The H.H. 271 



THE H.H.* 



It is not easy to describe any one Country in Hamp- 

 shire^ without repeating much that may have been 

 already written about another. Undulating wold, 

 with flints brought to the surface by the disturbing 

 plough; close cropped down overlying the virgin 

 chalk ; occasional clay-covered vales — these are the 

 characteristics of Hants throughout ; and the sphere 

 of each Hunt diSers only in the degree in which it 

 partakes of each variety. The staunchest friend to 

 Hampshire cannot say that it is a quick-scenting 

 country. Foxhunting is studied there, and made the 

 most of; but it is foxhunting in its colder, more 

 laboriously scientific form, rather than in its warm and 

 soul-stirring sense. At least so the natives lead us to 

 believe — and who is likely to give an opinion so fair 

 and favourable as they ? The H.H., or — in full, and 

 quite as commonly — the Hampshire Hounds, hunt 

 almost entirely on this sea of wold — their country 

 taking up a great part of the high ground marked on 

 the maps as the Hampshire Hills. It is only along 



* Vide '• StaoforcVs Large Scale Map," Sheet 21; and •' Hobson's 

 Foxhuntino; Atlas." 



