1879] A FOX KILLED ON THE ICE AT SUDBURY. 25 



light). The coppice was the next order, where very soon the welcome " Tally- 

 ho " of J. Tasker (first whip) proclaimed that he had gone away. It was soon 

 evident that the scent was good, as the pace that the merry pack (bitches) 

 rattled him through the bottoms was a regular burster, and the fine music 

 appeared to cheer the whole field with glorious excitement. The fox first 

 pointed for Sudbury Park, but, being turned by some country yokel halloaing, he 

 directed his way towards Eaton Woods ; this caused a momentary pause. The 

 huntsman (C. Leedham) soon had them on the right line, and, led by Rally, a 

 first-season lemon and white bitch, they ran him in splendid style, so fast that he 

 was unable to reach his intended harbour. After trying the cottagers' gardens 

 at Somersal, he resorted to the protection of Mr. Bowden's stackyard. This was 

 of no use, as the ladies, with their experienced huntsman, were quite equal to his 

 wily ways, and he had to surrender his carcase to a " who-whoop," finishing a 

 capital run of about twenty-five minutes, during which a wide brook and some 

 stiflf thorn fences had to be surmounted. The first rank of horsemen consisted 

 of Lord Petersham, Messrs. A. W. Lyon, Chandos-Pole, and T. Kempson. They 

 then had another run from the coppice, killed a fox in Sapperton Gorse, and ran 

 one away from there, which they lost, ending a very pleasant and good day's 

 sport. The excellent condition of horses and hounds after so long a frost is very 

 creditable to those in charge of them. 



R. F. 



The following account appeared in print, as follows : — 



A BYE DAY WITH THE MEYNELL HOUNDS ON THE SNOW. 



Sir,— Heartily tired of inactivity, the master ordered the pack to be brought 

 out on Wednesday morning, January 28th. Like many other events that 

 it is intended to do on the quiet, this appeared to be pretty well known. 

 Notwithstanding the rigour of the weather, several ladies graced the meet with 

 their presence ; some in carriages, but the greater number preferred the solidity 

 of terra firma. It was a most novel and grand sight to see forty-two couples of 

 well-proportioned hounds drawing through the different coverts three inches deep 

 in snow, and forcibly reminded me of a popular ballad in my younger days — 



"Never mind the weather, how the wind does blow. 

 For in spite of wind and weather we will jump, Jim Crow." 



A fox was foimd in Sudbury Coppice. He broke cover in the du-ection of 

 Vernon's Oak, making for Cubley, crossed the Ashbourne road in the du-ection of 

 Bentley Car. Here he was turned by a man at work hedging, who, upon being 

 asked why he did not halloa when he saw him going in the opposite direction, 

 replied, " Lor, who would have thought of yer hunting this 'ere weather." After 

 a check of a few minutes they were in full cry again by Middleton Park, through 

 Boylestone, Hare Hill, back through the Bottoms towards Aldermoor plantation, 

 where they raced into him in the middle of the fish-pond, on the ice — no small 

 weight for it to bear, eighty-four hounds, averaging fifty-six pounds each, and five 

 or six people, making altogether near upon three tons. He was a large dog fox, 

 thoroughly beat with his forty minutes' plodding through the snow, in some places 

 two feet deep. All out agi-eed that they had never witnessed such an event 

 before, and it is not likely that they will do again. 



(Signed) R. V. 



