^'^ HUNTING AND SPORTING NOTES. 



fox had liis nose straight for d drain Whitcliurch way, 

 and only afforded a few fields' scurry. What disai^point- 

 ing rascals these Peel's Gorse foxes are ! Osniere held a 

 wary fellow, who nipped into Combermere instanter, and 

 afforded poor fun, until he had given up near Oak 

 Cottage. Ash Wood then gave the eager ones a hope of 

 warming themselves in right earnest, especially when a 

 fox broke at the lower side, and for a few fields the pace 

 was good. The cold frosty air, however, overpowered the 

 hounds' efforts, and ere Shavington was reached the pace 

 had become very slow. Here he was given up, and a 

 move made towards home by a few. An afternoon's treat, 

 however, was yet in store for the faithful ones. Ash 

 withy-bed held a poor little fellow that lacked the ability 

 to live more than three of those big fields before he was 

 overtaken and eaten, only, however, as luck would have 

 it, to disturl.» a far stronger wayfarer from a hedge-row 

 hard by. At the risk of indigeston, the hounds were 

 galloped forward to the new fox that jwinted for 

 Ightfield, and probably had his home in the Shropshire 

 country, for he sped away along l>y the Market Drayton 

 EiOad and down to the Twemlows, through it, across the 

 Sandford road, more woodland, and then in the direction 

 of Frees to Lighteach, when Goodall bethought him of 

 his special train, and the shades of evening among the 

 Shropshire ditches hereabouts, and had the hounds 

 stopped. This was a straight and by no means bad 

 gallop, redeeming the day from mediocrity. 



Friday morning gave us a sharp taste of frost, not 

 sufficient, however, to make the possibility of hunting 

 doubtful at 11-30. Leaton Knolls was our trysting place, 

 and a good field showed up, sadly missing, however, the 

 genial face of the squire, more sadly still while remember- 

 ing that he had gone to see his young Guardsman son 

 embark for Egpyt. Many a good wish follows him to- 

 day. An erratic sort of draw began with some small 

 coverts at Bomere Heath, then the home plantations, 

 and then the Shelf, unexpectedly without a fox. Fitz 

 Coppice, however, soon relieved our anxieties by exposing 

 a brace to view in very quick time. Hounds unluckily 

 divided. The dog fox broke at once across the Baschurch 

 road, as if he intended crossing the railway to Merring- 

 ton, and he was chased fast by half the pack, till he 

 recrossed the road and went in front of Walford Hall, 



