272 The Hunting Countries of England, 



covert during the greater part of the winter — the grass 

 growing so long and rank that hounds can scarcely 

 work through it till it has felt some frost. At times 

 a good holding scent is met with, especially — as is 

 natural — when the leaf is thoroughly dead. From 

 The Lower Woods they are likely to go up the hill to 

 Badminton towards the afternoon — drawing Horton 

 Bushes, a new acquisition of the Duke's, and Chalkley 

 — which, however, does not belong to his Grrace — on 

 the way to The Park. Nearly all the upper end of the 

 park is fern and low thornbush covert ; and there are 

 several nice woods and plantations, Swan Grove being 

 the chief of them. 



Wednesday is the day chosen for the Wiltshire Vale. 

 Swallett^s Gate is the meet for Great Wood (which is 

 the property of Lady Holland, and is about a hundred 

 acres in extent). The Mermaid is for Christian Malford 

 and a new gorse near, both belonging to Mr. Meux. 

 From Highway Common, which is just under the hill, 

 they may go either into the vale or on to the hill 

 above, for instance, to Stanmore and Berwick Gorse, 

 or to Cleeve Wood in the Yale ; and foxes are also 

 frequently to be found lying in the open. Blacklands 

 is the meet for Compton Bassett (Major Heneage's), 

 whence they may get on to Bremhill. Sometimes they 

 meet at Rowde for Roundaway, where Mr. E. Colston 

 has strong and well preserved coverts, and a good 

 fox is always to be found in the Park. About one 

 Wednesday in the month hounds are taken into the 

 "new vale,^^ and as coverts increase, they will no 

 doubt find themselves there still oftener. For Rood 

 Ashton they usually meet at Yarnbrook Gate; and 



