308 The Hunting Countries of England. 



between low-lying vale (reaching to the town of York) 

 and strongly-wooded hills, which take up the west 

 and north-west of the hunt territory. Birdsall — Lord 

 Middleton's seat, and the site of his kennels — forms 

 nearly a centre point between these divisions — 

 nestling, as it does, in a nook beneath the western 

 edge of the wolds, and about equidistant from the 

 farthest meets in either direction. 



The Eiver Derwent being the line of division 

 between Lord Middleton's country and that of Capt. 

 Johnstone on the north, the wolds slope quietly down 

 in that direction; undulating again along their length, 

 before meeting the Holderness or dipping abruptly to 

 the west to the lower ground about Birdsall. Here 

 and there deep grassy dales run inwards for a distance,, 

 especially in the south-west corner, but the wide 

 sweeping surface of the wolds is to the east scarcely 

 broken except at its rougher edges. In the early 

 autumn, and till the stubbles are ploughed, there can 

 be little better galloping ground than these open hills» 

 They then hold a strong, often a racing, scent ; and it 

 is a good fox that can carry his brush in front of the 

 speedy lady-pack for half an hour, and a fast horse that 

 can live with them. There is next to nothing to jump; 

 for low thorn hedges and sheep hurdles are the only 

 fences — or, if by chance a stronger hedge is en- 

 countered, it would generally seem placed to guard a 

 casual ravine, watercourse, or lane, where jumping is 

 out of the question. But when once the plough has 

 been at work, all this pleasant aspect disappears, 

 exhilaration and pace depart, and the wolds assume a 

 tamer aspect. Scent no longer lies on the upturned 



