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, Esa. 
On the verge of the forest, as it is now circumscribed, are three 
considerable lakes, two in Oakhanger, of which I have nothing 
Common Fox. 
