192 The Hunting Countries of England. 



in the form of " lifts/^ i.e., frames of gates without 

 hinges,, slipping into their place as draw rails. Grass 

 is only found here and there as an occasional meadow ; 

 and, indeed^ does not appear to enter into the calcu- 

 lations of the Suffolk farmers. The coverts, as 

 afore-mentioned, are of a most manageable size. 

 Perhaps only two in the country are over a hundred 

 acres, viz., Fakenham Wood on the Duke of Grafton's 

 property, and Muntz Park (belonging to Mr. Josselyn), 

 close to Bury St. Edmunds. They are of natural 

 growth, such a thing as an artificial gorse being- 

 unknown ; and the rides, though sometimes deep, 

 compare well with those of woodlands generally. 



Bury St. Edmunds is, by position, as well as cir- 

 cumstance, the centre of the Hunt ; and is, it may 

 be mentioned, three hours' travel from London. 

 Newmarket is also well within its boundaries, and 

 supplies material for its largest fields — many of the 

 trainers and jockeys (occasionally too, some of the 

 Cambridge undergraduates) turning out to meets in 

 the Thurlow district. Thus the field on these 

 occasions often mounts up to nearly a hundred 

 horsemen. 



As may be imagined, cubhunting, in a country 

 whose first passion and object is shooting, is often 

 a matter of difficulty, especially in the north ; and, 

 indeed, there are many coverts which hounds, though 

 eventually welcome, are barred from entering until 

 after the game has been shot. 



The days of hunting for the Suffolk are Tuesday, 

 Thursday, and Saturday — the firstnamed being for 

 the north-east of the country, the other two days for 



