154 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



l)y Fox]ej' Crumble, and killed liira. Time, one hour and fifty-five minutes. 

 Went on to Betley. Found. Ran a ring, and stopped hounds at Mr. Twemlow's 

 garden. 



" December 9th, 1887. ShdJowford House.— T>Ye\v Yeld's Rough blank, but 

 found a brace at Shallowford Gorse. Ran to Yarlet Hill, and on to Whitgreave, 

 to ground in a pithole ; then drew Yarlet and Uarlaston Wood blank, but found 

 in Meaford Osiers. Ran by Kibblestone to Moddershall Oaks ; through and on 

 to Spot Acre and Hilderstone up to the Bird-in-Hand. Stopped hounds at dark." 



After Saturday, December 17th, the hounds were only 

 out for one day during the rest of the month, on account 

 of a severe frost, which lasted until the early part of 

 January, 1888, and on January 11th, 13th, and 14th 

 hunting was stopped by a thick fog. 



" January 25th, 1888. Fidford Village. — Found in New Close Sprink. 

 Ran fast to Brindley's Wood and Birchwood Park, back to Brindley's Wood, to 

 gi-ound. Got on another in Fradswell Heath. Ran a fast ring, and killed in 

 Brindley's Wood. Found again in Birchwood Park. Ran a ring by Draycot 

 Gorse, back to Fradswell Heath, and on as if for Chartley, but bore to the left 

 by Gratwich, over the river Blythe, up to Carry Coppice and on to Loxlej', and 

 killed him. Time, one hour and forty minutes." 



Again hunting was entirely stopped by frost and snow 

 from February 11th to March 6th. On March 9th the 

 pack scored largely, killing three foxes and running 

 another to ground, but of the four foxes only one seems 

 to have shown any sport. This is Dickins's entry : 



^^ March 9th, 1888. Wrinehill Village. — First went to new covert at 

 Weston. Found, and ran for a few fields and killed. Drew Balterlej' Heatii 

 blank, but found a ringing fox at Betley Gorse. Ran half an hour and killed. 

 Went to Wrinehill. Found. Ran a ring and killed. Got on another, and ran 

 very fast over Barr Hill to the Bitterns ; on through Radwood up to Maer Hills, 

 through the hills to ground on Berth Hill. Forty minutes. 



" March 12th, 1888. Woore. — A lot of snow at Woore, so went to Adderley 

 Gorse. Found, and ran fast to Shavington and back to Audlem, to ground 

 under the railway. Went back to the gorse. Found again. Ran into Adderley, 

 through it into Shavington, out over the wall, and away by Wilkesley to Burley- 

 dam and into Combermere ; through it and on to within a mile of Whitchurch. ■ 

 Had a la-ace of foxes before hounds, so left them. 



'^ March 26th, 1888. Korton-in-Hales. — Drew Betton blank and Golhng's 

 Rough, but found in Adderley Gorse, and ran to Audlem to ground. Bolted one 

 and killed in a few fields ; then drew Buerton Gorse and Woore blank, but found 

 at Finson's Hay. Ran to Checkley Wood, Wrinehill, and Barr Hill to the 

 Bitterns, up to jNIaer Hills ; changed foxes and stopped hounds. 



" April 3rd, 1888. Sandon. — Drew Sandon and Shaw's Wood blank, but 

 found at Hardiwick Heath. Ran a ring to ground — a vixen. Found another in 

 Orange Hayes. Ran to Hardiwick Pleath and back to Holly Wood, through it 



