250 The Hunting Countries of England, 



They scarcely know what it is to find themselves in a 

 grass field — a few acres of freshgrown seeds forming 

 the nearest approach to the luxury. So it will readily 

 be understood that nine days out of ten, hounds must 

 put their noses down, and keep them there from find 

 to finish. Such a thing as lifting them for a flying 

 cast is a liberty altogether out of the question ; and 

 they must at all times be left to work their own 

 way through difficulties. They seldom — save on 

 exceptional scenting days — find it possible to press 

 their fox ; who, on his part — true to his wild nature 

 and breeding — is ever travelling onwards, and doing 

 all he can to increase the distance between him and 

 them. In some countries, especially where big woods 

 prevail, a fox will often avail himself of a bad scenting 

 day to lie up in covert, and wait there till hounds have 

 nearly reached him. He thus contrives to forfeit all 

 advantage he may have gained, and very likely pays 

 forfeit with a life he might easily have saved. But a 

 Staff'ordshire fox seldom throws away his chance thus. 

 He generally knows a lot of country ; and will go 

 steadily on through it, till he is either brought to hand 

 or has run his enemies fairly out of scent. 



On the Birmingham side, the place of any importance 

 that is farthest from the Kennels and nearest that 

 town is Great Barr Hall, the seat of Sir Arthur Scott, 

 who has most useful and well-preserved little coverts 

 in his park. The same light soil and pleasant easy 

 fences mark all this neighbourhood. A trifle nearer 

 home is Sutton Park, a great place belonging to the 

 town of Sutton Coldfield — apparently a kind of 

 common-land free to the townspeople. Whatever the 



