76 RECORDS OF THE CHASE 



it is invaluable and is an excellent arena both for cub- 

 hunting and hunting in the spring of the year, when 

 the young crops and the nature of the coverts render 

 it imprudent to continue the sport in the open. Capps' 

 Lodge, Chadlington Gate, Combury Park, Fair Spear, 

 Potter's Lodge, RLngwood Oak, and White Oak Green, 

 otherwise Wittey Green, are the principal places of 

 meeting in the forest. Foxes found at Bruern, 

 Tangley, Westwell and Bradwell Grove will often run 

 direct to Wychwood, and a more splendid country to 

 cross cannot be desired. 



In the Duke of Beaufort's country the Lower Woods 

 are the most important. Though by no means so ex- 

 pansive as Wychwood Forest, they are a favourite 

 rendezvous of the vulpine race. In a wet season such 

 as that of 1852 and 1853, the rides are awfully deep, 

 and lost shoes and occasionally loose horses are the 

 results. By the excellent management for which the 

 duke's hounds are signalised, these woods are constantly 

 hunted ; therefore the foxes are wild, and very frequently 

 afford good runs. It is not an uncommon occurrence 

 to find a fox in the Lower Woods whose line is up 

 Hawkesbury Hill (a choker at the commencement) to 

 Bodkin Hazles, Swangrove, across Badminton Park, 

 and if the hounds do not previously taste him, his 

 point is Sopworth, Sherston, and perhaps Pinkney Park. 

 There is also a considerable tract of hilly woodlands 

 about Kilcot, Boxwell, Alderley, and Newark Park, 

 well stocked with foxes. 



Earl Fitzhardinge's Berkeley country has a con- 

 siderable portion of woodland, although none of the 

 coverts are individually very extensive. The principal 

 ones are those on the line of hills between Dursley and 

 Wotton-under-Edge, extending to Stinchcombe and 

 Westridge in one direction, and towards Kingscote in 

 the other, where they are bounded by the Duke of 

 Beaufort's country already mentioned, Kilcot, Boxwell, 

 and Alderley. His lordship has also a fine preserve for 

 foxes and game in Michaelwood ; in fact it is un- 



