1877] WETTEST DAY OF THE SEASON. 391 



Saturday, BrarnsliaU cillage. — Found in Philips' Gorse, ran over the 

 railway up to Leigh, and on to Park Hall, where our fox turned to the right and 

 ran by Heybridge, over the road, up to the Heath House Durable, where we 

 checked. Thirty minutes. Hunted him slowly on to Beamhurst, and gave it 

 up. Found in Carry Coppice, ran about a bit, and to ground in a pit-hole on 

 Blurton's Farm. Got on another fox that was coming back to Carry Coppice, 

 ran a ring over the Carry Lane, down to Philips' Gorse, over the railway 

 towards Leigh, back through the gorse (where he lay down), on by Bramshall 

 station into Carry Coppice, and to ground in another pit-hole on Blurton's Farm. 

 First-rate forty minutes, tremendous scent, and a great disappointment for 

 hounds. 



Monday, January 29th, Draycott C///f'.— Found in Bull's Park, ran very hard 

 along the banks and through the woods to Housalem's Coppice. Here our fox 

 turned short back, and hounds divided, part going on and killing their fox, and 

 part hunting another fox on towards Blithfield into the Rhododendron Covert 

 and back into the woods, where they got together again. The wettest day I 

 have been out this season, and I sent the hounds home at two o'clock. First-rate 

 scent in covert. 



Tuesday, Bradley. — Found a brace of foxes in the old lime-pits, and lost 

 almost immediately in the most blinding snowstorm I ever experienced out 

 hunting. Drew Yeldersley Eough lilank. Found in Shirley Park, ran round 

 the covert, and a ring by Ednaston and back, out over the Park by Osmaston 

 village and Edlaston, almost to Yeaveley and lost. Longford Car blank. It blew 

 a perfect hurricane all day, and there was very little scent at the best of times. 



Thursday, Etwall. — Found at Egginton, ran over the railway and back to 

 Burnaston, up to Etwall, turned to the left and back to the gorse, where our fox 

 waited for us. Went away again over the railway and the canal nearly to 

 Spilsbury's Coverts, and round by Burnaston within two fields of the gorse, and 

 lost on the foiled ground. No scent on the plough, of which there was plenty. 

 Trotted off to Hilton, found, ran towards Sutton Mill, turned over the brook, and 

 ran nearly up to the Ashe, where we came to a long check. Got on our fox 

 again in the gorse, ran a ring by Mr. Buckstone's house, through Sutton village, 

 down to the Spath, on by Barton Fields, and almost down to Alkmonton 

 Bottoms. Here he turned short back, ran through Potter's Covert, and down to 

 ]\Iamerton, where we gave it up, as scent got worse every minute. 



Saturday, Chartley. — Drew the Moss, Drointon Wood, Birch Coppice, and 

 Giller's Rough blank. Found in Handleasow Wood, ran to the Shaw, out 

 towards Fradswell and back. Then on through Birchwood Park and Sherratt's 

 Wood, almost to Draycott, and lost in a heavy storm. Found four foxes in 

 Gratwich Wood, ran by Handleasow Wood to the Shaw, and lost. No scent. 



February 5th. — Wychnor blank. Found in Rough Park. Ran round and 

 round, and to ground near Argill's house. Found again in Brakenhurst, ran 

 about for half an hour, and killed. 



Tuesday, Sudbury. — Lake Bank, the Park, and the Bottoms blank. Found 

 in the Aldermoor, ran to Eaton Wood and back to Vernon's Oak, and lost. 

 Found in the Coppice, ran to Cubley Lodge and to the top of Boylestone Hill, 

 almost to Sapperton, and back ; very fast over the Park, and tlirough the 

 Bottoms to the Windy Bank, and into a tree in the Park. Bolted him with a 

 terrier, and killed him. Found a second time in the Coppice, ran a ring and 

 came back, but scent failed entirely. 



Thumday, liadburne. — Chopped a fox in the Eough. Went away with 

 another almost to Trusley, where he turned back, and ran past the Rough up to 



