1879] THE OPENING DAY. 33 



cheery face must have been at well-nigh half a century 

 of first days at Sudbury Coppy." Hounds ran well from 

 Sudbury Coppice for forty-three minutes to ground in the 

 Lime Kilns at Snelston ; chopped a brace in Cubley Gorse ; 

 ran a third to ground in the same earth as the first, and 

 wound up with killing a fox from the Cinder Hills, 

 Snelston, at Eaton Wood. A very good opening day. 



Diary continued : — 



Ttcesday, Blitlibury. — Found in Cawarden Spring, ran a wide ring by Blytlie 

 Ford, through Pipe Wood down to Ridware and to ground in a pit-hole — the fox 

 not a field before the hounds, good run of an hour and twenty minutes. Hunted 

 a fox, with no scent, from Blithe Moor to Moreton Gorse, and lost him. 



Thursday, Hadburne.—Usin slowly from the Rough up to the Parson's Gorse, 

 where we got on a fresh fox, which would not go two fields, and killed him. 

 Went to Langley Gorse, killed a cub and came away, after giving the rest a good 

 rattling. Mercaston Wood and Brailsford blank. Found at Culland, ran nicely 

 up to Brailsford village, where he turned to the left and ran up to Ednaston 

 village, where we came to a check and could do nothing after. 



Saturday. — Loxley blank. Philips' Gorse the same. Went to the Shaw, but 

 •did not find till we got to Turner's Gorse, ran a ring, back over Chartley Park 

 by Fradswell down to Gayton village, where we had a long check, and our fox 

 turned short back. Got on him again on our way back to Chartley, ran him 

 through Handleasow Wood into the Shaw, where he was viewed, dead beat, but 

 two or three fresh foxes on foot saved his life. 



Monday, Nooeniber IQth, The New Lin. — Drew all the Needwood Coverts 

 without finding, till we got to Hanbury Park, where there was one fox, ran him 

 nearly down to Rolleston Park, where he turned short back and ran back to 

 Needwood, but we could do nothing more with him. Not much scent. Byrkley 

 Lodge blank. Found in the Deanery Plantation, ran through Bannister's Wood, 

 nearly to Dunstall, turned back, and came by the White Wood into Yoxall 

 Lodge, on to Byrkley, where he doubled short back and got to gi-ound under an 

 oak tree in Yoxall Lodge. 



N.B. — This day and last Saturday should be transposed. 



Tmsday, Bradley. — Found in the Lime Kiln Covert, ran by Kniveton up to 

 the Haven Hill above Bradbourne, and back almost to Bradley, and lost. No 

 scent. Found again at Bradley, but lost in a heavy storm. Bradley Wood 

 blank. Found several foxes at Shirley Park, but could do nothing. 



Thursday, Stenson Lock. — A good show of foxes in Arleston Gorse. Killed a 

 cub. Hell Meadow Covert blank. Found in Spilsbury's Covert, ran through 

 Egginton Gorse by the station and back by the Plall, and lost. Very poor scent, 

 except just up-wind. Foimd at Hilton, and ran to ground in Clamp's Pit. 



Saturday, Neivhorough. — Frost. 



Monday, November llth, Chartley.— Dvavj the Moss, and, whilst doing so, a 

 fox slipped away from Drointon Wood ; could not run him. Found in Newton 

 Gorse, ran by Drointon village, over the Moss and over the Park, by the Castle, 

 down the railway to Ciller's Rough ; hunted on over the river, and lost. Drew 

 Gratwich Wood and the Loxley Coverts blank. 



