100 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1882 



Gorse, before hounds were thrown into cover. No sooner 

 were they put in on the lower side of this beautiful gorse, 

 so well looked after by Colonel Colvile, than a fox went 

 away at the top end, bearing left-handed across the Park 

 over the road, and close to the keeper's house, taking a 

 pretty line of country in the direction of Coton-in-the- 

 Elms. AVhen within a few fields of the village he was 

 headed, and turned short to the right, and set his head 

 straight for Grano;e AVood. When within four fields of 

 that large cover, he was either headed or altered his mind, 

 and again made a short turn to the right, when it looked as 

 if he meant going back to his old quarters at Lullington ; 

 but, bearing slightly to the left, he went close past 

 Netherseal village and across the river Mease. Here two 

 ardent sportsmen were floundering in the little river, but 

 got out again all right, none the worse for their ducking. 

 Up to this point the field had kept pretty well together, 

 considering the heavy state of the ground ; Ijut they now 

 showed a long tail, as hounds raced up the meadows, and 

 across a piece of heavy ploughing. Still ' forrard ' they 

 go, on to Stretton, the residence of Sir Mills Cave, and 

 over a good line of country to that famous Atherstone 

 covert, Birdshill Gorse, where a slight check occurred, 

 however. Our fox had crossed the Ashby and Tamworth 

 road, and Leedham, lifting his hounds across, set us going 

 again on past the white house, over some heavy meadows. 

 Our fox, turning to the right, went to ground in Appleby 

 Gorse, after standing before hounds for at least one hour 

 and forty minutes over a stiff and heavy country. Nearly 

 the whole of this good run was in the Atherstone country. 

 So Reynard was left in peace. I hope this good fox may 

 come in our way again, and may I be there to hear the 

 who-hoop. 



" Up to this time hounds had been showing the very 

 best of sport, during November especially, as good, in fact, 

 as any that had been seen since that month in 1872. They 

 have had nothing but good days, of which the pick Jiave 

 been, a fine run from Culland to Radburne, with a kill in 



