The South Nottinghamshire. 227 



Notts country on a second-class horse; but^ as else- 

 where^ you will never see the best of it well on a bad 

 one. The hills are severe ; the woods are deep ; the 

 Oxton district is heavy, and so is the Vale. The 

 latter is strongly fenced ; but, curiousl}^, more falls 

 are got on the sand of the Forest than anywhere else. 

 For, as on other light wold, hounds travel at a great 

 pace over it when the soil is moist. It has the reputa- 

 tion of bearing only easy fences — which are dis- 

 regarded accordingly. But these fences grow stronger 

 yearly ; and, treated thus lightly, are apt to retaliate 

 by turning over the rash sportsman, who, forgetful of 

 the pace, has been taking liberties with them, and with 

 his horse. 



Taking the days of hunting in detail^ we have 

 Monday in the Woodlands — a series of large woods 

 commencing beyond Annesley in the north, and 

 covering an area so large that it is very difficult indeed 

 to drive a fox right away from them. They are 

 separated from each other only by strips of grassland; 

 and a fox, by moving from one to the other, finds 

 scope enough to keep hounds at a distance, till his 

 circle is narrowed and he is too tired to go. They are 

 much broken by hill and dale ; but within their rides 

 are deep and wet. The Annesley Woods, belonging 

 to Mr. Musters, run into those of Lord Cowper and 

 Mr. Rolleston — the whole being in consequence more 

 often denominated collectively the Annesley Wood- 

 lands. They are great strong coverts, full of foxes — 

 the largest wood being that of High Park, which is a 

 hundred and fifty acres in one piece. Then there are 

 Park Springs, Morning Springs, William Wood, and 



