126 The Hunting Countries of England, 



their antiquity) is also a frequent meet. So is Scruton 

 Hall, where there are many nice plantations, and a 

 good covert on the property. Newton House is a 

 favourite fixture ; and is the seat of Mr. W. D. 

 Russell, a very staunch preserver, who has several 

 small coverts, besides Gatenby Wood and its adjoining 

 whin. Patrick Brompton is another place of meeting; 

 and to the west they get to Leyburn and a higher and 

 wilder country. 



Wednesday is for the south — the farthest and chief 

 meet being Kirby Hill or Kirby Windmill. From 

 here hounds either draw westward by Marton-le-Moor 

 and Devonshire Wood (all Mr. Clare Vyner's) or east- 

 ward by Milby Whin, and the small woods at Cundall 

 and Leckby — in both cases being accompanied by a 

 large field over the light vale. Meeting at Studley 

 (Lord Ripon''s) they take the other side of the Yore, 

 and seek a fox by the banks of streams and the wooded 

 glens which intersect a wild but very possible hunting 

 country. There is covert for miles along the little 

 river Laver; and at Spa Gill — whither Fountains 

 Abbey draws as many sight-seers from Harrogate in 

 the summer as a meet at Studley does in the winter. 

 For a second fox — or a first as the case may be — they 

 work on homewards over quite a goodly hill- country 

 by Azerley ; Baldersby also (Lady Down^s) is fre- 

 quently fixed for the lighter part of the vale, for the 

 coverts there and for Hutton Moor ; after which they 

 may draw up to Norton Conyers (the ancient seat of 

 the Graham family) . Or, again, meeting at Norton 

 Conyers they may draw the converse way, finishing at 

 Baldersby. 



