Woore, and the WhitUngton Tree Fox. S3 



that lie was about to quit, but quitted on his own accord, 

 ex red tapeism, running with a very fair scent. We ran 

 round Peewit Hall, then back, close by Admiral's Gorse, 

 then straio-ht for Jjodington Park, but just before getting 

 to the Park he turned to the right, and ran through 

 Checkley Wood, out on the far side, then into the wood 

 again, through the middle of the wood, and out on the 

 Crewe side, and was eventually lost in a storm about two 

 miles away from Checkley Wood, on the Crewe oide. 

 Dodington Ptirk covers were then drawn, but proved 

 blank. Then we had a trot to Admiral's Gorse, but 

 although we found a fox, if not a brace, there came on 

 such a storm of hail and rain that the hounds were 

 ordered home. 



Sir Watkin, at Whittington, on Monday, enjoyed good 

 sport. The day, however, was rendered famous by the 

 fox doing the cats' trick so cleverly that it took a rustic 

 all his time to climb up the ivy tree and dislodge him. 

 It is indeed hard to disassociate the old story of 

 Whittington and his cat, from the proceedings of the day — ■ 

 not that there is anything wonderful in a fcrx's going up 

 a tree — hundreds of them lie in trees by preference, 

 especially when the country is wet, ancl the woods 

 get thin or are much disturbed. An old tree fox is very hard 

 to find, and is generally a dodger. I have known them 

 when hard pressed go to ground in a hollow tree, and 

 scramble up inside it. The editor of the Morning Post 

 was so exercised in his mind over it that he indicted a 

 leading article on the subject there and then. How 

 much more remarkable, however, was the hopeless 

 exploit last week of the East Sussex fox that went out 

 to sea sooner than do battle with Mr. C. E. Egertonand 

 his pack any longer. The Whittington fox must have 

 known well the voice of Colonel E. Lloyd, of Aston, and 

 had no doubt often winked his eye at him from above. 

 He lives, I rejoice to say, to amuse us, and on the next 

 occasion, when he is called upon to come dozen, may I be 

 there to see. 



On Tuesday a bitter north wind and snow storms put 

 in a decided veto to much sport, although several packs 

 tried their best, and old Alec with the United succeeded 

 on Wednesday, notwithstanding the snow, m having a 



