18 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



cinders of a volcano, and, the soil being quite exhausted, no 

 traces of vegetation are to be found for years. These conflagra- 

 tions, as they take place usually with a north-east or east wind, 

 much annoy this village with their smoke, and often alarm the 

 country ; and, once in particular, I remember that a gentleman, 

 who lives beyond Andover, coming to my house, when he got on 

 the downs between that town and Winchester, at twenty-five 

 miles distance, was surprised much with smoke and a hot smell 

 of fire, and concluded that Alresford was in flames, but, when 

 he came to that town, he then had apprehensions for the next 

 village, and so on to the end of his journey. 



On two of the most conspicuous eminences of this forest stand 

 two arbours or bowers, made of the boughs of oaks; the one 

 called Waldon-lodge, the other Brimstone-lodge: these the 

 keepers renew annually on the feast of St. Barnabas, taking the 

 old materials for a perquisite. The farm called Blackmoor, in 

 this parish, is obliged to find the posts and brush-wood for the 

 former ; while the farms at Greatham, in rotation, furnish for the 

 latter ; and are all enjoined to cut and deliver the materials at 

 the spot. This custom I mention, because I look upon it to be 

 of very remote antiquity. 



LETTER VIII. To T. PENNANT, ESQ. 



ON the verge of the forest, as it is now circumscribed, are three 



Common Fox. 



considerable lakes, two in Oakhanger, of which I have nothing 



