50 ihe Hunting Countries of England. 



horse required witli the York and Ainsty. It is quite 

 a country where men ride — not for sensation jumping^ 

 but that they may be near hounds^ and may do credit 

 to themselves and their bringing-up. Near York^ and 

 especially on a Tuesday,, the fields are large — for any- 

 where out of The Shires. At the northern meets the 

 number may vary between forty at least and sixty at 

 most. 



Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday are the 

 hunting days, divided generally as follows : Monday 

 is held north of York way of Shipton and Skelton. 

 The open country between the latter place and S essay 

 has not a game preserver — with the single exception 

 of Hon. Payne Dawnay, of Benningborough Hall, 

 who, though he never rides even a pony, looks after 

 the interests of the Hunt throughout the district. 

 His own coverts (Skelton Springs, Overton Wood and 

 Cotehouse) are always full of foxes, Skelton being the 

 usual meet for this neighbourhood. Blue Bridge is a 

 roadside fixture for New Parks and Hawkhills ; while 

 Alve (to which the York men often go by rail) may be 

 for Alve Winn and Aldwark Wood, or for the same 

 coverts as Blue Bridge. Near York are the meets of 

 Strensall and Wiggington, from which a run into 

 Lord Middleton^s country is a likely contingency, 

 after drawing Strensall Common and Suet Carr (the 

 latter also being a rough open common generally 

 holding good foxes). Stillington is the nearest 

 fixture to Easingwould — the chief covert being 

 StilHngton Wood, which leads on to Hawkhills. 



Tuesday is always fixed in the Ainsty to suit the 

 Bramham Moor, who in return give Friday on the 



