The North Herefordshire. 427 



ride to hounds there. Many horses of high-class 

 used to be bred in the county ; but of late years it 

 has become an axiom that bullocks pay best, and the 

 nobler beast — though not entirely set aside — has lost 

 much of his nobility. 



There is one difficulty to straight progress over the 

 country in question which has yet to be described. 

 This is what is known in local parlance as a " dingle/^ 

 and is much equivalent to the " nullah '' of India, and 

 the ^'^ bottom'^ of Leicestershire. The latter answers 

 most closely to it ; as, with the watercourse, it gives 

 in a guard-hedge on one side or both. It is seldom 

 to be jumped ; and can only be scrambled through in 

 places where the stream runs over sound ground, 

 where the banks are not too deep and steep, and 

 where the overhanging hedge can be bored through. 

 Frequently your passage may be entirely stayed by 

 one of these dingles ; and you may wander up and 

 down its banks for half a mile without a chance of 

 crossing. A knowledge of the country is the only 

 means that will avail to keep you clear of such a 

 difficulty; and till you have acquired this you must 

 be content to rely upon others for warning and for 

 guidance. 



The North Herefordshire hunt twice a week — 

 Monday and Thursday to wit. The former day is for 

 the Leominster side, the latter for that of Hereford. 



Among the Monday meets are Berrington for Lord 

 Rodney's preserves on the hillside above Leominster, 

 the chief covert being the Long Wood. Docklow is 

 for Marston Firs, notable for good runs, and Bilfield 

 Gorse another favourite draw. Hampton Court, the 



