THK WAKWICKSHIKK HOUiNDS. 



197 



It is evident to all my readers that I am near the 

 end of my run. Of material, I know, there has beea 

 plenty untouched, but time and space are limited, and 

 when this is the case you must treat lightly what 

 you handle. I warned my readers at start that this 

 was only a " sketch " history, and if they have found 

 it but ** sketchy " in nature, they have done no more 

 than their author expected. Before closing I should 

 like to make a brief reference to the hunting-quarters 

 character of the town where these chapters have 

 first seen the light. I have before referred to Strat- 

 ford and Leamington in this respect, but have 

 not mentioned Banbury. Stratford lies rather 

 wide of Warwickshire meets, while to some 

 extent the same may be said of Leamington, 

 whose immediate neighbourhood is not the best of 

 the Warwickshire country. The Royal Spa has 

 advantages for other packs, I know, but for that of 

 which I am writing it seems to me that Banbury is 

 by far better suited. At all events you can generally 

 manage three out of their four days a week. On 

 Monday they are generally in the home country round 

 the kennels, most of which is within easy reach of Ban- 

 bury by road. On Tuesday they are furthest away, and, 

 as a rule, are on the west of their country, but this 

 includes the Brailes district, which is not very much 

 out of the way from Banbury. Thursday is the day 

 for the Shuckburgh side, and a convenient Great 

 Western slow train leaves Banbury well in time to 

 enable you to reach the appointment for the day. 

 On Friday, they are in the Banbury country, and are 

 meeting within a few miles of the town. In addition, 

 however, to these there are other packs equally 

 handy. The Heythrop and Grafton are generally 

 within reach twice in the week, while the Bicester 

 Saturdays are looktd upon as belonging to the town 

 as much as the Warwickshire Fridays. In fact, if 

 you and your stable can stand it, you can fre- 



LORD 

 WlLLCUGIlB' 



Broke. 



Banbury as a 

 hunting centre. 



Warwickshire 

 days. 



Other local packs 



