The Bicester and Warden Hill Hunt. 199 



depended on ; near Trafford Bridge are some good 

 coverts, Warden Hill is a stronghold, with Red Hill 

 Wood, Grange Wood, besides some coverts at an out- 

 lying property of Lord Yalentia's. Eydon has a good 

 gorse and the laurels round the house are a sure find ; 

 at Thorpe Mandeville is Gefi'^s Gorse. This is all a 

 fine upland country, chiefly grass and all very strongly 

 enclosed. It carries a very good scent, is wild, with 

 few people about in the fields, and wants a better 

 horse to cross it than any other part of the Bicester 

 country . 



From what has been said it will be gathered that 

 the Bicester are everywhere exceptionally well off for 

 foxes, and — save in two small corners, where the want 

 is already being rectified, for coverts also. It should 

 be added — as a point conducing in no slight degree to 

 the comfort of hunting in a country — that all the roads 

 have smooth turf sides, along which you may canter to 

 covert at best pace : and, every road being enclosed, 

 there is no delay occasioned by having to open a lot of 

 gates — as is the case in many parts of the Midlands. 



