THE BILLESDON HUNT. 5 



such fine opportunities for hounds to out- 

 pace the horses, and for horses to roll over 

 their riders, are now to a considerable ex- 

 tent superseded by the blackthorn hedges, 

 for the protection of which the rails were 

 originally constructed. There is, as here- 

 tofore, much timber to be met with in the 

 corners of fields and in the weak parts of 

 the fences ; but a few years since most 

 diabolical contrivances were introduced in 

 the form of wire, which Is not visible to the 

 quickest eye, when hounds are running, till 

 It is too late to avoid the insidious tram- 

 mels. The reasons assigned for the use of 

 these wire impediments are economy, and 

 in some places deficiency of timber where- 

 withal to make s^ood the fences. So ereat 

 has been the outcry against trees in hedge- 

 rows, that on several estates they have 

 been nearly exterminated. Too great a 

 profusion of trees is doubtless injurious, 

 and the other extreme is equally objection- 



