194 THE NORTH STAFFOKDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



Considering tlie drawbacks, the hounds did well to 

 kill fifty-nine foxes. They were out altogether eighty- 

 seven days, and ran thirty-seven foxes to ground. 



The following account of four good days' sport with 

 these hounds in February, 1893, is from tlie Staffordsldre 

 Sentinel of that time : — 



" ' Gorse Covert ' writes : On Friday, February 1 7th, we met at Shallowford 

 House, and after partaking of tlie hospitalities of j\Ir. Boote, a move was made 

 for Yeld's Eough, wliich was drawn blank. Shallowford Gorse also proved 

 blank. Mr. Meakin then informed us that he was almost certain Ave should find 

 in his gorse at Cresswell. The hounds trotted there, but unfortunately, as soon 

 as they were put into cover, they chopped a fox. Another fox, however, went 

 away at the same time, and the hounds were immediately laid on. They ran as 

 if for Cresswell Hall, but turning away from here to the left, they ran a good pace 

 to Hopton Covert. Here, unfortunately, a fresh fox went away, the hounds 

 getting -on his line before they could be stopped. They ran as if making for Salt, 

 but turning away to the right, they ran back nearly to Shallowford. Plere, losing 

 our fox, we went on to draw Black Planting. A fox was soon viewed away, and, 

 running him in the direction of Shallowford, we came back again to Pirehill. 

 There we got a view of him. He was evidently one of the hunted foxes of the 

 morning. The hounds soon ran into him and killed him. We then went to Cold 

 Norton Gorse, and finding here ran a few fields to ground in a pit-hole on Mr. 

 Darlington's farm. It being past four o'clock, and every one having had enough, 

 the hounds went home. 



" Saturday, the 18th, saw the hounds at Blackbrook, which is not considered a 

 popular meet, as it is generally a woodland day, and means drawing the Maer 

 Hills. But good sport may on occasion be obtained from woodland country, as 

 we discovered. Dickins had no sooner put the hounds into the hills than they 

 found, and, running straight through, went out on the Camp Hill side, and ran 

 for Aston. Here they checked, and, being got together, hit oft' through line and 

 ran down to the North Staffordshire Railway. Leaving the Bitterns on the right, 

 they ran as if for AVrinehill, but leaving this and Checkley on the right, they ran 

 by Heathcote's Gorse to Bridgmere. Here our fox was viewed just in front of 

 the hounds, and being raced on across the park, he went to ground in a rabbit- 

 hole just as the hounds were about to run into him. The Duke then gave orders 

 to go back to the Maer Hills, which was a good seven-miles draw, but on the way 

 he decided to draw Heathcote's Gorse. Finding a fox immediately, the hoimds 

 raced away up wind wth him back to the Maer Hills. A few of the field saw 

 the first part only of this ran, for their coming into contact with wire in some of 

 the fences completely stopped their chance of living with the hounds. On 

 reaching the Maer Hills, Dickins found his hounds scattered so that they failed 

 to mark into ground where he must have gone. Every one having had enough, 

 the hounds went home, the company very well pleased with two such good 

 days' sport. 



" Monday's meet was Madeley village. A fox was viewed at Checkley Wood, 

 and soon went to ground in a drain. Having a temer with us, he was hunted 

 and bolted. Running back into Checkley, the hounds ran round him as if almost 

 going away on the Doddington side. They ran into him close outside the park. 

 The next draw was at Finson's Hay, and here, unfortunately, soon after the 



