94 »88s. 



March i6th. — 



We did not have a cheerful beginning, for 

 we met at Zeal's Green, where we drew all the 

 covers blank. There was not a fox or a trace 

 of one in Norwood, Bagmore, Silton Wood, 

 Kddix Hill, Deptly, or Bailey Withybeds. A 

 dreary blank throughout. So the day was well 

 advanced when we found our first in Cucklington 

 Wood. He ran a ring round the cover, and then 

 went up over the hill, and unluckily got on to 

 the cold ploughs, heading for Whistly Wood, 

 when something headed him, and he turned 

 back with his head pointing for his native 

 place, which, no doubt, he reached, for the 

 cold scenting ground he led us over was all in 

 his favour, and not in ours. We gave him up, 

 and drawing a few hedgerows on the way home, 

 were fain to be content with a bad day's sport. 



March 17th. — 



But worse awaited us to-day, when we met 

 at Thorn Cofiin; not an exhilarating name, but 

 one well suited to the day, whose records had 

 better be buried in oblivion. 



