THE RULE OE Mr. GEORGE LANE FOX. 



79 



curious series of misfortunes. Hounds met at Bickerton 

 Bar. It was a stormy day, there was not sufficient scent to 

 press a fox, and there was no sport worthy of record. Yet 

 on that uneventful day from a sporting standpoint, two horses 

 broke their backs, and another broke a leg. On F"riday, 

 December 20th, they had a typical Ingmanthorpe day, 

 which is worth recording. They did not, however, meet at 

 Ingmanthorpe. 



'December 20th. Tadcaster Bar. Found in Shire Oaks; ran 

 'by Nova Scotia, Bilton village, to Bickerton Bar, nearly 

 'to Tockwith ; turned him, and pulled him down in a field 

 'on Skilbeck's farm. Forty minutes; fast. Found in Hall 

 'Park Spring; ran to Ingmanthorpe Willow Garth, 

 'Champagne Gorse, Hall Park Spring, round again a 

 'larger ring, into a hollow tree near Hall Park; bolted, 

 ' ran him round the covert, forced him out, and killed. 

 ' Two hours and twenty minutes ; first-rate hunting.' 



The year ended uneventfully. Hounds, of course, were 

 kept in kennel on the day of the Prince Consort's funeral, 

 and after that there was a good deal of frost and fog. 

 The new year opened auspiciously, for though New Year's 

 Day was frosty, on the following day they had a good run, 

 of which a full account must be given : — 



'January 2nd. North Deighton. Found in Deighton Spring; 

 'went away over the Crimple pointing for Spofforth, turned 

 'short to the left over the Crimple again; straight to 

 ' Wetherby, leaving Stockeld Lodge two fields to the right, 

 'crossed the Wetherby road near the station, ran by 

 ' Swinnow, by Ingmanthorpe Old Wood, and caught him 

 'below Geldart's plantation. Fifty minutes ; very fast ; no 

 ' check. Found in Ribston Moor Whin ; came away 

 ' along the Crimple bank, through Geldart's plantation, 

 'Ingmanthorpe Whin and Wood, to ground in a drain 

 ' close to Cowthorpe village ; bolted, ran very quick to 

 'Wetherby, to ground in a rabbit-hole behind Mr. Ridsdale's 

 'wall. A capital day.' 



