With the Brookside, 273 



dean, in order to visit the kennels of tlie Brookside. 

 After a lovely ride over the breezy downs I reached 

 the quiet little hamlet of Rottingdean, and passing the 

 residence of Mr. Steyning Beard, found the kennels, 

 which are situated in a hollow, well sheltered from 

 the wintry winds. Having intimated my desire to 

 inspect the hounds, for which I had obtained the 

 permission of the Master, I was shown over by the 

 lad who was in charge, in the absence of the kennel 

 huntsman and whip, John Funnell. The kennels are 

 very well built, spacious, and placed in a good posi- 

 tion for drainage, a most important consideration for 

 those who do not desire their hounds to suffer from 

 attacks of kennel-lameness, and which does not always 

 receive sufficient consideration at the hands of those 

 who are entrusted with the building of such establish- 

 ments. The huntsman^s house adjoins them, and is a 

 neat and commodious building. 



A large enclosed paddock is devoted to the puppies, 

 in which, on the occasion of my visit, there were five 

 couples of youngsters, very promising hounds, indeed, 

 from which I selected Warbler for choice as likely to 

 prove a valuable addition to the pack next season. 

 Then going into the first compartment which contained 

 the hounds that had been hunted on the previous day, 

 I was struck by their beauty and wonderfully blooming 

 appearance. First to show themselves were Towler 

 and Jupiter, then Warrior, all beautiful animals, 

 thoroughbred harriers, and I heard with great regret 

 that five couples of this beautiful pack had run over 

 the clifi*s during last season, and were dashed to 

 pieces, whilst in pursuit of a hare. A loss not easily 

 replaced ; nevertheless there are some thirty couples 



18 



