7 8 The Old Surrey Fox Hounds 



in old days one of the bad points of this country, have 

 almost disappeared. 



For example, Mr. Byron informs us that he can re- 

 member small patches of land here and there where 

 followers of these hounds used literally to ride over a bed 

 of flints, and actually could not see the soil for them. 

 They were valueless and not worth picking in those days, 

 so were left alone ; yet the farmers grew their corn crops 

 on them. At that period, moreover, the shooting interest 

 was not so strong as it is now ; the coverts were always 

 open to the hounds, and foxes were more sedulously pre- 

 served. Modern changes in that respect leave, alas, a 

 great deal to be desired. 



Availing ourselves of Mr. Byron's earliest recollections, 

 we find that the opening meet of the season was always 

 at Worm's Heath — a very picturesque spot — on the first 

 Monday after Croydon Fair, at 10-30 (the time which 

 was then kept throughout the season), the date of 

 such meet being about the 3rd or 4th of October. The 

 country was then hunted three days a week. Mondays 

 were given up to the Kent side, Thursdays to below hill, 

 and Saturdays within easy reach of Croydon. Old 

 Surrey ites were then — how pleasant to note! — "im- 

 mensely enthusiastic." 



During Mr. Byron's reign many celebrities hunted 

 with the Old Surrey, and enjoyed themselves no doubt 

 thoroughly ; but the statement made that the German 

 Emperor hunted with this pack is erroneous. That 

 report probably originated in consequence of Mr. Byron 



