The West Norfolk 117 



hounds in the lighter part of the country_, where flints 

 most abound. And in this requisite Mr. Hamond's 

 hounds are by no means deficient,, while at the same 

 time they are remarkable for bone and strength of 

 limb. The pack has been in existence for fifteen years. 

 It was first founded on drafts from Milton ; received 

 much assistance at the hands of Mr. Chaworth Musters 

 (cousin to Mr. Hamond) ; and has since been main- 

 tained by constant return to the Fitzwilliam blood, 

 and by infusions from the kennels of The Belvoir, 

 Lord Coventry, Lord Fitzhardinge, &c. 



The West Norfolk is, on the whole, quite a fair 

 scenting' country. Dry weather does not suit any of 

 it, and least of all does it suit the light plough. But 

 after plenty of wet, hounds can generally run over any 

 part of it. Foxes, too, are ready enough to travel ; 

 for the coverts are but small, and the hills, such as 

 merit the denomination, are long, sweeping, and 

 unbroken — so that there is none of the temptation to 

 a fox to turn and double that is offered by short steep 

 hill-and-dale. The only large coverts are those of 

 Lord Cholmondeley at Houghton — some fine woods 

 just to the north of the kennels, and of great value 

 for cub-hunting. They stand in the middle of the 

 " light country,'''' which elsewhere depends for its foxes 

 as much upon its open heaths as on plantations or 

 wooded coverts. The supply, as already mentioned, is 

 good everywhere ; and the enforced rest of two 

 frosty winters has done much to assist the stock. 

 Amid the wild heather of the west a fox is to be 

 found at any moment. The gorse bushes and dry 

 sand suit him just as well as they do the conies ; and 



