272 Hunting Countries of England. 



their soutli-eastern border that they get off the 

 unfenced uplands, and enter upon a stiffer country, 

 where there is a good deal to jump, and here and there 

 a certain amount of grass to cross. Woods of the 

 true Hampshire type, dense of undercovert, and 

 through which hounds can only force their fox with 

 difficulty, are their coverts, varying a little in size and 

 frequency, — and perhaps in trustiness — but every- 

 where naturally capable of holding the animal in any 

 number to which he may be encouraged. And, on 

 the whole, the H.H. country has its full share of foxes; 

 and is at least quite as well off in this respect as most 

 of its neighbours. 



Mr. Deacon has been master for the last eighteen 

 years, and his own huntsman for fifteen; and 

 during the whole time has scarcely missed a day. 

 His hounds are almost entirely of Lord Ports- 

 mouth's blood, and many of them of his lord- 

 ship's breeding, the young draft from the Eggesford 

 Kennels being every year sent to Mr. Deacon. The 

 H.H. Kennels are at Ropley (where also the master 

 resides) — Ropley being a station on the L. & S. W. 

 Ry., midway between Aldershot and Winchester, and 

 about fifty-five miles from London (Waterloo station). 

 For a four-days-a-week country a very strong pack 

 is kept up, giving full allowance for the numerous 

 casualties caused by the flints. The Master is thus 

 also enabled to carry out his principle of bringing on 

 every year a large entry of young hounds — youth 

 being, in his opinion, an ingredient that should enter 

 largely into the composition of a working pack, if it is 

 to retain the dash that alone will allow of hounds 



