 

 death, when she found that the shooting party had gone 

 out without her, she would not eat any more food, and 

 died soon afterwards, no doubt of a broken heart on 

 account of the loss of her master. 



