304 THE OLD BERKS HUNT 



was undoubtedly rabies. When we find this 

 horrible disease making such ravages amongst 

 dogs so carefully watched and tended as 

 hounds ; when we reflect how easily it is com- 

 municable to man and with what awful results ; 

 when we learn, moreover, that certain coun- 

 tries, like Norway and Australia have been 

 kept absolutely free from the malady, by strin- 

 gent restrictions upon the importation of dogs 

 from abroad, the reason for the severe 

 measures taken by the Board of Agriculture 

 becomes apparent. 



On Monday, March the 29th, 1886, the 

 meet was "The Blowing Stone." At King- 

 ston Lisle House, the field received a 

 hearty welcome from the popular Master. 

 After doing ample justice to the good things 

 provided for them, they adjourned to Fawler 

 Copse, which was drawn blank. A move 

 was then made to Uffington Wood, where a 

 leash of foxes were quickly on foot. One was 

 chopped directly and another viewed away. 

 The hounds were close on to him down 

 Woolstone Wells to the village ; then turning 

 back up hill, as if for Uffington Wood, they 

 swung round by Dragon's Hill, down the 

 " Manger," up again and round the Camp ; 

 pointing for Ashdown, but bearing to the 

 left was run to ground near Mr. Hippisley's 



