330 The Hunting Countries of England, 



A glance at the map shows at once the leading 

 natural divisions of the Wheatland country. The 

 hog^s-back ridge of Wenlock Edge runs, with its 

 almost continuous'range of wood, all along its north- 

 west border ; another minor range of covert lies im- 

 mediately parallel with it in Mogg Forest ; then comes 

 the grassy, stiffly-fenced vale of Corvedale ; and again 

 parallel, the strongly undulating surface of the 

 Meadowley Hills. Below the Edge is a narrow flat, 

 consisting chiefly of wet boggy grass, on to which 

 hounds occasionally dip, but more often only to turn 

 back after a few fields. A good road along the top 

 enables pursuers to maintain their hold upon the 

 chase, till thoy can judge of the direction a fox means 

 to take. In this lower strip are two or three small 

 coverts — e.g., Lushcott Gorse and Oak Wood (belong- 

 ing to Mr. R. Benson, of Lutwych). Between the 

 Edge and Corvedale the Burton Hills start from Wen- 

 lock, and run into Mogg Forest (which reaches from 

 about Brockton to Stanway). Corve Dale only com- 

 mences its course near Monk Hopton — Acton Round 

 beyond being again on high ground. And between 

 Acton Round and the Burton Hills are the Spoonbill 

 coverts of Lord Wenlock. On the Meadowley Hills 

 the principal coverts are the Hill Wood itself (belong- 

 ing to Mr. Pelham of Cound), Light Wood, Middleton 

 Gorse, Netchwood Gorse, and Powkes-More (Mr. 

 Howard's). Between the Meadowley Hill Range and 

 the Severn, again, is a northern corner of good upland 

 country, with the Aldenham coverts (Lord Acton's) 

 and the Willey Coverts (Lord Forester's) — Shirlett 

 being the principal wood of the latter group. 



