The Heythrop. 203 



having a second hack on the road (his hunter having 

 gone on overnight) than we should who hunt elsewhere. 

 There is a choice of four packs at Oxford, and it is not 

 more than an hour and three-quarters from London. 

 Still, few men fix upon Oxford as a hunting quarter^ 

 without having been drawn into allegiance with Alma 

 Mater, professedly for more serious ties. Chipping 

 Norton (about three hours and a-quarter from Pad- 

 dington) is not far from the centre of the Heythrop 

 country ; and accommodation^ sufficient if not ex- 

 tensive, is there to be had, with the option of days 

 with the two Cotswold packs and the Warwickshire, 

 and occasionally with the Vale of White Horse and 

 the Old Berkshire. Thus Chipping Norton (where, 

 moreover, the Kennels are situated) may be written 

 a capital hunting-base — in many respects equal to its 

 neighbour Banbury (which we have already noticed 

 under the head of the Bicester). As to horses, it is 

 essentially necessary they should be speedy. Large 

 horses you do not want; but they should be wiry, 

 strong, stout, and quick. 



The Heythrop hunt four days a week — besides a 

 frequent bye-day, which the country, being every- 

 where thickly stocked with foxes, well affords. These 

 four days are Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and 

 Saturday ; and are regulated as follows — Monday is 

 generally within close range of Chipping Norton, and 

 up to the Warwickshire border ; Wednesday is fixed 

 in alternate weeks for Oxfordshire or Gloucestershire, 

 with once every other month in Tar Wood — in the corner 

 neutral with the Old Berkshire ; Friday is on the 

 Cotswold side, and takes in almost all the stonewall 



Q 



