26 The Hunting Countries of England. 



country all round Louth — that about Elkington being" 

 neutral with the Brocklesby, as we shall have to 

 notice farther on. Ploughed fields of many acres, 

 hills of considerable gradient, and fences of little 

 moment are the most prominent characteristics of 

 the true wolds throughout. 



To continue with detail which, purely local in its 

 character and necessarily of little interest to the 

 general reader, must yet make up the chief bulk of 

 what is intended as a work of reference — we enter 

 upon the Homcastle district. This is hunted on 

 Tuesdays and has a greater variety and perhaps 

 pleasant er features than the high wold country of 

 which we have just spoken. It touches the latter at 

 the Kennels and Oxcombe, which we may take as the 

 northern points in the Tuesday circle, of which 

 Horncastle is practically the centre. The coverts of 

 Oxcombe, with Manvers' Gorse at Belchford may, 

 likely enough, from the above meets, keep you on the 

 open wolds all day. But, proceeding southward we 

 come to Fulletby, West Ashby (with its gorse and 

 spinnies), Greatham and Winceby — the coverts to be 

 drawn being chiefly small natural plantations and 

 copses, with a gorse here and there. The country 

 immediately round West Ashby and Horncastle ia 

 some of the best in the Hunt — all, or nearly all, 

 grass, divided into little fields by strong thorn fences.. 

 And here you must have a horse, who can jump big 

 and be quick on his legs to jump again. A long 

 striding horse would be out of place, where a short- 

 backed animal would dip lightly in and out of the 

 narrow meadows, as a fishing smack makes little of a 



