After a good cub-hunting, Lord Fitzhardinge made a famous commencement of the season on the 1st of November, when they met at Alveston Ship. There was a large assemblage as usual, the rendezvous being within easy reach of Bristol. After the preliminary greetings, they trotted off in the direction of the New Passage, and found a good fox in one of Mr. Thomas Johnstone Ward's coverts, and he took a line over a most severe country, in the direction of Aush to Cate Wood, when he turned to the right for Elberton, and from that place to Alverston, where they met in the morning, and there they killed him, after a most exciting run, lasting fifty-five minutes. The deep muddy rhines and capacious ditches caused many disasters, and one or two gymnastic feats amused the spectators vastly.

The Kirby Gate appointment of the Quorn was in accordance with a long-standing custom, honoured with precedence, though not accompanied with the observances of olden times, when every Meltonian felt himself in duty bound to do honour to the master. Very few now-adays, think it imperative to appear on parade till required on active service, for blind ditches, with hard ground, are not congenial to their conceptions. The most important event that transpired was the presentation to Mr. Musters of a hunting-whip, by the earthstoppers, as a mark of their respect. It is quite an original idea, and a very graceful one, emblematical of cordial feelings pleasing to the recipient and the donors. They did not find, though they drew several coverts, till they arrived at Thorpe Trussels, and after many turns and short runnings, they left off at Gadesby without blood.

A very small field met to welcome Mr. Craven, the new master of the Pytchley, on the opening day, at Weekly Hall Wood; in fact, the old custom has died away in the shires. The first fox ensconced himself in a drain, and the second, found at Boughton, was lost near Cranford Hall. The third afforded a good hunting run of forty minutes, and was killed very creditably near Meadow Copse.

It

An unfortunate schism has occurred with the Kilkenny. appears to have originated in politics. This is much to he regretted, for whether it be in old England or ould Ireland, fox-hunting and farming ought to be held sacred from such animosities, and it is to be hoped it will die away.

In the Albrighton country the sport has been fair, though the scent has been very precarious. They commenced regular hunting at Patshull, where Lord Dartmouth, although he never hunts, has a nice supply of foxes. Many of the county gentlemen attended, especially the Earl of Bradford, Lord Wrotlesley, Mr. and Mrs. Boughey, Mr. Gifford, Mr. Walter Gifford, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Forster, two Misses Forster, Mr. and Mrs. Clark, Mr. Littledale, Major Thorneycraft, Mr. Whyte, Mr. William Phillips, Mr. Stubbs, and Mr. Hazlehurst. The first fox found in Bickley's Rough soon came to hand, and the second broke boldly through the horsemen across the park to a charming gorse covert, planted by his lordship a few years since. There were two or three more foxes in it, but they declined to leave, when, after drawing Beamish blank, they went to Wrotlesley. Symmond's Wood

held two or three-one of which broke at the upper end pointing for Patshull, but turned to the left at the wall, and after running some little distance in the direction of Pattingham, again turned to the left, and was killed after a nice little spin. Meeting at Ranton Abbey on the 9th, they had a long hunting run of some three hours, about Seighford, in the North Staffordshire country, crossing the Seighford brook, known for its boggy, treacherous banks. On the 18th they were at Sarnerford, and found plenty of foxes. One from the new gorse went away over the brook pointing for Chillington to the Canal near Brewood, when he turned to the right, up the Meadows near Stretton Mill, and was lost for want of scent close to the Watlingstreet Road. Went back and drew the gorse again; but the foxes had taken the hint, and were absent. A lunch at Mr. Lonsdale's having been done ample justice to, and even ere some of the guests had scarcely finished, another fox was viewed from the osier-bed going over the country towards Brewood by Blackbrook, on to Spoil Bank, then crossed the road at Lapley, from there to Stretton, and was finally lost at Spoil Bank. The scent had improved in the afternoon, though it was not good. It is cheering to know there are plenty of foxes in these parts, under the fostering care of Mr. Gifford at Chillington, Mr. Monckton at Stretton, and Mr. Lonsdale at Somerford. On the 20th they met at Dallicot, when Mr. Boughey welcomed his field with a profuse breakfast. It was a cold morning, with a harsh, dry wind. A considerable portion of country was drawn blank, quite unexpectedly, as there certainly were foxes. Probably they might have been stopt in or got into rabbits' earths, which are numerous. When they arrived at Apley they found, but the scent was wretched.

"HERE'S

SPORT INDEED!"

BY LORD WILLIAM Lennox.

SHAKSPBARE.

CHAP. XCVII.

We are happy to hear that Prince Arthur, who is now doing duty with the Rifle Brigade at Montreal, has taken to field sports, and his prowess on the Ottawa River has proved most satisfactory. Now the winter has set in his Royal Highness will probably indulge in two favourite Canadian sports-snipe-shooting and fish-spearing. The former sport is too well known to require any comment, but a few remarks upon the latter may not prove uninteresting. It is a most exciting one, as I can state from experience, having enjoyed it during a winter passed in Canada. At the upper end of Lake Erie, where the

bays are closed with ice, the system of spearing fish is carried on with much success after the following plan: The fisherman being previously prepared with a small house from four to eight feet square, mounted on runners to make its removal easy, and so constructed as to exclude all light except what comes up from the ice below, arms himself with an ordinary fish-spear, an axe, and an assortment of small decoy fish, and proceeds to some part of the bay where the water is from three to six feet deep, cuts a hole in the ice, adjusts his house directly over it, and, with his spear in one hand and the line attached to the decoy fish in the other, awaits the coming of his prey. Every object in the water is seen with entire distinctness, though from the exclusion of light in the house above the fisherman is invisible to the fish beneath. The decoy is simply a small wooden fish, loaded sufficiently with lead to cause it to float naturally, and which, by drawing upon the line attached, is made to imitate the motions of a fish playing in the water. Sometimes the fish comes up slowly, as if suspicious that the decoy is not exactly what it appeared, and passes near by, as if to make a more accurate observation; it is then he is struck with unerring aim. Another time a streak is seen to flash across the opening, a quick jerk is felt upon the line, and away goes the decoy beyond all recovery; if, however, the line is not broken, the fish usually returns more slowly, as if to ascertain the cause of his disappointment; he is then easily captured. Let us now turn to the noble science:

Fox-hunting, like all other subiunary pursuits, has undergone a change, and, unquestionably, in many instances, one for the better. The chase can now be carried on with comfort from London or from almost any provincial town; hounds are within the reach of everybody, whether residing in the metropolis or in the provinces; nor is it necessary to be called by candlelight, and to remain out until night has set in, as used to be the case in the days of our forefathers. In bygone times, hunting men lived entirely for the "noble science," and never thought of coming up to London during the season until frost or snow had given horses, hounds, and foxes a temporary respite. Then were the travelling chariots, the barouches, or britchkas, ordered, and a journey to town commenced. We know many instances of men travelling up from Leicester, Melton, Cheltenham, or Leamington, as fast as four horses could convey them, and, during the night of the day they arrived, finding a thaw set in, they would start at midnight or very early the next morning, so as not to give up a day's hunting. It occasionally happened that when there was a thaw in London it had not extended to the country, so the ardent and impatient Nimrod found himself back at his hunting quarters with no other pursuit, as far as the chase was concerned, except passing a few hours " on the flags" in the nearest kennel. Hunting has not been annihilated by railroads, as was foretold; on the contrary, the rail has proved of the greatest avail to those who always hunted, while it enables hundreds who had never previously seen a pack of hounds to join in this exhilirating and manly sport. It was only last December when, after passing a day at the hospitable house of a gallant general at Leamington, I was leaving by an early train, that I witnessed a sight that surprised me-it was a

special train engaged to convey hounds, huntsmen, men, and hunters from the Spa to Rugby, and bring them back at night. This was going to cover in a luxurious way, for a man might enjoy his cigar while perusing the morning paper. Far different was it from the system pursued when I hunted at Leamington some three-and-thirty years ago, when those who had not good cover hacks had to go ten or sixteen miles to cover in a slow, rickety fly, and to ride their hunters home, sometimes after a long run of an hour.

The English foxhound of the present day may be termed perfect, and great credit is due to those whose judgment in regulating the crosses and the selection of sire and dam have brought the breeding to this pitch of excellence. Not only is every good quality to be regarded, and if possible obtained, but every fault or imperfection to be carefully avoided. Independently of shape, which combines strength with beauty, the highest quality in a foxhound lies not so much in the keenness of his nose, as his being true to the line and a stout runner. He should be patient when the scent is cold, or whenever the pack are at fault. The greatest fault a hound can have is skirting, babbling, running mute, or running riot; the lash may cure the latter, but skirting is often innate and incurable. It will be seen, then, that a breeder of the hound has to guard against propensities as well as faults. A celebrated writer (and better authority no man need require) has said: "In modern times the system of hunting is much improved, and so much more attention is paid to the condition of hounds and their style of work that in this enlightened age the master of hounds thinks it a reflection on his judgment if one hound in his pack is detected in a fault." Beckford tells us: "There are necessary points in the shape of a hound that ought always to be attended to; he has much to undergo, and should have strength proportioned to it: Let his legs be straight as arrows, his feet round and not too large, his shoulders back, his breast rather wide than narrow, his chest deep, his back broad, his head small, his neck thin, his tail thick and bushy, and if he carry it well so much the better." The speed of foxhounds has considerably quickened within the last fifty years; and, could old Mr. Beckford come amongst us again, he would be as much surprised at the pace of the present day as he would at the late hours of meeting and the thorough-bred hunters he would meet at the covert side. The hounds of bygone days were much less adapted for speed, but we question whether they had not quite as keen a sense of scent as those of the present time. It is now the fashion to appreciate a run according to its sharpness, and a three hours' chase over a cold scent, with a kill at the end, would be accounted a "dead slow" affair; whilst a burst of five-and-thirty minutes at a racing pace over a grass country without a check, is reported in all the sporting papers as "a brilliant run;" the difference being that formerly gentlemen went out for the pleasure of hunting, but now they meet for the purpose of riding.

While upon the subject of hunting, I cannot refrain from referring to the handsome conduct of the Prince of Wales in presenting his beautiful pack of harriers to the gentlemen and farmers residing in the neighbourhood of Windsor. The gift proves that his Royal High

ness's heart is in the right place, and every lover of manly sports must feel grateful not alone at the prince's liberality, but for his consideration for those who enjoyed a gallop with this favourite pack.

We have digressed; return we to the English hunter, which may be truly designated an indigenous animal, for on no other spot of the earth is such a horse to be found. The stature of the horse is no more absolutely fixed than that of the human body, but the medium height is considered as best for hunters-say fifteen hands two or three inches. Temper and mouth are essential points, for in the absence of either no man can be said to be well mounted. The former not only contributes greatly to the pleasure and safety of the rider, but a horse of a fine temper takes less out of himself than one of a violent nature, especially in a country where there is much fencing. Indeed, fretful horses are proverbially soft, which caused Shakespere to compare them to false friends:

"Hollow men, like horses not at hand,

Make gallant show and promise of their mettle;
But when they should endure the bloody spear,
They fall their crest, and, like deceitful jades,
Sink in the trial."

A hunter should have courage, energy in all his paces, but not too much of what is generally called action; his stride in his gallop should be rather long than otherwise, provided he bring his hinder legs well under his body; and the movement of the forelegs should be round, but by no means high. The test of action, however, in the hunter is in what is termed "dirt," and no animal can be said to be perfect who cannot go well in the heaviest of ground.

A perfect hunter should have a light head, well put on, with a firm but not a long neck; lengthy, and consequently oblique shoulders, a very capacious chest, and great depth of girth; a long muscular forearm, coming well out of the shoulder, the elbow parallel with the body, neither inclining inward nor outward; a short cannon or shank, with large tendons and sinews, forming a flat, not a round leg; an oblique pastern, rather long than short, and an open circular foot; the back of moderate length, with well-developed loins and fillets, and deep ribs, making what is termed by sportsmen a good "spur place." From the oins to the setting-on of the tail the line should be carried on almost straight, or rounded only in a very slight degree. Thus the haunch will be most oblique, and will produce a corresponding obliquity in the thigh-bone, which formation is peculiarly characteristic of the well-bred horse. The dock of the tail should be large, and the buttocks close together. The thighs should be muscalar and long, rather inclining inwards, with large lean hocks, the points appearing to stand somewhat behind the body, which will bring the lower part of the hind-leg or shank under it. The shank, fetlock, and pastern of the hind-leg should exactly resemble those of the fore-leg, as also should the foot.