26 NATURAL HISTORY 



their smoke, and often alarm the country ; and once in par- 

 ticular, 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. Bar- 

 nabas, taking the old materials for a perquisite. The farm 

 called Blackmoor, in this parish, is obliged to find the posts 

 and brushwood 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. 



LETTEE VIII. 



TO THOMAS PENNANT, ESQUIRE. 



the verge of the forest, as it is now circum- 

 scribed, are three considerable lakes, two in 

 Oakhanger, of which I have nothing parti- 

 cular to say; and one called Bin's or Bean's 

 Pond, which is worthy the attention of a 

 naturalist or a sportsman. For, being crowded at the upper 

 end with willows, and with the Oarex cespitosa? it affords 

 such a safe and pleasing shelter to wild ducks, teals, snipes, 

 &c. that they breed there. In the winter this covert is also 



1 1 mean that sort which, rising into tall hassocks, is called by the 

 foresters torrets a corruption, I suppose, of turrets. G. W. 



