The South Staffordshire, 251 



common rights may be, they do not at all events 

 include the slaughter of foxes — who, on the contrary, 

 have an excellent time of it there. The land within 

 the radius of the park is roughly and partially inclosed 

 — like many parts of the New Forest — and contains 

 many patches of rough covert. Lady Wood is 

 perhaps the best piece ; and it always holds a litter. 

 Aston Hall — the property of the Hon. Parker Jervis, 

 whose son acts as secretary to the Hunt — is the next 

 place of note; and here again are more small thin 

 plantation- coverts, holding many foxes. Middleton 

 Hall has always been held to provide a sure find when 

 in the hands of Mr. Hanbury- Barclay ; and Mr. 

 Manley^s coverts at Manley Hall have the advantage 

 of a good sportsman as their owner. At Weeford you 

 get to the Weeford Hills, strong undulations covered 

 with very light and indifi'erent plough : and from Hints 

 Hill (just taken by a good preserver from the Ather- 

 stone) a fox may either run upwards on to this light 

 ground of the Weeford Hills, or take across the flat 

 to the large woodland of Hopwas, now occupied by 

 Mr. Fisher of Packington Hall. The last-named 

 wood is a good nursery for foxes, and a good school 

 for cubhunting. Freeford (Col. Dyott's) is the usual 

 meet after the Hunt Ball; and Freeford Pool always 

 furnishes a good wild fox. The east of the country 

 has, indeed, plenty of coverts to draw. Fotherley 

 Eough, belonging to Col. Bagnall of Shenstone, 

 provides foxes on all occasions, and was last season 

 the source of a great run of four hours ending in a 

 kill. Just about here the ground improves for hunt- 

 ing, if for a while deeper and stififer for riding. 



