MR. THORNHILL— 1835. 313 



Chesterton we unkenneled a second fox, which led us away 

 direct for Itchington Heath, and there went to ground. We 

 bolted him, and he went back to Chesterton, through the 

 wood, on through Oakley, and then away to Wasperton. — 

 Leaving that village to the left, pug took away for Warwick 

 Park ; still inclining to the left, he made down to the brook 

 at Tachbroke, and there took ground. This run lasted two 

 hours and a quarter. 



Met at Gaydon Inn, Dec. 29th, and at Compton Verney, 

 Dec. 30th J bad scent, and consequently but very little 

 sport, on either day. 



There was no hunting, on account of the frost, on the 

 following days ; — Jan. 4th, Upton House, Jan. 5th, Mitford 

 Bridge, Jan. 7, Whimpstone Bridge, and Jan. 8th, Ufton 

 Wood. 



Jan. 9. — Met at Hampton Wood, and fovind a fox by 

 the side of the Avon in a withy biish. 1 He led us direct 

 through Barford Village, and on to Oakley Wood ; through 



1 There are but few anecdotes connected with the natural histoiy 

 and habits of that little animal the fox, that the Sportsman of sound 

 experience and reflection will not cast his eye over when they come in 

 his way. In the long dreary nights of winter, the fox frequently 

 prowls about the country to a considerable distance from his kennel 

 in search of food. One morning, when the snow had fallen early on 

 the preceding evening, we traced a fox down by the side of the Avon, 

 on a shooting excursion, for about two miles. In this case, probably, 

 he had been looking out for a wild duck, or some other water fowl, 

 that might liave taken sheltei- in one of the bushes growing on the 

 margin of the river. He had approached nearly every bush, or close 

 tuft, in his progress, and there can be but little doubt, from the 

 remarkable acuteness of his ear and nose, that he would have been 

 able to detect the presence of a bird of the above description, of any 

 size, should such a one have concealed itself amongst the low branches, 

 or in tlie long grass growing at their roots. Reynard, it appeared, had 

 not succeeded ; and, on coming to a road, he had left the line of the 

 river, and taken another route. 



X 3 



