292 FIELD AND FERN. 



Duster sort, whicli huntsmen set such store by ; 

 and there, too, were the deep-bodied Wary, Care- 

 ful, a very nice mover, and a neat little couple 

 Chantress and Carnage. North Warwickshire Prat- 

 tle wears well, and Drake's old Milliner sits apart 

 with Skilful. 



The dog pack are principally of the Doneraile, 

 Southampton, and Drake blood. Four couple of them, 

 with Tapster, Trouncer, old grey Seaman, and the 

 stout-boned Oppidan, compose the Drake lot, while 

 seven couple have the Southampton and twelve, 

 with Challenger amongst them, the Doneraile brand. 

 North Warwickshire Damper earned his benison 

 from Cox as "full of head;^' and Squires^s pet 

 Launcelot is full of action. Old Chieftain is also from 

 the North Warwickshire, and Young Seaman, the 

 only one they have had from old Milliner, sits near 

 him, as if gathering thoughts of wisdom. 



It is a great open country for the foxes, with deep 

 gills and a bad cold scent, which lies best by Dunlop, 

 Caldwell, and Ardrossan. It is thirty miles from 

 north to south, and the plough country on the Ayr 

 side is the heaviest and coldest part. Tarbert Gorse 

 is a great find, with a rare scent over the grass ; and 

 Caldwell is also a crack meet, with a fine country, 

 up to Kilbirnie. There were a few roe deer at Dal- 

 rymple AYood, but it has been cleared out with two 

 couple of draft hounds, who made some fine melody 

 over the job. The bottoms of the cover are all sedge, 

 which is down after November. There are eighteen 



