100 FOX-HUNTING IN THE SHIRES 



morton, is a day to look forward to. Nor is it only 

 the country which is the attraction. The Warwick- 

 shire hounds have a peculiar character of their own. 

 The late Lord Willoughby de Broke determined to 

 build up a pack for his country, and the square- 

 headed muscular dog pack are hounds that can race 

 and hunt. Indeed, they hunt while they race, for 

 they are seldom off the line, and the pace they go is 

 the result of condition and stamina. No pack more 

 seldom over-runs the line, and even a Thursday crowd 

 will fail to carry them far. It is this pack, and the 

 way they have been and are hunted, as much as the 

 admirable country which has raised Warwickshire to 

 the level of the Shires and drawn men who love to 

 hunt as well as ride to live within its borders. I can 

 recollect the day when the Warwickshire Hunts were 

 scarcely allowed to be within the limits of the Shires ; 

 but, whether they are so technically or not, no one 

 who was writing of our best countries could omit these 

 packs. Certainly they will receive a large share of 

 attention from the Rugby man, who will find much 

 of his pleasure in riding over the Warwickshire or 

 North Warwickshire Hunt countries. The two packs 

 are almost on the outskirts of Rugby on Thursdays, 

 and even the boldest riders must speak of the Shuck- 

 burgh country with respect. You may cross it with 

 either the Warwickshire pack on Thursday, or again 

 the Pytchley may run over it on alternate Saturdays. 

 But whenever you do find yourself in it, you will need 

 your very best horse. 



Warwickshire is nearly as stiffly fenced as any part 

 of Leicestershire, " so little differ as makes no matter," 

 as the country people say. The enclosures however 

 are, though of fair size, not so large, and the ground 

 a little softer. There is perhaps rather more arable, 



