44i The Hunting Countries of England. 



THE YOEK AND AINSTY.* 



Twisting its tortuous lengtli among half a dozen 

 other well-known Yorkshire Countries, the York and 

 Ainsty has a straggling outline quite unlike that of 

 any other countiy on the Foxhunting Atlas. It is 

 this very sinuosity and eccentricity of shape that 

 chiefly allows of its being a four- day-a- week country. 

 Its actual acreage would scarcely entitle it to that 

 allowance on its own ground. But, shaped as it is, it 

 has, so to speak, only to arrange its meets, and its 

 neighbours make up all deficiences on the score of 

 space. 'Tis only fair to add that the others fully 

 return the compliment — the procedm-e being a mere 

 matter of amicable necessity. Thus, the York and 

 Ainsty Country, starting just north of the Bads worth, 

 runs up between the Bramham Moor and the Holder- 

 ness, is narrowed at York between the Bramham Moor 

 and Lord Middleton's, throws a limb in between the 

 Bramham Moor and the Bedale, and carries its head 

 northward between the Bedale and Lord Middleton's 

 till it reaches the Sinnington. York is its centre — if 

 such a configuration can be said to have a centre. 



* Vide Stanford's " Hunting Map," Sheet 5, and Hobson's 

 Poxlmntiug Atlas. 



