I70 THE COMPLETE FOXHUNTER 



common enough. Thus Broadway and Evesham, in 

 the North Cotswold country, are suitable centres, 

 especially the first-named, which commands some of 

 the Warwickshire Vale. Banbury, too, which is close 

 to the junction of the Heythrop, Bicester, and War- 

 wickshire, and by no means remote from some of the 

 Grafton country; Moreton-in-the-Marsh, where the best 

 of the Heythrop and much of the Warwickshire are 

 the nearest countries ; Faringdon, where hunting with 

 the Old Berks and V.W.H. (Cricklade) can be en- 

 joyed ; Burford, where the two last-named packs and 

 the Bradwell Grove country (in fact, all the Southern 

 Heythrop country) can be reached ; Oxford, from 

 which hunting with the Old Berks, South Oxfordshire, 

 Heythrop, and Bicester can be chosen ; Bicester, in 

 the centre of the country of that name, and Bucking- 

 ham, handy for some of the Bicester, the Grafton, and 

 Whaddon Chase. Then there are Bletchley and Leigh- 

 ton Buzzard, in the Whaddon Chase country, but also 

 handy for Lord Rothschild's staghounds, and Ayles- 

 bury, where there is a wide and grand grass vale, 

 hunted over by the Whaddon Chase, the South Ox- 

 fordshire, and the Old Berkeley (West), as well as the 

 aforementioned staghound pack. The vale of Ayles- 

 bury justly bears a very great reputation, both as scent- 

 ing and galloping ground ; it is practically all grass, 

 and is strongly fenced, with many brooks meandering 

 about it, and the best of it is within reach of Leighton, 

 Winslow, and Bletchley, though Aylesbury is perhaps 

 nearest its centre. 



