1894] THE WETTEST SEASON EVER KNOWN. 213 



nearly rue, over the Ashbrook, and hounds caught him in 

 Ashbrook Plantation, between the Lichfield high road and 

 the Bromley Hurst lane, after a capital thirty-five minutes, 

 all the time at a strong pace over the very best of the 

 Stafi'ordshire country. Then they found again in Pipe 

 Wood, ran up to Hoar Cross, back by Ashbrook plantation, 

 round again to Hoar Cross, and lost their fox by Cross 

 Hayes, after an hour and a quarter. A hard day for hounds 

 and horses. 



November 8th, Every Arms. — They found a brace at 

 Potluck osier-beds and ran very nicely across the line 

 through Spilsbury's Plantations, by Burnaston House, and 

 Parker's pit-hole below the Asylum, at a good pace through 

 Bunker's Wood by Littleover old Hall, and bowled their 

 fox over in the open at Sunnyhill, just below Normanton, 

 after a good run of an hour. A Hell Meadows fox 

 furnished but little sport ; however, one from Mickleover 

 four acre made amends for the other's shortcomings. They 

 ran to the right of Mickleover station to Rough Heanor, 

 and on under Littleover nearly to Abell's house, just out- 

 side Derby. Here the fox naturally turned back, and 

 hounds ran him nicely between Bunker's Wood and the 

 Pastures, and eventually marked him to ground in Mr. 

 Finney's warren, close to the asylum wall, after a good 

 hour and a half. 



Up to Christmas no one could ever remember more wet 

 days — real wet ones too, which sent every one home 

 soaked through, day after day. Wet days, mangy foxes, 

 and good sport were the principal features. 



On December 4th they ran from Pipe Wood as if for 

 Pear Tree Gorse, but turned sharp back to the right, to the 

 left of Laurence's Wood, over the Blythe, to Hoar Cross, 

 through the Bath, on between Birch Wood and Chantry 

 Wood, through Field House Coppice, Hart's Coppice, and 

 Dog Kennel Wood, right along the Forest Banks nearly to 

 Marchington Clifi", where there were several fresh foxes on 

 foot, hounds divided, and a good hunt of over an hour, and 

 a six or seven mile point came to an end. 



