188 Hunting Countries of England. 



every otlier Saturday hounds are now sent overnight 

 to Thorpe Mandeville ; and, after hunting all day on 

 Northamptonshire soil, have to make their way home- 

 wards across country — often a journey of terrible 

 length. 



The Bicester country is, as a rule, excellent for 

 hunting and delightful for riding. In most parts it 

 carries a good scent ; and nowhere is it too formidable 

 to cross. A good horseman on a fair animal will find 

 himself at home everywhere ; and as a school for man 

 or horse there is no better. For the fences are every- 

 where negotiable ; and, while quite sufficient to induce 

 a horse to rise vigorously, may be taken at almost any 

 point, in the full confidence that you see the worst and 

 are venturing nothing impracticable. In the Vale of 

 Aylesbury a certain number of, not too difficult, 

 doubles are to be met with : and it is as well that you 

 and your horse should be prepared to encounter them 

 — and be able, also, to face the frequent brooks. 

 Otherwise the Bicester country may be set down as a 

 very artless one j and you should be able to get over it 

 comfortably, even if you cannot flatter yourself that 

 temperament and teaching have given you a claim 

 to the highest honours of horsemanship. Your stud 

 should, as elsewhere, be made up of as good material, 

 as your purse, or prospects, seem fairly to allow. But, 

 though the country boasts of a most liberal proportion 

 of grass, it can scarcely be said to require — except in 

 the most chosen, and most trying, northern corner — a 

 class of cattle so rare and so expensive as the oxers of 

 the Pytchley and the Quorn demand. A stout horse 

 is essentially necessary; for the distances are long; 



