178 FOX-HUNTING IN THE SHIRES 



Warwickshire, of course, has always been as much 

 a grazing country as Northamptonshire or Leicester- 

 shire, and the characteristics are much the same 

 from a hunting point of view. 



The Shuckburgh country, for example, is a fine 

 stretch of grazing land fenced to keep in bullocks, 

 and thus of course to be regarded with respect when 

 hounds run over it. Indeed all the side which borders 

 on the Pytchley is much of the same character as 

 that country. It has been said that Warwickshire 

 is a pleasanter and more practicable country to get 

 over than Northamptonshire, and Nimrod, who liked 

 it well, thought that no man who knew how to ride 

 to hounds and had a hunter under him ought to be 

 stopped as often in Warwickshire as he must be at 

 times in Northamptonshire. 



Since those days the limits of the country have 

 altered, and its division into two hunts has taken 

 place. Some of the country that belonged to the 

 Warwickshire now forms part of the Atherstone, for 

 in 1835 the Warwickshire stretched from Hook 

 Norton in Oxfordshire to Newnham Paddox in 

 Leicestershire. The woods of Warwickshire were, 

 and are, famous as fox preserves, though the question 

 of shooting interests must sometimes become acute 

 in a country which has in some parts the good fortune 

 to be almost equally suited for both sports. As a 

 rule, however, throughout the length and breadth of 

 Warwickshire landowners and tenants alike recog- 

 nise the fact that hunting is the paramount sport of 

 the district. Owing to the favour with which it is 

 regarded by those whose position in the country 

 gives them influence, hunting may be said to 

 have in Warwickshire the weight of opinion on 

 its side. 



