The East Essex. 19 



pack (Col. Jelf Sharp^s property) lias only numbered 

 about six and twenty couple of working hounds — a 

 fair proof of good kennel management. Thus all last 

 season when the weather allowed, hounds were out on 

 Tuesdays,, Thursdays, and Saturdays. 



The East Essex Country presents no great variety, 

 or contrasts of feature, throughout its extent. The 

 same kind of soil and fence is found practically every- 

 where. The only really big woods lie in the centre of 

 the country ; there are natural coverts of handy size 

 scattered over the north ; and perhaps the best- 

 scenting ground is in the south-east. Foxes would 

 seem to favour the middle and the southern half of 

 the country in preference to the north, in spite of 

 there not being nearly as much game for them to feed 

 upon in the latter as in the former — an anomaly that, 

 we have noticed, is not entirely confined to the county 

 of Essex. 



The coverts on the north are woods of a nice size- 

 perhaps fifty to a hundred acres — at a distance from 

 each other such as should not only admit of, but 

 conduce towards, a run. Among the coverts in 

 this direction are those of Burbrooke Park (Mr. 

 Smoothey's), Twelveacres, Lord^s Fields (two most 

 useful little woods in Suffolk belonging to a good 

 preserver, Mr. Elwes), Finchingfield, Redbeards and 

 Grassels (under the care of Mr. Goodchild). Lord's 

 Field, near Stoke, is the northernmost meet in the 

 Hunt, and has led to many good runs j Steeple 

 Bumpstead lies well in the open country, with only 

 small coverts within hail, and every opportunity of 

 running a long distance. The White Hart at 



c 2 



