54 THE XORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



the Dove Valley harrier district, where red coats and fox- 

 hounds were scarcely ever seen. The writer well re- 

 members the difficulties some of us had in getting safely 

 down the steep ravine known as " Kingsley Banks," then 

 in crossing the river and railway and canal over a rickety 

 ironstone tramway bridge, and then the toil up a moun- 

 tain on the other side. Hounds had by far the best of 

 it; for most of us it was a case of Mr. Brio-^s and the 

 Brighton harriers over again. What with getting off to 

 lead your horse down the precipice, and getting off to 

 ease him up the other side, one did not get quite as much 

 horse exercise as one could have wished. 



" Novemher 2Sth. Ulieswardine Hall. — Found three foxes in Chipnall Wood. 

 Ran over to Burnt "Woods ; through them and into Oakley Folly and back to 

 the Burnt Woods to ground without a check. Found a second in Oakley Folly. 

 Ran him to Forty Acres and back and killed him. The best scenting day we 

 have had. 



" Deceraber 8th. Swynnerton Old Farh. — Found on the heath. Ran him 

 twice round the park, and went away to Butterton Hall, on as if for Clayton. 

 Left it on the right, down to Trent Vale, over the canal, on to Penkhull village, 

 on to Hartshill, down the meadows to Stoke-on-Trent Station. Got headed and 

 run by a dog. Ran him back to Penkhull Nursery Gardens and lost him. Time 

 one hour and five minutes." 



This record is given here as a curiosity. It is probably 

 the last time a hunted fox will ever make for Stoke-upon- 

 Trent Eailway Station, or even for Hartshill Infirmary ! 



" December 2iih, 1873. Bird- in-Hand. — Found in Hose Wood. Ran three 

 wide rings for three hours and a half. Had to stop the hounds, as the horses were 

 all beat. The first fifty minutes -n-ithout a check. The stoutest fox I ever ran." 



There is no exaggeration in what Dickins says of this 

 day and of the stoutness of the fox. There was no 

 suspicion that we changed foxes, and we were going hard 

 the whole time. The writer was riding an exceptionally 

 game and stout mare, and she was so done that he had 

 to leave near Leigh Station about half an hour before the 

 end, and was glad to get her home all right and to find 

 her sound and well next day. 



^^ December 31st, 1873. Stoke-by -Stone. — Found in Orange Hayes. Ran to 

 Hardiwick Heath ; a ring by HUderstone, back to Cotwalton Drumble, and killed 

 near MUwich. Time two hours and ten minutes." 



