1877-78] Frank Beers' Diaries. 151 



fox. A most severe day for hounds and horses. 18 

 couples of bitches, two couples of dogs included. This 

 has been a very open season (it ended April 5th) only 

 been stopped twice by frost, a capital season's sport, but 

 frightfullv wet, and deep the whole season. More foxes 

 than have ever been known to have been killed in one 

 season in this country, 51^ brace." 



1877-78. 



1877. Sept. 7th. — Began cub-hunting at Briary. 

 Hunted thirty mornings, killed thirty-three foxes. 



Nov. 12th. — Commenced regular hunting at Stowe- 

 Nine-Churches. 



'' Dec. 3rd. — Foster's Booth. Found in Grimscote 

 Heath, away through Foxley to Grub's Coppice, past 

 Bushey End, past Caswell, to Blakesley ; short back, 

 and ran into him at Foxley bottom. Found again in 

 Astcote Thorns, ran to the road and back, and killed him 

 before he reached the covert. Found another in the 

 Thorns, away past Caswell, and killed him at Tite's 

 Coppice. Went aw^ay with another as hard as they 

 could travel, to Woodend, and stopped the hounds going 

 into Plumpton. 



"Dec. 14th. — Astwell Mill. Found foxes in Allithorn, 

 away on capital terms with one to Sulgrave, where 

 a fox jumped up out of a hedge, part of the hounds 

 caught view at him, and raced him into the village, and 

 killed him. The other hounds went on nearly to Moreton 

 Pinkney, back to Sulgrave, and finally ran into him in 

 the open at Weston by Weedon ; a capital gallop. 

 Found again in Tite's Coppice, away at best pace to 

 Foscote, to ground in a drain. I rode Brocklesby and 

 Limerick, both horses carried me brilliantly. 18 couple 

 bitches." 



