24 A MODEL FOX COVERT. 



withstanding it was a cold, bitter day, witli a cut- 

 ting east wind, the sleet falling, and absolutely 

 freezing in our coats. By this resolute act Glynn 

 kept alone with the hounds for more than an hour, 

 and he was tlie only man besides myself up at tlie 

 finish, when, both our horses being beaten, he held 

 mine above Christian Malford Wood, whilst I ran 

 in with the hounds on foot, to save tbe fox's brush 

 for him." 



To those who know the country, it may afford 

 some amusement in calculating the extent of 

 ground traversed by this gallant old fox, and I 

 believe if all his turnings and windings, in covert 

 and out, are taken into account, it will amount to* 

 little less than forty miles. It was, as I have 

 stated, a cold, miserable day, with a bad scent, so 

 that the hounds could never press their fox. This 

 Catcomb AVood is the most beautiful fox covert I 

 have ever seen in any country. It lies sloping 

 towards the south, with grass, rushes, and black- 

 thorn, as thick in some parts as a gorse- brake, in 

 the centre of a fine fox-hunting vale, chiefly pas- 

 tiu'e land ; and as to its extent, just the thing to 

 suit the taste of a master of fox-hounds. 



The foxes it produced during the time I hunted 

 it were generally stout and straight runners, taking 

 their line into the Vale of White Horse country, 



