124 Hunting Countries of England, 



touch eacli other — with the Warwickshire close at 

 hand, Mr. Tailby^s within riding distance, and the 

 Quorn and Duke of Grafton's easily available by train. 



Coventry, too, commands the North Warwickshire, 

 and also the Atherstone. But it is scarcely a popular 

 hunting quarter — except with soldiers, who are not 

 consulted in the matter, but glad enough that Her 

 Majesty should require their services not altogether 

 away from good fox-hunting. 



Birmingham, again, forms a fourth point marking 

 the boundary line of the North Warwickshire Hunt. 

 But, though there are many sporting men in Birming- 

 ham, your primary object in acquiring a residence in 

 Birmingham would scarcely be participation in the 

 sport of kings. 



In a word, then, Leamington is the place whence to 

 ally yourself altogether with the North Warwickshire ; 

 for, while Rugby has one day a fortnight in its creamy 

 corner, and Birmingham has (after Christmas) a weekly 

 hunt over some desirable ground, Leamington over- 

 looks the whole country, and has other advantages to 

 which Coventry can lay no claim. 



Looking at it as a whole, it may be stated roughly, 

 and not unfairly, that the bulk of the North Warwick- 

 shire country is taken up to grow either wood or 

 wheat — the latter preponderating. Near Birmingham 

 is a fair sprinkling of grass, and often you are there 

 given a run, through which you may skim, quick and 

 sharp, from one green field into another. But the 

 chief exception lies in the Rugby neighbourhood, 

 where a corner of their domain can throw down the 

 glove to any half dozen parishes in England. In my 



