HUNTING TOURS. 391 



of the cliase, as the gallant hounds make the 

 woods echo with their melody, and drive their 

 chase across the rides from one division of the 

 covert to another. Appropriate basket-car- 

 riages and well-appointed park-phaetons, 

 graced by fair devotees of the chaste goddess, 

 whenever the hounds draw these woods, are 

 always present, and the recherche luncheons 

 with which the carriages are usually well 

 stored afford acceptable refreshment to the 

 assembled sportsmen. These woods being so 

 near to the kennel, and full of foxes, are con- 

 venient for cub-hunting, but, unfortunately, 

 the soil is light, and holds but an indifferent 

 scent. 



On the 29th of January the sun was ob- 

 scured by a dense fog, and our London 

 friends declare it was as thick as pea-soup. 

 Nevertheless, the hounds kept their appoint- 

 ment at Seven Bridges, but did not com- 

 mence operations till twelve o'clock. Tadpole 

 Gorse, belonging to Lord Redesdale, and 

 in the care of Mr. Watley, who uses every 

 effort to preserve foxes, was a failure. Berry- 

 town Brake, also Water Eaton Copse, occa- 

 sioned similar disappointments, and the only 

 alternative was to trot off three miles and 



