102 The Hunting Countries of England. 



and at Suckley in tlie far North-west. The supply of 

 foxes throughout the country is quite up to require- 

 ments. 



The two rivers are of course apt to keep foxes found 

 near them to particular lines, though occasionally a 

 fox mil set them at defiance, breast the water, and 

 make a distant point. In the case of the Severn this 

 may be awkward enough for the field ; for with the 

 exception of the two ferries, at Fixham and near the 

 Rydd, there is no means of crossing between Worcester 

 and Upton. 



The hunting days are Tuesday, Thursday and 

 Saturday; and the meets are aiTanged as the 

 demands of the country may seem to suggest. 

 Thursday, however, is more often the day on which 

 hounds are out near the kennels, or Bredon Hill, for 

 which the meet is probably Nafford Mill, Kemerton 

 Quarries, or Elmley Village. Among their best meets 

 hereabouts are Brockeridge Common, Severn End 

 and Pirton Yillage. Brockeridge Common, being on 

 the edge of the country nearest to Cheltenham, is 

 also the most thickly attended. On the Malvern side 

 are Bransford Station, Suckley, Powick, Newland 

 and Old Hills. Lower down is The Rydd (the pro- 

 perty of Sir E. Lechmere, a true fox-preserver), with 

 nice coverts and a good country round. From the 

 Cliffe, which is in the same property, they had the 

 best run of last season — fifty minutes with a kill in 

 the Team. 



One point that should be noticed in connection with 

 hounds for Worcestershire is i\iQ absolute necessity for 

 their possessing pluck and hardihood to face the 



