The Tynedale. 439 



dividing tlie country into four parts, all of wliicli are 

 of distinct character, and in accordance with whose 

 variety the system of hunting the country is alone 

 regulated. Tyneside is one division, comprehending 

 the light valley and the coverts along the northern 

 bank of the Tyne — which it will be seen flows from 

 west to east along the southern edge of the Country. 

 Another division is the Eastern, with Stamfordham as 

 a centre. The third is the Western; with the kennels 

 as the base. And the fourth consists of the rough, 

 wooded, strip of the south bank of the Tyne. 



The peculiarity — and superiority — of the Tynedale 

 among its fellows lies, however, in the fine grass of its 

 Western district, where for miles the hills are covered 

 with firm crisp turf, and the valleys with equally 

 green, but ranker, herbage — stretching westward 

 while the hills grow gradually steeper and the turf 

 wider and wetter, till the rugged moorland is no 

 longer fit for foxhunting. Nothing could be finer 

 than these splendid grass slopes, were they not marred 

 by a drawback that neither valour nor horseflesh — 

 nor the happiest combination of both — can avail to 

 efface. Were it not for this, there would be a rush to 

 the Tynedale that would at once ease much of the 

 pressure off the Quorn, the Cottesmore, and similar 

 suffering, overpopular, packs. This one imperfection, 

 so detractive as regards the country, and deterrent as 

 regards visitors, is found in the presence of stonewalls 

 such as a stag might turn from. Designed purposely 

 to pen in the black-faced mountain sheep, no wonder 

 they are beyond the wants of the veriest thruster that 

 ever loved a fall. Yarying fi^om four to six feet high. 



