74 FOX-HUNTING IN THE SHIRES 



the boundary between them, except that certain 

 coverts round Lubenham, Marston Trussells and 

 Hothorpe are neutral between the Pytchley and Mr. 

 Fernie's. The Monday country of the latter hunt is 

 much the same in character as the Pytchley in some 

 parts, and the fences are chiefly cut-and-laid hedges 

 with small ditches ; a few ragged bottoms, some 

 timber, and a certain number of bullfinches are the 

 obstacles that the rider may expect. Everywhere 

 there is grass, with a rather larger admixture of plough 

 than is to be found in the rest of the country. 



But it will be convenient to take the fixtures as 

 the stranger will see them and to note what may be 

 expected from each. The nearest to Market Har- 

 borough is Lubenham, a small village which lies on 

 the main road to Lutterworth. This will lead to the 

 neutral coverts at Marston Hills, where there are 

 fairly large coverts, and Hothorpe Gorse, which lies 

 at the back of Sibbertoft, and is partly gorse and 

 partly wood. These coverts are most picturesquely 

 situated on the ridge and sides of an abrupt line of 

 hills which divide Leicestershire from Northampton- 

 shire. In and about the coverts the slopes are steep, 

 and the going is rough ; but when once a fox is away, 

 he will lead over a fine range of country, having the 

 choice of some good Pytchley country on one side 

 and a beautiful grass vale on the other, though the 

 latter, alas, is spoiled by the railway and the canal. 

 Foxes, however, will sometimes cross these, for on 

 the opposite side of the valley is the wooded line of 

 the Laughton Hills, grassy slopes with dark patches 

 of woodlands giving excellent covert with a southern 

 aspect, and much favoured by foxes. The covert 

 known as Pamps lies at the foot of the Marston 

 Hills. 



