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A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE slopes of the Marston Hill, and has a west course for six miles, where Ham Brook falls into it, a small stream draining Wormleighton, Fenny Compton and the Burton Hills. The course of the Itchen now becomes northerly, through Bishop's Itchington, near Southam, through Long Itchington to its confluence with the Learn near Marton. It is little more than a brook in any portion of its course, and having a gentle flow, is as a rule luxuriously weed-grown. 6. THE Sow The Sow rises on the high land near Astley, flowing south-west through Bedworth woodlands, where it receives on its left bank a stream from Arbury. Here its course bears south through Exhall, where it is joined by Breach Brook, a stream draining Fillongley and Corley ; from there it flows through Longford and Foleshill, receiving on its left bank March Brook from Hawkesbury. Its course now becomes westerly through Wyken, Sow and Binley, and receives on its left bank waters from Monk's Kirby, Withybrooke, Combe, Stretton-on-Fosse and part of Brinklow. From Binley it takes a widely sinuous course through Wil- lenhall and Baginton to its confluence with the Avon in Stoneleigh Park, receiving near Baginton the little river Sherbourne, a stream draining the country around Allesley, Westwood Heath and Kenilworth. Its whole course is about twenty miles. 7. THE STOUR The Stour rises at Stour Well in Oxfordshire, and enters Warwick- shire at Traitors' Ford, about three miles from its source ; it flows through Stourton, Cherrington, Burmington, Shipston-on-Stour, Halford, Alderminster, Atherstone-on-Stour to its confluence with the Avon two miles below Stratford-on-Avon. Although the Stour is for a consider- able portion of its course an insignificant stream, the country through which the river runs is peculiar for its alternation of hill and dale, Bright Hill, Brailes Hill and Ilmington Downs being among the more elevated of our Warwickshire hills, and commanding fine far-reaching views over the surrounding country. The highest points are Ebrington Hill, which has an elevation of 855 feet above the sea ; Bright Hill 737 feet, and Brailes Hill 700 feet. The district is well wooded, and contains here and there remains of what have, in former times, been widely stretching heath lands. 8. THE ALNE The Alne is formed by two streams rising far apart. The main stream rises on Apsley Heath near the county boundary, and takes an easterly course by Tanworth Mill, through Henley-in-Arden and Beau- desert to the grounds of Wootton Hall, where it unites with the second principal feeder. This stream rises near Wroxall Abbey, about seven miles north-east of Wootton Hall, and flows through Rowington, Low- 38