2G0 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



gorse. Drew Shaw's Rough and Robin Hood's Wood blank. Found in Wal- 

 gherton Wood. Had a very good run by Hatherton and Birchall nearly to 

 Buerton, then back by llankelow and beat us, but, owing to its freezing very sharp, 

 did not persevere with him. Owing to the frost, we did not meet till 11.30. 

 There was a good field out owing to the Cheshire Hounds being stopped by the 

 death of the Duke of Westminster. His Grace the Duke of Sutherland also did 

 not hunt. I hunted the bitches. A good day. 



^^ January Sth, 1900. Woore. — Drew the Canridden blank. Found in the 

 Mill Hay. Had a very good gallop to Checkley village, and back through the 

 wood nearly to Onneley, back through Finson's Hay Gorse, and ran him to 

 gi'ound near Checkley ; dug out and killed him. Drew Shaw's Rough and 

 Chapel Wood blank. Found in the Three Brooks. Had a capital twenty 

 minutes, and ran him to ground near Dorrington Old Hall. Drew Bellaport 

 blank. The early part of the day was very fine, but came on very wet about 

 four o'clock. Had a very good day's sport, one of the best Mondays up to this. 

 Hounds could drive along. 



" January 20th. Sugnall. — Found a brace in the osier-bed. Killed one after 

 bustling him well about for twenty minutes ; the other had slipped away, but 

 did nothing with him. Found a brace in the Cullamores. Had a very nice hunt. 

 Ran him to ground in Wincote Wood ; a good fitfy minutes. Found a brace in 

 Walton Gorse. Had a capital gallop by Ellenhall, Seighford, Chebsey, and back 

 to Walton Hall, and beat us in the gardens. A very good day's sport, and a very 

 fine day. Our run from AValton Gorse was good from end to end. Found a nice 

 lot of foxes. 



" January 22nd. Doddinyton. — Found in a new covert near the Hall. Had 

 a very good run by Blakenhall over the London and North- Western Rail- 

 way to Doddlespool, and beat us. Found in Weston Osier-bed. Ran him to 

 ground in Mill Dale. Found in Blakenhall Moss. Ran sharp to Lea Park, and 

 back to the Moss and beat us. Drew Shaw's Rough blank. Found in Finson's 

 Hay Gorse. Had a good run of fifty-three minutes about the Wrinehill country, 

 and killed him in the Drumble near Barr Hill. This was one of our best day's 

 sport. Hounds could run all day. We only wanted straighter-going foxes. 

 Paradise, a very useful little bitch, was left out, and got killed on the London and 

 North-Western Railway near Madeley. 



" February 2nd. Cold Norton. — Found at Shallowford Gorse. Had a very 

 fast gallop, and killed near Mr. Ball's osier-bed. Found in Cold Norton. 

 Hounds ran very fast to Darlaston, Tittensor Chase, through it and away to 

 Swynnerton Hall, leaving the Pilsons on the right to Yarnfield, and back to Cold 

 Norton, and beat us. Found in Wicklow Gorse. Hounds ran very fast to 

 Darlaston Wood, back by the Fox Covert, and killed near Yarnfield. A good 

 day. Sharp frost in the morning ; made us an hour late at the meet. Although 

 it was a very cold day, it was a good scenting one. Hounds ran very fast all day ; 

 had some capital sport." 



After this hunting was stopped by frost for more than 

 a fortnight, and after recording an average day's sport at 

 Woore on February 19th — the first day after the frost — 

 Boxall remarks — 



" It was pleasant to get out again after a fortnight's frost. Although it was 

 rather windy, it was a nice day and a fair scent. Hounds slipped along after the 



