777^ BILLESDON HUNT. 9 



Halford at WIstow as a specimen. They 

 are mostly composed of blackthorn, care- 

 fully and scrupulously laid down, therefore 

 difficult to draw, and punishing to hounds ; 

 hence one of the reasons why packs from 

 the provincials, when introduced into Lei- 

 cestershire, are such significant failures and 

 sources of disappointment. It often happens 

 they fail to find when foxes are at home. 

 This does not apply to Mr Tailby's hounds, 

 for I never saw any draw better, or in a 

 more determined manner. These coverts of 

 Sir Henry Halford's are certain finds, 

 though full of game, especially of hares, which 

 are by no means numerous in other parts. 

 Foxes as a rule do not hang, and when 

 they do break away the struggle for a start 

 is truly awful. Let the stranger imagine 

 some fifty thrusting customers, out of three 

 hundred, charging fences almost simultane- 

 ously. Some of course clear them, others 

 come down crashers. A stunning fall 



