220 Hunting Countries of England. 



from the frequency of water and double fences. Below 

 Thame, by Tetsworth and Stadhampton, we get into a 

 light flying country, still beautiful grass, — but not 

 so deep and trying as that of Aylesbury — easy to 

 ride over, and, on the whole, good scenting ground, 

 notwithstanding the fact that the farmers keep their 

 stock out all winter as thick as the land will bear. 

 The South Oxfordshire farmers, by the way, are ever 

 most friendly to foxhunting; and are themselves 

 generally capital sportsmen. It is a boast in the 

 country that " Ware Wheat \ " is a cry never heard. 

 By way of further definition it may be added that the 

 meets and coverts of the Vale extend to the foot of 

 the range of the Chiltern Hills on the one side, and as 

 far as the railway between Waterstock and Littlemore 

 on the other. Three Pigeons is perhaps the best 

 known meet of the South Oxfordshire. From it they 

 draw Gale^s Gorse, Fern hill, and the Old Paddock; 

 and from Fern hill a good fox will often cross the 

 river for a spin over a beautiful part of the Bicester 

 territory, to Chearsley or Chilton. Haseley is named 

 when it is meant to draw Haseley Wood, Latchford, 

 and Cornwell Gorse. The last-named is the property 

 of the Master, and very frequently gives a gallop over 

 the grass, prefaced by the Haseley Brook. Meeting 

 at Thame hounds draw Thame Park, the Tythrop 

 coverts and Emmington ; and from these they are 

 likely to run directly into the Vale of Aylesbury. 

 From Tetsworth they work Adwell and Wheatfield ; 

 while from Shirburn Castle (where the Master lives 

 and keeps his hounds) they have the Shrubberies, 

 Clare Copse, Brookside, and Pyrton. Brightwell Park 



