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156 HISTORY OF THE YORK AiVD ATNSTY HUyT. 



' through Nun Monkton country, back by Green Hammerton, 

 ' killed him at Skewkirk. One hour, thirty minutes good 

 ' run. Got on ta a disturbed fox at Harewood's Whin, 

 'took him through Grange Wood, Askham, Normans, 

 ' Ingrish, lost near Ingrish House. Good day.' 



The scarcity of foxes on the north side of York was the 

 subject of comment more than once during the early part of 

 March. The month was a fairly good one, but during the 

 latter part of it the ground was dry and hard, and scent was 

 moderate. They had one good day at the latter end of the 

 month, though it was rather an unlucky one : — 



' Thursday, March 25th. Scriven Bar. Drew Scotton Bank, 

 ' found, fox went over water, stopped hounds. On to 

 ' Mires, found, ran into Warren, where we killed her, 

 'vixen in cub. On to Burton Whin, found brace, away 

 ' by village, bending towards brook, over it, away to 

 ' Brearton, Nidd railway bridge, down wood and killed 

 'him. A good hunting run. Racket worked well. On 

 ' to Loftus, killed a dog, mangy. Hay Park, Gibbett's 

 ' blank, so home. Fair day for hounds.' 



It may interest readers to learn that, two days later, when 

 Colonel Fairfax was unable to be out himself, Truman took 

 the hounds to Thirkleby, and found a wonderful show of 

 foxes. There was a vixen in Thirkleby, and a brace of 

 foxes each in Sessay Wood, Clark's Wood, Raskelf Wood, 

 and Brafferton Spring. 



Hounds were out ninety-nine days^ were stopped by frost 

 twenty-four days, killed thirty-three brace of foxes, and ran 

 eighteen-and-a-half brace of foxes to ground. 



At the end of the season an enquiry was held which will 

 be given in full, as it touches upon an important subject. 

 During the season the scarcity of foxes in some of the 

 coverts north of York had been the occasion of considerable 

 comment, and the enquiry had to do with this scarcity. 



