102 The Hunting Countries of England. 



him be sure of liimself, and of his mount — or a sudden 

 reaction may take the place of the lately acquired 

 boldness. Stocken Hall is another Thursday meet; 

 and apropos of Morkery Wood it may be instanced 

 that the four litters with which it is this year 

 credited, are no more than its usual complement. 

 Witham Wood is, like Morkery, a splendid covert for 

 teaching young hounds : and it has, moreover, the 

 character of being one of the best scenting coverts in 

 the Cottesmore country — hounds being able to run 

 hard through it in any weather. Market Overton, 

 Teigh and Ashwell are also often named for Wood- 

 well Head and Cottesmore Gorse, and a run over the 

 valley to Eanksboro' is again the thing to wish for. 

 From Market Overton a string of plantations are 

 found under the hill running down to Burley, and 

 likely to carry a fox on to that stronghold. The 

 big wood of Burley is, like Wardley, celebrated for 

 its sound open rides, and its store of foxes. The 

 latter when disturbed are most likely to move forward 

 to Barnsdale Wood, Hambleton Wood, and perhaps 

 on to Normanton Park or to Ext on Park. At Ext on are 

 the two good coverts of Cottesmore Wood and Tunby 

 Wood. At Normanton the coverts are small, and 

 after Christmas so open that foxes are apt to move 

 elsewhere. At Greetham Inn are drawn other wood- 

 land coverts of Mr. Finches, stretching up to the 

 Pickwell and Holywell Woods, which, again, belong 

 to Mr. Birch Eeynardson, another staunch fox pre- 

 server. These are especially valuable for cubhunting 

 — as, while holding plenty of cubs, there is always 

 other game afoot, and every opportunity afforded of 



