28b The Hunting Countries of England. 



knees or to the attack of discreet and dismounted 

 sportsmen. 



The Dumfriesshire Hunt, having no neighbours 

 nearer than The Ayrshire to the west and the Duke 

 of Buccleuch to the east — a wide-spread of hill and 

 moorland dividing it from either — is, in fact, only 

 limited for country by the natural features which sur- 

 round it. Thus, it is found impossible to meet farther 

 north than Wamphray Station, with Dundoran "Wood 

 as the extreme draw ; and thither hounds go about 

 once a season. The Kaehills district is all rough and 

 unhuntable ; but, farther down, the hills of Tinwald 

 and Eammerscales provide good going (partly sheep- 

 walk, partly arable). The Annan vale contains the 

 pick of the country — Castlemilk, Dormont, Kinmount. 

 Comlongon, &c., to the sea. The Corrie Hills (which, 

 by the way, belong to Mr. Eobert Jardine) fill up the 

 opposite side, till they merge on to grouse moor. 

 A flat, low country comes in again below the Tinwald 

 hills, and near the sea ; but is a good deal spoiled 

 and interfered with by the presence of Lochar Moss, 

 a tract of bog and waste over which it is difficult to 

 walk, impossible to ride, yet which a fox will often lead 

 hounds to cross. To the south-east — towards Long- 

 town — however, where a rideable country still con- 

 tinues, foxes are not to be found ; and the farthest 

 meets in this direction are, therefore, Springkell, 

 Broats, and Stapleton Tower. 



Scarcity of foxes, however, is nowhere else a com- 

 plaint in the Dumfriesshire Country. Though so 

 immediately adjoining regions purely shooting, a blank 

 dr>v has boen unknown for at least two years. The 



