THE COUNTRY 3 



fell fox proper prefers to have his kennel at a 

 higher altitude, where chances of disturbance are 

 less. Lower still, where the huge intakes merge 

 into smaller enclosures, the number and size of the 

 woods increase. It is down in this low country 

 that a mounted man can see something of the 

 sport, for though the nature of the ground and the 

 fences prohibits riding right up to hounds, there 

 are plenty of side roads, bridle-tracks and the hke, 

 by means of which it is possible to keep in fairly 

 close touch with the flying pack. 



Much of this low ground is heather land, and 

 everywhere the bracken flourishes in wfld pro- 

 fusion. In summer it is waist-high, and even 

 taller, and in early autumn when it changes from 

 green to russet-brown and yeUow, it hampers the 

 footsteps of the man on foot, and, owing to its 

 dryness, makes scenting conditions very difficult. 

 For this reason hounds seldom visit the low ground 

 untfl a fall of snow or heavy rain has somewhat 

 flattened the bracken beds. 



On the lower slopes of the high feUs the bracken 

 is equally luxuriant, covering acres of land which 

 would otherwise be good pasturage for the httle 

 Herdwick sheep. Foxes, particularly cubs, are to 

 be found in these bracken patches, where they lie 

 and creep about unseen on the approach of an 

 intruder. 



On the summits of the high tops the ground is 



