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piece, and the closeness of its shot, give little credit to the romances of those sportsmen who, by their own accounts, daily kill, with the shot No. 3, at the distance of ninety, and one hundred paces. Some, indeed, go so far far as to assert that they have killed, with this sized shot, hares at one hundred and ten paces, and pheasants at one hundred and twenty. It is possible, however, that with shot No. 5, a man may have killed a hare or a partridge at one hundred and ten, or one hundred and twenty paces; but these shots are so extraordinary, and occur so seldom, that the whole life of a sportsman will hardly afford more than two or three instances; and, when it does so happen, it will be found to be by a single pellet, which, by great chance, has hit either the wing or the head of the partridge, or has struck the head of the hare, by which he is stunned, or perhaps has penetrated the small part of the shoulder, where, to prevent the wound being mortal, there is only a very thin skin, which being stretched by the animal in running, is more liable to be pierced with the shot.

In order to acquire the art of shooting flying, many young sportsmen are advised to shoot at swallows; but the flight of swallows are so irregular and swift, and so unlike the motion of those birds which are the objects of sport, that we cannot approve of such a method. No mode is so advantageous as the actual practice of shooting the game, whereby that trepidation and alarm, which most men feel upon the rising of the covey, will be sooner conquered; for, while these are possessed, even in the most trifling degree, no one can attain to be a steady and good shot.

This opinion is so well confirmed and enforced by the Laureat's beautiful poem, entitled SHOOTING, that we are tempted to gratify our readers with the following quotation from it :

But vainly shall perceptive rules impart
A perfect knowledge of this manly art:
Practice alone can certain skill produce,
And theory confirm'd by constant use.
The hardy youth, who pants with eager flame
To send his leaden bolts with certain aim,
Must ne'er with disappointed hopes recoil
From cold and heat, from hunger and from toil;
Must climb the hill, must tread the marshy glade,
Or force his passage through th' opposing shade;
Must range untam'd by Sol's meridian pow'r,
And brave the force of winter's keenest hour,
'Till industry and time their work have wrought,
And honor crown the skill that labor taught,
Yet some, these harsher rudiments to spare,
Aud equal art with easier toil to share,

Or watch with careful aim and steady sight,
The swallow wheeling in her summer flight;
Or on some lofty cliff, whose chalky steep
Hangs with rude brow impending o'er the deep;
Where gulls and screaming sea-mews haunt the rock,
Pour fire incessant on the mingled flock.
But vain their hopes, presented to the eye,
In such diversive lines the objects fly,

That the 'maz'd sight unnumber'd marks pursues,
Uncertain where to aim, and which to choose,
Decision quick and calm, the shooter's boast,

By frequent change, is check'd, confus'd and lost;
And, guarded by irresolute delay,

Untouch'd shall future coveys fleet away.

More hurtful still to try with distant blow,
To bring the percher from th' seriel bough.
How shall his thoughts, the level that prepare
With all the caution of mechanic care,
Exact and steady as the sage's eye,
Through Galileo's tube surveys the sky,
With ready view the transient object seize,
Swift as the motion of the rapid breeze,
Pursue th' uncertain mark with swift address,
And catch the fleeting moment of success!

If there are persons who still think the practice of shooting swallows to be of assistance in acquiring the art, we will venture to recommend another mode, which, though somewhat similar, is in our opinion much better. This is, by putting small pieces of white paper round the necks of sparrows, or other small birds, by the means of a hole cut in the middle of the paper; then, throwing a deliberately take his aim; for, by this devise, single bird into the air, the shooter may the flight of the bird is rendered less rapid, and more regular and at the same time presents a much better mark for practice. It also affords excellent diversion in seasons when game cannot be pursued, or in wet shed, or a barn door. Some of the first shots weather, from underneath the shelter of a in England have been perfected by this mode.

A fowling-piece should not be fired more than twenty or twenty-five times without being washed; a barrel, when foul, neither shoots so ready, nor carries the shot so far as when clean. The flint, pan, and hammer should be well wiped after each shot; this contributes greatly to make the piece go off quick, but it should be done with expedition. Tho flint should be often changed, without waiting till it misses fire before a new one is put in.

A gun should never be fired with the prime of the preceding day; it may happen, indeed, indeed, that an old priming will sometimes go off well, but it will more frequently contract moisture, and fuze in the firing; the object will therefore most probably be missed because the piece was not fresh primed.-MORE

ANON.

SNIPE SHOOTING.

SNIPES visit this country in autumn, and remain here till the spring. It is generally supposed that they return into Germany and Switzerland to breed; a great number of them, however, continue with us during the summer, and breed in the marshes where they lay their eggs in June, to the number of about four or five. These birds are hardly worth shooting till the first frost sets in; but in the month of November they begin to grow very fat. When these little birds are plentiful they afford exceeding good sport. Snipes, as well as woodcocks, always fly against the wind; it is therefore best to hunt for them, as much as possible, with the wind to the back, because they then fly towards the sportsman, and present a fairer mark.

It is a common observation that it is diffi

cult to shoot a snipe, on account of the many turnings and twistings which it makes on being sprung, but this difficulty exists only in the minds of inexperienced sportsmen, for there are many birds more difficult to shoot flying. If the shooter can accustom himself to let the snipe fly away, without his being alarmed, he will find that the flight is not more difficult to follow than that of the quail : and it is better to let him fly to some distance, because the smallest grain of shot will kill him, and he will fall to the ground if struck ever so slightly.

Among the common snipes the largest are supposed to be the males. There are some snipes, indeed, which are of a most extraordinary size, but they are doubtless of a different species; they are also so extremely rare that they do not here require a particular description.

Snipes are often to be found in great plenty in those places where the water lies open in hard frosty, or snowy weather. They delight in haunting such places, and where springs run with a gentle stream, because, on account of their bills, they cannot feed in places that are hard and stony. They resort very much about these plashes in snowy weather.

SHOOTING WATER FOWL IN SICILY. We mounted our horses very early (observes Mr. Swinburne, in his Travels in the Two Sicilies), and, leaving Augusta, rode directly north, over the high promontory of Santa Croce: the land very even, but cultivated with spirit. As soon as we reached the north side of the hill, and faced Etna, I perceived that all the stones were lumps of black lava. We descended to the shore of the bay of Catania, at its south-west angle, not far from La Brucca, a small caricatore, and baited at a public house, called Agnuni; near it are the foundations, and walls to the height of ten feet, of a very large Gothic church, begun by King Frederic the Second, but left in an imperfect state, either on account of his death, or the insalubrity of the situation. Near this spot antiquaries place the emporium of Leontini, where the superabundance of their produce was shipped for foreign parts.

In

the neighbouring fields grow a great deal of rue and lupines. The waste was already [the 20th of January] dressed in the sweet garb of spring: the myrtle, woodbine, and wild-rose, were powdered with flowers; among them an Iris, of a bright brimstone color, dashed with purple, was very remarkable.

From hence we travelled many miles close by the sands of the sea, and forded the river of Leontini, at the place where it dischargeth itself into the bay. The weather had been so long dry that there was no depth of water to create either difficulty or danger.

A spacious plain extends towards the inland country, and also along the shore, full of ponds and marshes, which abound with wild

fowl of numberless sorts. We shot several birds out of the flocks of snipes, teal, cootes, ducks, &c., that rose on all sides as we rode along I never saw a finer field for a keen sportsman, than these foggie, the Sicilian name for marshy grounds near the sea. They are frequented by many fowlers; the report of guns were almost incessant; and wherever I turned my eyes columns of smoke were ascending from the fens. My campiere, who had often made one in these shooting parties, informed me that it was usual to wade, up to the middle, in the swamps, which, in winter, are full of water; and, on account of the banks, impracticable for boats. The fowler drags after him a couple of laquered baskets for his ammunition and his game; while his dog swims before him, or runs along the ridges of dry ground, to spring the birds, or fetch them when shot. The fishing-net is not less amusing or profitable than the gun; but as soon as the sun enters the Lion this country becomes the house of death; fevers of the most malignant kind seize upon the imprudent or unfortunate wretch who passes a night near them, and few escape with life when attacked with so virulent a disorder.

We emerged from the fens to a noble plain, covered with promising crops of corn, but without a single enclosure, or even tree. No country seems better calculated for pigeons ; and, indeed, none has such incredible flights of them; from their abundance they are considered as nuisances, and, therefore, deemed public property. My soldier shot at them whenever they flew within reach; nay, he even stopped his horse opposite a cottage, and fired at a cluster of them basking on the thatch; the muleteer went to the palace, and picked up the slain, while the cottagers stood at the door as unconcerned as if we had shot a parcel of sparrows on a hedge. My servants feasted several days on this game, but enjoyed much more the eating of a magpie which I had shot for them.

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Walton answer, for doth he not say-" Under this sycamore tree, with the sound of the clear river in our ears, with the odour of May flowers freshly around us after this gentle shower, and in the sight of these meadows, gold and silver, the overflowing of nature for the delectation of all quiet and contemplative anglers, we do well to sigh that our life is so much in walls, and so little here." Anon June, lusty June, bursts upon us in its sunshiny glory, in its verdant apparel, and with its coronal of flowers-its offering of fruits. He walketh the teeming earth like a magician, and plenty marketh the print of his footstep; he waveth his wand, and culture exhibits its bounties, and nature her liberality. He is a good friend to sportsmen, too, for he calleth them to pastimes which a British King is proud to participate in, and which princes, equally with the people, approve and patronize. Not only on the green sward, but also on the green wave, does he command sports that invigorate, and relaxations that amuse. The Race-course, the Cricket-ground, the Archer's Circle, the Wrestler's Arena, the Pigeon-shooter's Enclosure, the Boatman's Course, and the Yacht Crew's World, alike produce evidences of his favor, and bear testimonies to his sway. But now cometh July, and with an equally beneficent cornucopia of gifts, the more valuable of which are these:

Beneath the sun, or, it may be, the showers of the coming month, then the all-influential sports of the turf will, with untiring vigour, be continued (our columns will, as usual, accurately record the results of the principal meetings); aquatic amusements, or rather, manly and tarlike struggles for fame, particularly among the members and craft of that useful and patriotic institution, the Royal Yacht Club: its rendezvous, Cowes Harbour, Isle of Wight, will equally claim attention and approbation. Add to these, Cricket,well might it be termed a "noble game, and all those manly amusements, both in the environs of the Metropolis, and in the country, which strengthen the sinews, summon up the generous blood, and characterise the Englishman above the inhabitants of every other nation of the world.

July, too, is the month when the Sportsman's eye, and the Sportsman's vigilance, should be peculiarly directed to the protection of the young birds, and other creatures constituting game, or the objects of his after pursuit, in which latter the fox may be more particularly mentioned, inasmuch as the future supply for the noblest of all field sports, fox-hunting, will mainly depend upon the caution observed in protecting from insidious opponents (batter-fanciers), and plunderers by profession, those who steal foxes, and bring them to receiving-houses in town, for the shameful purpose of selling them to certain Hunts not well supplied with brushes of their own.

salmon will not as eagerly as before come at
the lure dropped on the waters of Scotland,
or the streams of Wales (for they afford fishing
to content an epicure), angling may still be
actively pursued, and to skilful suitors will
yield pleasure, profit, health, and satisfaction.
The grayling now may be added to the list of
fish which are in season, and they will rise
now eagerly at a gaudy fly; yet, being a
leather-mouthed fish, skill, when struck, will
be requisite to ensure the captive into your
landing-net. Trout are excellent now, and,
we should suppose, plentiful, for we have
seldom noticed more abundant supplies than
have beautified the sloping show-tables of
our leading fishmonger's shops this summer.
Dace, perch, bream, roach, and all the finny
tribe that Patient Runters on the peopled
Thames" think it a triumph to capture, are
now fair game; but give us our native, far off
"Beauteous streams, that busy, long,
Filleth the flowery vales with song ;'
and then let those who will, enjoy the dull
monotony of watching the bobbing of a cork,
as the strokes of the waterman ripple the
wave; and of crying, "Here's one, here's
one; I've got him, I've got him," and up
cometh a three ounce weight roach, or a
foolish minnow. Let us rather sing, after
the manner of our great master-

"The waters, the waters! how clearly they flow,
And how softly and balmy the summer winds blow.
There are joys in the chase when the red fox doth flee-
There are joys on the turf when the fleet coursers be-
But the waters, the waters! and their melody!
The waters, the waters! o'ershadowed with leaves,
And cool'd by the evening, and fann'd by the breeze!
Be our sunset companions a down yonder lea,
When the scenes of our childhood delighted we see;
And sing, O, the waters, the waters for we!"

A TOUCH OF THE FANCY IN CHINA: But COUNTRY or COLOUR, to us are the same, Only anxious are we in preserving the game!

The following extract from a Journal of a voyage from Macao, &c., published by Mr. R. Phillips, shows that the science and honorable mode of conducting pugilism, are not unknown in China :-"Several of our people, being intoxicated, began to fight with one another in the square, which soon caused the place to be filled with natives as spectators. In our endeavours to get them without the gates, one of the natives struck Mr. Band then gave him a fair challenge to box; but, from his temerity, he soon got so sound a drubbing as to convince him how inferior a Hainanese is to a European in the noble art of self-defence. Although this man was thought a professor in that branch of the fine arts, yet I fancy this was the first, and will probably be the last, time he will venture upon a similar experiment. The poor fellow, however, fought toughly for about twenty minutes before he asked for quarters, and the surrounding multitude never once interfered in the contest, although they evinced great interest as to the result."

ANGLING.-Though the trout has now become an exceeding dainty feeder, and the Printed for T. T. and J. Tegg, Cheapside, by J. Haddon, Castle Street, Finsbury.

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Poor PUSS! and thy life is indeed but a day!
When the eye-searching GREYHOUND encounters your way;
Thy tears show the dread of the danger behind,
And tell, but too plainly, your death-doom is signed !

THIS amusement is of great antiquity (ob-
serves Mr. Daniel, in his Rural Sports), and
is treated on by Arrian, who flourished Á. D.
150. It was first used by the GAULS, the most
luxurious and opulent of whom used to send
out good hare-finders early in the morning, to
those places where it was likely to find hares
sitting; they returned to their employers with
an account of the number of hares found, who
then mounted their horses and took out their
greyhounds to course them. Not more than
two greyhounds were to be ran at once, and
those were not to be laid in too close to the
hare; for although the animal is swift, yet,
when first started, she is so terrified by the
hallowing, and by the closeness and speed of

25.

the dogs, that her heart is overcome with fear, and in the confusion, very often the best sporting hares were killed without showing any diversion; she was, therefore, allowed to run some distance from her seat, before the dogs were set after her. The best hares were those found in open and exposed places; they did not immediately try to avoid the danger by running to woods, but, whilst contending in swiftness with the greyhound, moderated. their own speed according as they were pressed; if over-matched in speed by the dogs, they then tried to gain ground by frequent turns, which threw the dogs beyond them, making at the same time their shortest way to the covers, or nearest shelter. The

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true Sportsman, even in Arrian's time, did not take out his dogs to destroy the hares, but for the sake of seeing the contest between them, and was glad if the hare escaped, which was never prevented, by disturbing any brake in which she might have concealed herself, after beating the greyhounds. They were also frequently taken alive from the dogs by the horsemen who closely followed them, and, after the greyhounds were taken up, were turned for future sport. They used to speak to their greyhounds whilst in the field, considering it a kind of encouragement to them to know that their master was a witness of the excellence of their running; but this speaking was recommended to be chiefly confined to the first course, lest, after being weakened by a second or third, they might by such encouragement, exert themselves beyond their strength, and hurt their insides, which was thought to be the destruction of many good dogs.

Those who had not the conveniency of hare-finders, went out commonly in a company on horseback, when they beat the likely ground, and, on starting a hare, the greyhounds were let loose after her those who were more keen after the sport used to go on foot, and if any one accompanied them on horse-back, it was his business to follow the dogs during the course. It is singular, that after the lapse of so many centuries, the mode of beating for a hare in Coursing should be now exactly what it then was. The company were drawn up in a straight rank, either horse or footmen, and proceeded at certain distances from each other, in a direct line to a given point, and wheeling round, that they might not go over precisely the same track, they beat the ground regularly back. practice is still continued. A person was appointed to take the command of the sport, if there were many dogs out; he gave orders that such and such dogs should be slipped, according as the hare took to the right or left, and these orders were punctually obeyed.

This

The Isle of Dogs, now converted to the first commercial purposes, derived its name from being the depôt of the spaniels and greyhounds of Edward III., and this spot was chosen, as lying contiguous to his sports of Woodcock shooting, and Coursing the Red Deer, in Waltham and the other Royal Forests in Essex, for the more convenient enjoyment of which, he generally resided in the Sporting season, at Greenwich.

In the days of ELIZABETH, when she was was not herself disposed to hunt, she was so stationed as to see the Coursing of Deer with greyhounds. At Cowdrey, in Sussex, the seat of Lord Montacute, A. D. 1591, one day after dinner, the Queen saw from a turret, "sixteen bucks all having fayre lowe, pulled down with greyhounds in a launch or lawn."

In ancient times three several animals were Coursed with greyhounds, the Deer, the Fox, and the Hare. The two former are not prac

tised at present, but the Coursing of deer formerly was a recreation in high esteem, and was divided into two sorts, the Paddock and the Forest or Purlieu.

THE SWEET PLEASURES THAT COURSING
DOES YIELD.

Ye mortals whose boast is the sports of the field,
And know the sweet pleasures that coursing does yield,
'Tis yours to illustrate the greyhound's swift run,
What cups he has gained, and what sweepstakes he's

won.

O'er Ashdown and Malton, how wind-like he flew !
And the loud shout of "bravo!" from all around drew;
With what triumph he bore off the trophies of bliss,
"On that day won the goblet, the couples on this!"
Pour puss! and thy life is indeed but a day,
When the eye-searching greyhound encounters your
Thy tears show the dread of the danger behind,
way;
And tell but too plainly your death-doom is sign'd!
In vain is thy courage, thy daring and speed,
The fleet-footed greyhound condemns thee to bleed !
His mouth opens on you-his strength runs you down-
Thy death is his triumph-your life his renown!
Not RIVERS, whose dogs with the best of dogs vies,
And oft bore away both the matches and ties!
Not Rivers could save thee, when once his hounds

run

Your field-sport was over-thy breath of life done!

The Right Honorable George Pitt, Baron Rivers, of Stratfieldsay, in Hampshire, who added fresh lustre to the name he bore, and to the family from whom he had the honor of being descended, died July 20th, 1828, at his house in Grosvenor-place, near Hyde Park Corner. His lordship was born September 19th, 1751, and succeeded his father, George, the late lord, in 1803. No man, probably, ever bred more largely, brought more capital greyhounds into the field, or was more successful in his various contests at Swaffham, Newmarket, &c. The names of all his lordship's greyhounds began with R., and before he came to the title with P. (the initial of Pitt, the family name).

Hare Park, contiguous to Newmarket, belonged to Lord Rivers, which he sold to Mr. John Gully, and to whom his lordship gave the preference amidst several competitors who were anxious to purchase the above Park. Mr. Gully took up his residence at Hare Park for two or three years, when circumstances called him to another part of the country, when he sold it to Sir Mark Wood, Bart. His lordship's mind not only soared above vulgar prejudices, but he was a very kind, liberal-hearted nobleman; also a great patron of the arts; also a thorough-bred sportsman; and he was not ashamed to own that he had a penchant towards the pursuits of the Fancy, in a national point of view.

The following card of admission to his lordship's Gallery of Pictures we have had in our possession for several years past-and as a proof of our assertion we now insert a copy of it:

"Mr. GARRARD, A. R. A., having prepared the Model of a BRITISH BOXER, LORD RIVERS has kindly permitted it to be put up for inspection in his Gallery.

"The Figure is somewhat larger than life, and exhibits the Boxer in the spirited, scientific, and combined action, both of guard and attack.

"Any Nobleman and Gentleman will be permitted to see the Model, at No. 10, Grosvenor Place, upon producing a Card of Admission from Mr. GARRARD, who presumes to hope that by subscription he may be by the Subscribers to the British Museum. enabled to cast this work in Bronze, to be presented

"By order of the Committee,

Ticket of Admission. P. EGAN, Esq.

"G. GARRARD."

From 2 till 5. Not Transferable.

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