Mr. LuttrelVs. 327 



only to be regarded as quite the subsidiary raeans, 

 never as the essential source, of pleasure acquirable. 

 For^ in addition to bills that would tax a chamois to 

 surmount rapidly, there are the customary and im- 

 practicable banks, most peculiar to the west — higher 

 than a horse^s back, steep beyond a horse's power, 

 and fenced besides with double plashing of beech 

 growth. There is only one portion of Mr. LuttrelVs 

 country that is not held fast bound in this rigorous 

 form of embattlement. Between the Quantocks and 

 the sea margin, a few miles of grazing district are 

 fenced in with low banks topped with light hedges' — 

 the entire fence being amenable either to a flying 

 jump or an easy kick-back. 



The range of the Quantocks gives other open 

 riding-ground — the tops of the hills being carpeted 

 with sound rough heather. All the north-eastern 

 side of the Quantocks is a nearly continuous covert 

 of oak copse — foxes being very plentiful, and 

 sport frequent. In various other parts of the 

 country strips of open moorland occur — chief among 

 them being Croydon Hill, Grabbist and part of 

 Dunkery. 



Tuesday and Friday are the days of hunting ; and 

 Friday is, as a rule, fixed for the Quantock or Taunton 

 side — in which the principal meets are Asholt, 

 Crowcombe Park, Holford, East Quantoxhead, 

 and St. Audries. Willet Hill and Heddon Crow- 

 combe are for the vale between the Quantocks 

 and Brendon Hill — a well-preserved but bad scent- 

 ing country. 



There is more plough in Mr. LuttrelPs than in the 



