The Hursley. 87 



from Lord Radnor's, the Tedworth, the Vine, and the 

 H.H., till a field of a hundred and fifty is sometimes 

 attained. Men will come from a long distance for a 

 gallop over down (the term being in the south of 

 England used synonymously with wold), when they 

 will not go a yard out of their way for a day in the 

 woods. 



Some of the chief coverts in the '^ top country " are 

 those of Winterdown, North Park, Dumper's Oak, 

 Northwood, and Crab Wood; but with luck and a 

 good fox you are soon out in the open from any of 

 them. And some of the leading Friday meets are — 

 Leckford Hut, from which they draw Leckford Plan- 

 tations and Chilbolton Gorse, with open country all 

 round and every chance of running back to Winter- 

 down and the woods : Crawley Warren, whence, after 

 drawing the warren, they probably fall back to the 

 woodlands. Meeting at Winchester Racecourse, they 

 have Cuckoo Bushes and Worthy Groves, afterwards 

 North wood, and the larger coverts again. From the 

 Rack-and-Manger, too, they get to Munglees and 

 Winterdown. Wyke Down is the meet for Crab 

 Wood, a very thick and extensive covert near 

 Winchester. Sombourn Park^ and Farley Mount, 

 are meets for the strong coverts of Sombourn Wood, 

 Ashley Wood, and No Man's Land. On the western 

 edge of the country is an excellent wood at Mitchel- 

 marsh. It belongs to Hon. R. Dutton, is a certain 

 find, and generally leads to a run through Parnholt. 

 Lower Eldon is the usual meet for it. 



Turning southward, to the "bottom country," which 

 is taken on the Monday, we find some good scenting 



