312 The Hunting Countries of England, 



sliip for some twenty years previous to 1853, when 

 the late Lord Middleton took it over — the present 

 Master succeeding to office in 1877. For new blood 

 of late years the pack is chiefly beholden to the 

 Brocklesby, the Bramham Moor, and the Bel voir. As 

 with the horses, it is found that the smaller hounds 

 act best upon the uplands; and accordingly it is 

 generally arranged that the distant hills should be 

 reserved as their position. 



Friday in each week, taking in the whole of the 

 eastern wold country, includes also the strip of vale 

 along the extreme north, on the bank of the Derwent. 

 Between Ganton and the sea there is much boggy 

 grass, or carr land, unsuited for riding, and seldom 

 touched by a fox. But about Yeddingham is all good 

 sound going; though, with the exception of a few 

 small plantations below Scampston, there are, unfor- 

 tunately, no coverts till Miss Newton^s Whin is 

 reached — whence a run over the flat is possible. 



The other days of the week on which Lord Middle- 

 ton's hounds take the field are Monday, Wednesday 

 and Saturday. The first named is for the home- 

 country ; Wednesday is for the York vale ; and 

 Saturday is devoted to the north-west. The home 

 circuit includes, in addition to the light undulating 

 country that lies between Birdsall and the town of 

 Malton (best known in connection with the training 

 grounds of John Scott and FAnson), the whole of the 

 rough western edge of the wolds, down to Pock- 

 lington. For the latter district Birdsall itself is a 

 common fixture, as also is Settrington. Meeting at 

 Millington Wood, they have a great extent of young 



