36 HUNTING TOURS. 



continued stormy, with considerable wind 

 throughout the day. Under these circum- 

 stances a large field could not be expected. 

 So without any delay the hounds proceeded 

 to draw the coverts at Normanton, where it is 

 rare not to find abundance of foxes, which, 

 however, was not the case on this occasion. 

 The inclemency of the night might have been 

 the cause of the foxes not leaving their 

 earths, and, consequently, of being stopped 

 in. More charming coverts than those which 

 were drawn the imagination can scarcely sug- 

 gest, though the wild habits and instincts of 

 the vulpine family scarcely seem to associate 

 with the high farming on this fine estate. 

 And then, what a delightful country to have 

 ridden over, had a fox been found, and the scent 

 been good. The land sound, turf predomi- 

 nating over plough, the fences in good order, 

 and inviting to ride over, with not a tree in 

 the hedgerows to be seen ; a custom which 

 perchance is carried to excess in other places 

 than this ; but, happily, I neither saw nor 

 heard of wires in this vicinity, and I sincerely 

 trust they will never be introduced. The 

 coverts being small, it was very important 

 they should not be surrounded, and it was 



