298 The Hunting Countries of England. 



ham, we get on to a nice strip of ground about Hales- 

 owen, with some pleasant and useful coverts, such as 

 Ellwood and Upmoor — the latter the property of Mr. 

 F. Lea-Smith, who is quite a pillar of help on the 

 Worcestershire side. From either place a run is 

 possible over a pretty little district that stands quite 

 apart, with small grass inclosures and neat fences — 

 dairy meadows, where sheep are little seen and people 

 seldom about. Thus, a fox may travel here without 

 interruption as far as the country extends — from 

 Frankley right up to the town of Birmingham being 

 about his bounds. 



In the opposite direction — viz., the south-west of the 

 country — is a rough wild corner — from Dudmaston 

 <lownwards by the bank of the Severn almost to 

 Kidderminster — which used to produce a great deal 

 of sterling sport from its broken woods and dingles, 

 From Castle Hill almost to Wolverhampton a succes- 

 sion of fine coverts follow one upon the other ; but do 

 little for foxhunting nowadays. Wassail Top, near 

 Kidderminster, is still a meet, but not a very frequent 

 one. 



In conclusion, the following are some of the principal 

 meets — the hunting days being Monday, Tuesday, 

 Thursday, and Saturday. No set rule is observed; 

 but the meets are arranged to suit the convenience of 

 the country, and so as not to clash with shooting 

 interests in various districts. Thus, on the Wolver- 

 hampton side, the chief fixtures are Wrottesley, 

 Chillington, PatshuU, and Hilton ; while nearer 

 Shifnal are Weston, Haughton Hall (for Mr. Brooke's 

 nice coverts). The Lizard, Hattou Hall, and Sheriff 



