THE HOUNDS. 171: 



(Rous'd from their dark alcoves) delif^ht to stretch, 

 And bask in his invigorating ray. 

 Warn'd by the streaming hght, and merry lark, 

 Forth rnsh the jolly clan ; with tuneful throats 

 They carol loud, and in grand chorus join'd 

 Salute the new-liorn day. 



O'er all lot cleanliness preside, no scraps 



Bestrew the pavement, and no half-pick'd bones 



To kindle fierce debate, or to disgust 



That nicer sense on which the sportsman's hope, 



And all his future triumphs must depend. 



Soon as the growling pack with eager joy 



Have lapp'd their smoking viands, morn or eve. 



From the full cistern lead the ductile streams. 



To wash thy court well-pav'd, nor spare thy pains, 



For much to health will cleanliness avail. 



Soiiicrvilc. 



The first kennels of llie R.R.B. were not very commodious, but they 

 were conveniently situated for the committee, wlio mostly resided at Rock 

 Ferry. Tiiey were also within easy reach of the meets, which in those days 

 were mainly fixed about Upton and Tranmere. These kennels were situated 

 nt Woodhey, near Bebington Station. Tiiey served fairly well for a great 

 number of years, but in 1882 they were found to be too cramped and incon- 

 venient, wiih a not too secure tenure. (.As a matter of fact, we could have 

 remained there to this day. as they are still in the occupation of our old 

 huntsman, Charles Williams. ) Moreover, as the neighbourhood was becoming 

 more populous, many complaints were made of the hounds being noisy and 

 a nuisance. 



In 1882 our worthy Master, V. A. King, generously built new kennels 

 of the most approved design, on land of his own at Higher Bebington, and 

 thus became our liberal landlord, letting the kennels to the club at a moderate 

 rental. Miss King is now our " landlord," and we have every reason to 

 think that our tenure will be secure as long as the Hunt exists, as the neigh- 

 bourhood is not one likely to be largely built over, but will, as far as we can 

 sec, remain a sliictly agi icultural district for the next hundred years or so. 

 We therefore do not anticipate being driven further afield. The present 

 kennels are well situated, commodious, and suit our requirements in every 

 particular. They are within three or four miles of the Master's residence, 

 enabling him to pay frequent visits, without trespassing too hardly on his 

 leisure ; they are central in the country we hunt, being about equi-distant 

 from our extremest meets in opposite directions, Hoylake and Stanney ; and 

 most of our meets are within walking distance for the hounds, a few only 

 requiring the use of the van. 



