i8o FOX-HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS 



out of the same drain. Out of the first drain 

 another fox bolted, and Jack got a third. Turned 

 down the fox we had got, in front of Kirkby 

 House, which we ran to ground in Fulshaw's earth ; 

 it had been scratched open by some other foxes. 

 A good scent and a very nice day's sport. Rode 

 Squire and Resin ; Jack, Bluebeard ; Kit, Galen. 

 '* October 20th. Ridge Heath. — Twenty-two 

 couples; old pack. Drew the Heath, and on it 

 killed a bitch-fox with her leg in a trap. Found in 

 a little covert close to Mr. Boycott's ; ran him very 

 fast over the Heath and some way towards 

 Apley ; he then turned, came back to Chesterton 

 Rocks ; from thence we viewed him away, and he 

 went into a drain in the middle of a grass field ; 

 bolted and killed an old dog-fox; one hour and 

 five minutes. Found three foxes in Snowden 

 Pool. I was on the wrong side of the covert, 

 and stopped five couples of hounds running one 

 of the foxes. The body went by Molyneux's 

 Gorse, past Badger, and nearly up to Apley ; he 

 then turned, and in coming back I met them, 

 and we ran him to ground in the banks by 

 Wrighton ; one hour and three-quarters — in all a 

 good day's sport. Rode Cottager ; Jack, Sophy ; 

 Kit, Pomfret." 



On October 24th, the Diary says : *' Ran him 

 very quick for two miles towards Shifnal, but 

 the gentlemen chose to override the hounds so 

 shamefully that they were soon brought to an 

 irrecoverable check." 



