U.K. II. 205 



in an osier bed, near Good Easter, and killed in Earners 

 Wood, after a first-rate run of fitty-eight minutes. Hounds 

 had just light enough to enable them to break up their 

 fox ; and it may be noted that a well-known member of 

 the hunt, Mr. Sands, rode through a great part of this 

 run with his yirths hanyino- loose, and danelino; arainst 

 his horse's hind leos. 



On December 13th, the meet at Easton Lodge was 

 honoured by the presence of the Prince of Wales. On this 

 important day, weather and sport were, unfortunately, bad ; 

 in marked contrast to that of the next morning, when a fox, 

 found in Witney Wood, afforded the run of the season ; 

 standing up before hounds for over an hour and a-half 

 before he was cleverly brought to hand near Dudbrook. 

 Before the end of the year there were several more 

 exceptionally good days, including runs of over an hour 

 each from Bendysh Wood and Row Wood ; but the picture 

 had its reverse, and a week later, that is to say, on Decem- 

 ber 2 1st, it was clearly impressed on Essex sportsmen that 

 no one can commantl success, for on the latter date came 

 the first of the two blank days of the season. 



Excellent sport continued to be enjoyed. In January 

 there were five first-ratc! days in succession. On two of 

 these davs Bailev was absent through illness, and the 



