62 REMINISCENCES, ETC. 



removed from the kennel to avoid effluvia ; but this plan, 

 he says, is open to the objection, that the backs of the hounds 

 are exposed to the wet in rainy weather, when coming for 

 their food, and standing to take it. 



In Beckford's time, the boiling-house and feeding-rooms 

 of kennels for foxhounds were placed in the centre. There 

 were two kennels, the hunting and ordinary kennel. The 

 floor of the lodging- rooms sloped, and was always bricked. 

 There was a hayrick in the grass-yard, for the hounds to rest 

 themselves against. Somerville, in his poem on "The Chase," 

 recommends a high situation ; but, as Beckford observes, if 

 this be selected, there can be no brook running through the 

 kennels, which is very desirable on many accounts. 



Passing up the shrubbery and skirting the edge of the 

 farm-yard, you come at once upon a slope of undulating 

 green sward, and here, under the eye of one of the whippers- 

 in, scores of loose hounds might be seen taking their exer- 

 cise. On the top of the hill, open towards the south-west, 

 ranged the kennels, four in number, and as snug in their 

 accommodation as the greatest lover of hounds could desire. 

 Here flourished Tomboy, Tarquin, Trimbush (of whom we 

 have already spoken). Tigress, and Traffic, of Burton blood. 

 Tomboy was notorious for always bringing home the fox's 

 head, no matter how distant the kill. Those who were out 

 that day will well recollect Traffic and the hunted fox rolling 

 off" the thatch of a house together, at the close of a quick 

 run from CoUingbourne Wood to Fosbury, and back to Dean 

 Farm ; while others will not forget the courage of Trimmer 

 in lugging a marten cat out of a hurdle pile in Doyly Wood 

 single handed. A sporting farmer once seeing these, and 

 numerous other hounds as good, running in a cluster and 

 close behind their fox, exclaimed joyously, " They goes at 

 'un like my wether sheep into a tie of turnips, all first."" 

 Mr. Smith at first had the flooring of his kennels paved with 

 flint-stones ; but, on one occasion, when his hounds were 

 sufiering from shoulder lameness, he found it necessary to 



