The Duke of Beaufort's, 265 



(running up to and beyond Westerleigh), have 

 recently encroaclied so much on the country in this 

 direction^ as to have prompted in no small degree 

 the extension of territory in the extreme South. 

 Roughly speaking, the old boundary line between the 

 Badminton and South -and-West-Wilts ran from Bath 

 by Melksham to Devizes — ISTeston being the farthest 

 meet. Previous to last season (^81 — ^82), however, 

 the Duke took back the ground lent to the latter 

 Hunt. Erlestoke was also relinquished by the South 

 and West Wilts, and his Grace now hunts as far 

 South as Westbury, Little Cheverel, and Market 

 Lavington on the edge of the downs. The whole of 

 the newly added territory is a beautiful grass vale, of 

 the most perfect type. Its fences are all negotiable, 

 and it is altogether • a charming country in which to 

 hunt j for m addition to its merits as riding ground, 

 it carries a capital scent throughout. If it has any 

 fault at all, it is to be found in the deep going it 

 always presents by Christmas time. At present, too, 

 it must own to a shortcoming in the matter of coverts ; 

 a point, however, that is being rapidly remedied by 

 its residents, who one and all are striving hard to 

 make their district do justice to itself. Small withy 

 beds have been set growing at various spots on the 

 plain j and how much such effort was wanted will be 

 easily gleaned from the fact that from Erlestoke to 

 Spye'Park is a ten mile point of level grass, with 

 scarce a covert by the way to hold a fox or direct his 

 line. Among the chief workers towards the desired 

 end are Mr. Walter Long of Rood Ashton, Mr. S. 

 Watson-Taylor of Erlestoke, Mr. Stancomb of Potterne, 



