m: 



THE RULE OF Mr. E. LYCETT GREEN. 189 



' point was ten miles. We should, but for bad luck, have 

 ' killed our fox, as he was seen to come out of a drain in 

 ' the road at Ampleforth, where we changed foxes, dead 

 ' beat. Had not the second whipper-in been there the 

 ' villagers would have killed him with sticks. The fox 

 ' was knocked over by one.' 



Frost soon caused another stoppage, and from the eighth 

 to the thirteenth of December hounds were kept in kennel. 

 The thaw was a rapid one. On the night of Saturday, 

 December loth, there were fourteen degrees of frost, and on 

 Sunday there were twelve degrees. The thaw set in on 

 Monday night, and was so rapid that hounds could hunt on 

 Tuesday at noon, when they had a nice hunting run of forty 

 minutes from Stub Wood. On January 7th they had a 

 typical Escrick day, running from morning till night with a 

 holding scent, but they failed to kill. 



The north side of the country did well this season, and 

 excellent was the average of sport in that part of the country, 

 foxes being bold and stout, and making gaod points. The 

 two following days, added to the one already given, are 

 certainly sufficient to stamp a season as a good one : — 



' Monday, February 6th. Stillington. Found at Stillington 

 ' Carr, and ran fast for three fields towards Huby Old 

 ' Whin ; came to a long check ; got on the line at length 

 ' and ran to Sutton village ; turning to the left, showed a 

 ' line towards Farlington, and lost. Found at Haxby Whin 

 ' and ran fast within a field of the York and Sutton road ; 

 ' turned short to the left and ran back to Haxby lane, over 

 ' it, and pointed as if for Strensall ; going through the small 

 ' covert next the Oak plantation, and leaving Strensall 

 ' village on our right, ran through the old fo.x covert ; here 

 'hounds came to a slight check. Sportsman (1883) and 

 'Seaman (1882) hit off the line, and the body of the pack 

 'joining them, they swung to the right over the Farlington 

 ' Beck and crossed the railway (Scarborough line] on to 

 ' Strensall Common. Hunted him very well over it, and 

 ' pointed for the Averhams. Turning short to the left, and 



V 



