SHROPSHIUE 213 



the case with fox-hunters) of " the Ladies," that I heard him say, if 

 he hunted only tliree days a-week, he would never take a dog-hound 

 into the field. With two such whippers-in behind them as Will 

 Staples and Jack Wrigglesworth, and mounted as they are, Sir 

 Bellingham Graham's hounds cannot fail of being handy ; and 

 their condition is powerful and even. 



- In the dog pack Vulcan is the crowning ornament. Indeed I 

 think it is not in nature to form a more perfect animal of his species, 

 and he does not belie his looks. He is by Sir Bellingham's Van- 

 quisher (by Mr. Osbaldeston's Vanquisher) out of his Joyful. The 

 following also are very clever : Twister, by his Tapster out of his 

 Abigail ; Jericho, by his Aimwell out of his Jubilee ; Vaulter, by his 

 Eender out of his Vanity — the latter, the right style of hound for 

 Shropshire. 



Amongst the bitches Brimstone stands first : she is by Marmion 

 out of his Jezebel. Patience, by his Abelard out of Purity — full of 

 the old Pytchley blood ; Famous (well named), by Lord Lonsdale's 

 Eeveller out of Sir B.'s Factious; Juliet, Jingle, Jollity, and 

 Jealousy, by Mr. Osbaldeston's Piper out of Lord Lonsdale's 

 Joyful ; and Purity and Parasol, both from Mr. Ward, are also very 

 clever. 



Now for a word or two about the country. Were it not for a few 

 "ifs," Shropshire would rank rather high among the provincials. 

 In the first place, it is able to stand four days a-week, and the 

 coverts are very well stocked with foxes. It also, on the whole, 

 holds a fair scent, but a very great part of it is not only wet, but 

 boggy. It is also extremely deficient in gorse coverts, and it is — a 

 great drawback to sport, and very annoying to a huntsman and his 

 hounds — the most hollow country I ever hunted in. In the course 

 of this season. Sir Bellingham ran thirteen out of fifteen of his foxes 

 to ground, which I never heard of any hounds doing before. Such 

 earths as are not used for breeding should be dug out, and iron 

 grates should be placed on the mouths of drains which are able to 

 admit a fox. The first of these remedies, however, will not always 

 succeed, as, from the loose nature of the soil in many parts, fresh 

 spouts and earths would be made in each succeeding year. 



As a country to ride over, as far as leaping is concerned, 



