FOX-HUNTING IN THE SHIRES 



CHAPTER I 



FOX-HUNTING IN THE SHIRES 



Scope of the "Shires" — A Flying Country — The Grass Countries 

 of the Midlands — Artificial Coverts — Attractions of the Shires 

 — Wire — Hunting not merely a Rich Man's Sport — Popularity 

 of Hunting in Leicestershire — Abundance of Foxes — Draw- 

 backs to Hunting in the Midlands — Causes of Long Runs — 

 Visitors who seek the Grass Countries— First and Second 

 Flight Men — Those who never Jump — Good Days and Bad — 

 The Crowd in Leicestershire — Decay of Provincial Hunts — 

 Getting a Start — Growing Popularity of the Midlands. 



In treating of Fox-hunting as it is in the countries 

 known by a term sanctioned by long use as " The 

 Shires," the first step is to define what districts those 

 are, compared to which all others are styled provincial. 

 In reality, the hunts that are entitled to be accounted 

 within such limits are those which can be reached by 

 people living in or near certain well-known hunting 

 centres, such as Melton, Oakham, Market Harborough, 

 Grantham, or Rugby. These hunts are the Quorn, 

 the Belvoir, the Cottesmore, Mr. Femie's, the Pytchley, 

 the Woodland Pytchley, the Atherstone, and the 

 Warwickshire. 



About these last two there may be a question, and 

 some writers would exclude them, but I think they 

 are entitled to be considered as equal, and in parts 



