314 The Hunting Countries of England, 



The rougtiest piece of the whole country is of course 

 about The DeviFs Punchbowl,, in the hill above Hasle- 

 mere — of which Hindhead is the loftiest point (nearly 

 a thousand feet) . Whether on the side of the Chidding< 

 fold or Mr. Combe's, this neighbourhood is a strong 

 sample of wild hill and heather. A sprinkling of 

 heather is also to be found about Hurtwood, on the 

 other side of the country ; but with this exception it 

 is limited entirely to the western edge. 



From Haslemere to the east is all clay — the Surrey 

 hills coming no further than Witley and Hascombe. 

 In this dip not only are foxes most numerous, but they 

 run stoutest and leave the best scent. But nowhere 

 with the Chiddingfold is killing a fox an easy matter. 

 In the upper half of the country he can too often run 

 them out of scent : while in the vale the chances are 

 in favour of his being able to shift his responsibilities 

 before he is tired — in both cases the number and pro- 

 pinquity of the coverts being all in his favour. 



Stout, short-legged, and useful (the definition of 

 the term as given in '^ Market Harboro' '^ not to be 

 taken too closely) is the description of horse required. 

 He must be strong enough to make his way comfort- 

 ably through the deep rides of the woodlands, or to 

 mount the tiring hills of the uplands. It is, to say 

 the least, quite as necessary that he should be able to 

 creep as that he should know how to jump — for over 

 the greater part of the country he will seldom be called 

 upon to do more in the fencing line than scramble 

 over a bank. The fences on the Surrey hills are every- 

 where insignificant ; though, as already mentioned, 

 there are some pieces of the lower ground — especially 



