172 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



iiijuiy to himself or his horse. This incident spoiled the pleasure of a good 

 number for the day. To our fox. Upon leaving IMill Hay he pointed for 

 Finson's Hayes Gorse, but at Woore Flash turned to the right, running direct 

 for the Greaves Farm, leaving Woore on the right, straight on to Ouneley, and 

 over Barr Hill, as though the Bitterns was his aim ; but, leaving the latter 

 cover to the left, he crossed the North Staffordshire Railway at Aston Cliff, and 

 shortly after was lost. Scent not very good, and only a slow hunting run. Mill 

 Ha}'- was again drawn, and held another of a good sort. Breaking at the bottom 

 end, he went through Harrow's Wood without dwelling, on past Pewitt Hall and 

 Hunsterson, eAidently for Doddington, where, in a very short space of time, we 

 found ourselves. After running round the Chapel Wood, he was so hardly 

 pressed that he thought (if foxes do think) it best to make " tracks " for home 

 again. Leaving the wood near the church, he crossed the Newcastle road, and 

 with his head for home, got as far as the Green Fields, where he must have been 

 headed, as he suddenly swung back to the left, as if for Doddington again. He 

 was now getting in a new country, and was not quite at home. Leaving the Park 

 to the left and Bridgemere Schools to the right, he crossed the Nantwich and 

 AVoore road. At the Ley Ground he rattled away into Shaw's Rough. Here 

 a slight check took place. Dickins, making a lucky cast, hit off the line, and 

 hounds went like fun as straight as an arrow from Blakenhall to Wrinehill 

 village, where the London and North-AVestern Railway, after a capital run with 

 a bm-ning scent, seemed to befriend our fox and horses too, for the last few fences 

 were done in a haphazard manner by most of them, and at this point it seemed 

 to occur to the greater part of the select few still in, that home was preferable to 

 a "purler." Dickins and a very few went op slowly hunting in the direction of 

 Leycett when I joined the home contingent. The fences are still very blind, and 

 I never remember the going so heavy at this period of the season. " Croppers " 

 were plentiful, but no injuries sustained. 



Farmer. 



On Wednesday, December 6tli, the hounds met at the 

 Bird-in-Hand for Draycot Woods, and had a good day's 

 sport, ending, as they often do from Draycot, in the heart 

 of the Meynell country. The day is thus briefly recorded 

 in Dickins's diary : 



" November Gth, 1889. Bird-in-Hand. — Found in Hose Wood, Draycot. 

 Ran a fast ring for one hour and ten minutes, to ground in Fradswell Drumble. 

 Found another in Birch wood Park. Ran a ring to Sherratt's Wood, Changed 

 foxes. Away by Chartley Park to Gratwich, on to Carry Coppice and Lesley, 

 and away to Bagot's Woods. Stopped hounds at dark." 



From the Staffordshire Advertiser of November 30th, 

 1889, we extract the following report of a day's sport 

 from Cresswell Hall, which may be considered rather above 

 the average, although the foxes all through had the best 

 of the argument : — 



