318 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



must have, too, for an unsolicited puff. Let it be known, by all 

 who care to save a favourite mount, and ride him to the very 

 front Mr. G. Cunard's famous black mare (who was well nigh 

 to die after twenty minutes of the Braunston run) went through 

 this gallop without a gasp or falter ivith a tube in her throat, 

 and never a canter for the three weeks since the operation ! 

 And his name it is Jones, the vet. of Leicester, who performed 

 the tracheotomy. Could a better test instance have been 

 found ? 



THE STAVERTON RUN. 



ANOTHER grand run fell to the lot of the Pytchley on Satur- 

 day, March 24 not so straight, not so brilliant, as the Braunston 

 gallop of a fortnight before, but a splendid performance and a 

 glorious treat. If it had a fault, it lay in the fact that there 

 was almost too much of it as perhaps you may find ere you 

 get to my signature. Blame me not the tale calls for some 

 telling. I will inflict no map on you this time for that 

 already given at page 308 will answer all purposes. 



The present run was a great ring, of an hour and forty-five 

 minutes from Staverton Spinnies, by way of Staverton Village, 

 Badby Wood (left untouched), Arbury Hill, Catesby, Shuck- 

 burgh, Flecknoe, Drayton Hill, Daventry Reservoir, to Whilton 

 Lodge, with only a few slight checks throughout. This was the 

 line (between sixteen and eighteen miles as hounds ran it and 

 as various computations go) it needs no eulogy from me and 

 here are a few particulars. 



Badby Wood had been the meet bright and picturesque in 

 itself, pleasant and promising in the genial atmosphere of a cool 

 quiet morning, apparently picked and granted for sport so 

 that we may carry foxhunting in its happiest aspect into our 

 summer's retrospect, and into our summer's fond forecast. The 

 Badby Wood foxes were on the rove ; and we hied to Staver- 

 ton, whose tight little copses guarded the year round by 

 Mr. Wareing and Capt. C. Fitzwilliam were rightly deemed 

 certainty. 



