134 ON TEE GRAMPIAN HILLS. 



dition of the hounds, I thought it advisable to avail 

 myself of the permission I had received to inspect the 

 royal stud of hunters provided for Goodall and his 

 merry men (< when a hunting they do go/' now that 

 winter is approaching, that pleasant time of year 



When hill and dale and woodland shall joyously resound 

 "With the huntsman's cheery halloo and the music of the 

 hound. 



The stable in which the stud is located is at 

 Cumberland Lodge, about three miles from the 

 kennels, in a lovely part of Windsor Park. Driving 

 from Ascot Heath on a bright autumn day, such as 

 that which preceded the hurricane, all nature seemed 

 smiling and gay indeed. Innumerable rabbits cropped 

 the abundant herbage, or raced after each other in 

 and out of the dense mass of ferns. Gorgeous 

 pheasants sunned themselves in the bright rays, hardly 

 caring to rise at our approach, and even then only 

 lazily flying a few yards. Herds of fallow-deer and 

 fawns were quietly feeding around us, whilst the 

 occasional hoarse bellow of the red-deer was heard in 

 the distance, sending an angry defiance to his fellow 

 stags ; this being the season at which he is somewhat 

 quarrelsome and dangerous, as notified on the placards 

 suspended on trees adjacent to the thoroughfares. It 

 is impossible to describe the beauty of the foliage, 

 alas ! so soon to be literally blown to the winds. 

 Owing to the early frosts which prevailed, the more 

 sensitive trees assumed the most lovely hues, the 

 Spanish chestnuts, horse chestnuts, and limes being 

 specially noticeable for their brilliant colours, seen 

 amidst the still deep green of the oaks and elms, 



