178 The Hunting Countries of England. 



should necessity compel tlie experiment, it would 

 surely be safer where top binders do not exist, and 

 strong rails are almost unknown. 



The Hurworth hounds get the best of their blood at 

 different times from the Brocklesby, Mr. Musters, 

 Hon. Mark Rolle, and Lord Portman — sources all 

 tending to power of nose and the best working 

 qualities. The field that accompanies them is at all 

 times rather a small one ; but includes in its numbers 

 a strong sprinkling of farmers who have the interests 

 of the Hunt thoroughly at heart. 



The hunting days of the Hurworth are Tuesday 

 and Saturday. The former, being for the north of 

 the country, brings out people from Darlington and 

 Stockton ; and so ensures the larger fields. The 

 north, too, as already mentioned, has the strongest 

 coverts. Of these, Fighting Cocks whin (a gorse of 

 some fourteen or fifteen acres) is quite one of the 

 main strongholds ; and the foxes from it often run 

 far into the Durham territory. On a par with it is 

 Elton whin — the property of Mr. John Sutton of 

 Elton, who is a staunch preserver for both Hunts (the 

 Hurworth and South Durham). For each of these 

 good coverts Fighting Cocks is the usual meet. 

 Close to Darlington are the Blackwell Plantations, 

 from which some great runs have dated; and the 

 fixture, with a view to drawing these, and other small 

 places in the neighbourhood, is probably Croft Bridge. 

 Coming South of the River Tees, into Yorkshire, we 

 find the meet of High Worsall Tollbar, having Worsall 

 whin and another stronghold — Beverley Wood. The 

 latter (the property of Mrs. Blackett, of Sockburn,) is 



