68 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



him at the appropriate finish within a mile of his own 

 house. 



The record for 1879-80 was fifty-five foxes killed, and 

 twenty-four run to ground. Sixty-five hunting days 

 only, owing to frost. 



The season of 1880-81 began well, with good sport 

 and good hunting weather in November and the early 

 part of December, but after the second week in that month 

 a long frost set in, which practically stopped hunting for 

 about six weeks. 



" November 10th, 1880. Norton-in- Hales. — Found in the osier bed at Betton. 

 Ean to Tunstall, from there to Old Spring to the Spoil Bank, on to Cheswardiue 

 Gorse up to the Hall, from there to the Park Springs at Hales, and killed him. 

 Found a second in the osiers at Oakley Hall. Ran to Blackbrook and back to 

 Oakley, and killed him. A good day. 



" December 1st, 1880. Doddington. — Found in Chapel Wood. Ran to Wal- 

 gherton Pool down to the river Weaver, over and on at a gi-eat pace up to near 

 Combermere, and back to the Hall-a-Coole Gorse ; then to Broomhall a ring, and 

 killed him at Beddington. A capital day. 



" February 2^rd, 1881. Woore. — Found in Harrow's Wood. Ran a ring to 

 Checkley and Wrinehill, to ground by the railway. Went back to Woore ; got on 

 a fox at Canridden. Ran to the Drumble and back, then to Bellaport, and lost 

 him. The Empress out. 



" March 16th, 1881. Doddington. — Drew all the Doddington coverts blank, 

 but found a good fox in Harrow's Wood. Ran to Betton, back by Adderley to 

 Golling's Rough and Buerton and Three Brooks, and back to Bellaport. Had 

 to stop hounds, horses quite beat. A good day." 



The writer was out, and this is his diary entry of the 

 day: 



" Splendid sunny day ; cool east wind. Hunting at Doddington. Found at 

 1,40 at Harrow's Wood, Woore. Fast gallop by Buerton Gorse and Betton, and 

 back towards Woore. Gipsy Queen done to a turn, and 0. J. B. out of the latter 

 part. H.I.M. the Empress out, and a great field, Lady Florence Chaplin, etc. " 



".ipnZ 4^/t, 1881. Croxden Abbey. — Found in Cavendish's Wood, Nothill. 

 Ran up to Heath House and lost. Found a second in Winnoth Dale. Ran an 

 hour and ten minutes, and killed him at Alton Towers." 



The present writer was out, and has a very similar 

 entry as to the day's sport, which was rather above the 

 average, only that he gives the scene of the kill as " close 

 to High Shutt," a farm about halfway between Cheadle 

 and Oakamoor, some two miles from Alton Towers itself, 

 but near the Threapwood coverts, belonging to the Alton 



