THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 



57 



to be obtained with the wind between S. and E., 

 but with that from the N.E. quarter, a 

 bit of hard running may often be looked 

 for. It has been thought that a westerly wind de- 

 stroys scent from the saline particles which it carries 

 from the Irish Channel and Atlantic Ocean. Both 

 north-west and south-west winds are also bad, the 

 former being perhaps the worst of all winds. A 

 writer on the subject has said that he can only remem- 

 ber three good scenting days with a north-west wind 

 and each was just before a severe frost. The fact is, I 

 suppose, that they are usually accompanied by sleet and 

 rain which impedes scent while falling, although after it 

 is over an improvement is generally manifest. I have an 

 account of a run in which this is well illustrated. 

 Hounds had been running hard and scent had become 

 very poor, when a smart storm of hail and sleet came 

 on, which nearly stopped them. Immediately this was 

 over, scent improved and the hounds ran bravely on. 

 I believe this was a Warwickshire run, and that I 

 have it among my notes for introduction into this 

 account of the pack, but I cannot lay my hands on 

 it just now, although I have no doubt it will turn up 

 in its proper place. This^much, tn passant, upon a 

 subject which is at once "extensive and peculiar." I 

 must now return to Lord Middleton and the Ditchley 

 run. 



The run from end to end would not fall far short of 

 a score of miles. Lord Molyneux, who, as I have 

 just recorded, was up soon after the finish, was one of 

 boldest and best of horsemen and had had a good ex- 

 perience of crack countries. On the day in question 

 he rode his capital old horse, " Oxford. " The saying 

 *' Molyneux tries at, what scarce horse will rise at," 

 will sufficiently indicate his style of going. Mr. C. J. 

 Apperley, the well-known " Nimrod " of sporting 

 literature, was also in the run. He was on a horse 

 lent him by a friend with the particular request that 



Lord Middleton 

 '1811-1821, 



Lord Molyneux. 



Nimrod. 



