The Cotsiuold. 270 



get full view of the proceedings and to shout and holloa 

 madly. Their amusement never fails them — nor_, 

 indeed^ do their lungs ever seem to tire — when Queen 

 Wood has a fox for them. 



As above noted, the Cotswold hunt three days a 

 week ; and the days are distributed as follows. 

 Monday has an occasional meet in the little vale,, 

 such as Uckington Village for Uckington Gorse and 

 the nice thorn covert of Uckington Brake — or Cleeve 

 Village for Stoke Brake. The latter always holds a 

 fox, and his point — or that of any vale fox here- 

 abouts — is likely to be for such hill coverts as those of 

 Woolstone, Dixon (a great stronghold), or Oxendon. 

 Monday takes in, too, all the rest of the north of the 

 country, adjoining the North Cotswold or Lord 

 Coventry's. Dixon Wood, jusc mentioned, is amid 

 good hunting but rough riding ground, and may give 

 a run to Dumbledon in the North Cotswold or across 

 to Bredon Hill in Lord Coventry's domain. Stanley 

 Mount is a very similar meet. About Charlton 

 Abbotts and Rowel Gate, two adjacent fixtures on 

 the edge of the country, a good deal of woodland 

 is again found, such as Bespidge Wood, Willis's 

 Coppice (both the property of Mr. Fulwar Craven), 

 and Baker's Wood. From either of the two former a 

 run is likely to ensue into the North Cotswold, to the 

 great Guiting Wood. From Queen Wood, again, a 

 fox breaking over the hill will probably give a run 

 across the downs, and lead up to Corn Dean Planta- 

 tions, West Wood, or Postlip Quarries. Dowdeswell 

 Wood is also within three miles of Cheltenham ; and, 

 as Queen Wood is the Christmas meet, so is Dowdes- 



u 2 



