small terrier has come up with him, and we think before long his race will be run. Nay, he is gone again, and has taken refuge in those willows; but they have found him once more, and away he has gone. Already we have run him eight miles, and how much further he will go goodness only knows!

We have only one ford now between us and the holds he is making for. Two of the best spearmen take their places, one on each side, in readiness for him. "Tally ho!" there he goes. Number one has missed him; but number two, with better luck, has pinned him through the neck. "Whoohoop" is the cry as he is lifted out: the hounds and the terrier, which has been much punished, crowd around, and a scene worthy of Landseer is exhibited. It turns out to be a fine dog-otter, weighing upwards of twenty-six pounds, and he has lived before the hounds upwards of twelve miles. It is too late in the day to try for another, though, doubtless, the bitch is in the neighbourhood: besides, both hounds and men have had enough for to-day, and we have many miles between us and home. And this is the worst part of otterhunting-finishing some miles from home, and having to walk back, all the excitement being over, is terrible work. But I suppose we cannot have roses without thorns in this world.

Formerly, in many country towns situated on rivers, where otters abounded, the inhabitants kept between them a pack of otter-hounds; and the only drawback to the arrangement was, that every gentleman thought himself entitled to hunt the pack-an arrangement incompatible with sport. Occasionally there was a fall-out, and a battle-royal the result.

At Presteigne there was, I believe I may say, the best pack in England. I have frequently been with them when they have killed two and three otters in the day. They were hunted by a man named Byewater, who I am told is still alive, but he must be an old man. They hunted on the Team frequently, which then abounded with otters, but now they have become scarce there-many having been trapped. One was captured in that way lately, which weighed fourteen pounds, and measured three feet six inches: it was taken by a man named Clayton, who has captured numbers. Thus it is they have diminished so greatly. The Shrewsbury pack tried the Team, Rea, and Letwick last week, without success; though a cub was killed near Little Herefordbridge last month, which showed there must have been a bitch somewhere in the neighbourhood.

The last time I went otter-hunting it was with the Duke of Beaufort, who was then Marquis of Worcester. We drew from Leominster almost to the source of the Lug, nearly thirty miles, without getting what is termed a blow. And dull work it was, the only excitement being an old woman, who threatened to put us in the river because we went through her garden. Lord Worcester had an excellent pack, but not finding otters he discontinued them. A more agreeable companion as a sportsmen I never met with; and I consider him a good example of the English gentleman. In spite of what his opponents may say, I cannot see why he should not, as well as any one else, have a shy at aunt Sally.

On the Therso a friend of mine has had some good sport with his pack; but, as a rule, the large rivers do not afford so much success as smaller ones.

I will mention here, in connection with the Therso, that Colonel Smith and a friend took with the fly in that water, last year, 213 salmon in fifty-seven days! Mr. Flynn, of 12 Wilton Terrace, New North Road, Islington, was the maker of the flies used on the occasion. And I have no doubt any one purposing to visit that or any other river will obtain any information he may require from him, as he is most courteous and ready to impart what he knows-which is much-relative to the gentle craft.

If any person wishes to enjoy, for the first time, the pursuit of the otter, he cannot commence at a more favourable period; for, as the rivers run down, so much more will be his chance of success. From this time till October otter-hunting may be enjoyed later, the water becomes too high, as well as too cold both for men and hounds. Before that time arrives the horn, and the halloo will have made the valleys often echo with their sound; and we trust many an otter will have fallen to the lot of the sportsman.

"THERE'S SOME ONE COMING!"

When the visitor at the Royal Academy, amid the common run of heads," "half-lengths," and "full-lengths," comes upon a portrait that particularly strikes him-when he notices a vivacity and intelligence of expression that look really genuine and life-like, of course he turns him at once to his catalogue to ascertain who it is. Nine times in ten, after running over sundry pages and numbers, the only answer he receives is the somewhat ambiguous information that it is the "portrait of a gentleman," or of 66 a lady," as the case may be.

We can say little more for the good-looking gentleman in our picture. Lavater and the phrenologists would make a fine analysis of such a head as that. There's fidelity, affection, alacrity, watchfulness, and all sorts of canine virtues bound up in such a frontispiece. But personally we don't know even the name of the hero; and whether it were Carlow, Fido, Dash, Presto, or Pincher, is more than we can be held responsible for. The Royal Academicians, however, would write him as "the property of a lady"-to be fed upon sweetbreads and new milk, and introduced at the foot of one of Mr. Francis Grant's high-born beauties, or painted outright on his own account by Sir Edwin. Fido, in fact, looks as if he were born to good luck; and if the "some one coming" be not a smart lady's maid, or a six-foot footman, it is as likely as not "my lord" himself. But he comes so seldom, alas! that poor Fi. may be pardoned when hardly recognising the fall of his footstep.

THE COQUET AND THE BREAMISH.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "WANDERINGS BY THE LOCHS AND STREAMS OF
ASSYNT, AND THE NORTH HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND."

CHAPTER III.

Size, Growth, and Quality of Trout considered-Waters producing Trout of Good and Inferior Quality-The Gillaroo Trout-Trout of Loch Tummel-Effects of Good Feeding and Confinement upon Trout-Variety of Trout in the Waters of Northumberland-Rapid and Sluggish Waters compared-Effect produced by Rich Feeding Ground-Ephemeral Flies-Fly Dressing-Throwing the Line-The Trout Rod-Reel Line-Casting Line-Fly Fishing in Clear and Discoloured Water.

The experience of anglers, and the various experiments of naturalists, have alike attested the fact that the size and growth as well as the flavour of trout are wholly independent of the age of the fish, and are influenced entirely by the nature and abundance of the food afforded. It is also well known that as the external hue of the skin varies according to the colour and depth of water, so the internal colour of the flesh is very frequently heightened and improved by superior feeding; although there are trout whose flesh is naturally white, and will never alter under any circumstances, while in an edible point of view they are sometimes superior in flavour to those of a deeper tinge. As a general rule, however, red-fleshed trout are the most highly prized, both by the angler and the epicure.

It may be safely laid down as a rule, to which there are but few exceptions, that in all waters having a soft and rich bottom, especially if surrounded by highly cultivated land, the trout will be of superior quality, of large dimensions, of good colour,, and of fine proportions; while in those whose channel is rocky and barren in the production of sustenance, they will be small, of inferior flavour, and white in the flesh -in many instances, however, they are found to possess great symmetry of person. I will here mention a few instances, in support of the foregoing assertion, which have come under my own observation.

When fishing the rivers Avon and Test, amongst others in Hampshire, I found the trout of good proportion, of rich flavour, and of superior size, while the flesh is generally of a yellow rather than of a red colour-perhaps the hue is better expressed by the term "nankeen" than by any other. In Cloe Beck, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, fish average about three-quarters of a pound each, are red-fleshed, and of good quality at the table. In the river Isla, in Perthshire, and also in the Lunan Burn, one of its tributaries, fine red trout are taken ; while in the Ericht, which is formed by the junction of the Ardle and Blackwater, both rising in a highland country, the trout run small, white in colour, and indifferent in flavour. In the Ericht, which flows into the Isla, good trout are occasionally taken, but these are visitors from the last-named river. All the waters hitherto named, with the exception of the Ericht, have a soft and marly bottom, affording an abundance of rich food to their finny population.

D