stead a handsome silver cup, to be run for by horses, and inferior prizes for poney races. On this occasion, the top of Halton Castle, and its sloping sides, resembled, froin the race-course, a well-filled amphitheatre of ladies and gentlemen, assembled from miles round.

Ar the meeting of the St. Andrew's Golfing Club, Scotland, this month, John Murray, Esq., of Lintrose, was unanimously elected Captain of the club for the ensuing year. The gold medal was afterwards played for, and gained by Capt. Hugh Lyon Play fair, who holed the links at 111 strokes.

A CASE of right, it is said, will be brought before the Court of King's Bench the ensuing term, respecting the liberty of Cannock chase, in consequence of a late perambulation being enforced on some premises, in which Earl Talbot claims an interest. THE Lord Chancellor has for some time been enjoying the sports of the field in the country. He has, with his usual good humour, communicated to his neighbours, that they are not to consider the game on his manor as Wards of Chancery, and that they are welcome at any time to a day's shooting. His Lordship is now considered the best shot in Westminster Hall, after Sir Vicary Gibbs, who was always highly celebrated in the Annals of the Trigger,

MOLES. A gentleman who lives at Wrexham, and has some land by the side of the Dee, is frequently annoyed by the presence of these vermin after the floods. Observing the fresh earth where they have just entered, he makes a hole with his spade, and then pouring water into it, the moles come out, and he destroys them. A STEAM-BOAT race has taken place in the Chesapeake, between the boats Virginia and Richmond. The latter was victorious. It is said they ran about 18 miles in one hour and ten minutes!

THE following extraordinary circumstance occurred on the 30th of September, at Chailey, near Lewes -The gardener of Capt. Rainier was employed in mowing a walk in his VOL. III. N. S.-No. 13.

master's paddock, when, on finding it necessary to quit his work for a short time, to give instructions to an assistant, he fixed the point of his sythe, in a sloping direction, in the sod, with the sheath of course resting on the ground, and left it; but before he returned to the spot, a hare that had been accidentally started from her seat, in the rapidity of her escape ran foul of the edge of the scythe, which, incredible as it may appear, actually amputated one of her fore legs at the shoulder joint, and cut off a portion of one of her hind legs; notwithstanding which, the poor little animal, crippled and lacerated as she was, pursued her course to a neighbouring copse, and was therein soon afterwards found, and put out of her misery, by a deg belonging to Mr. Stenning, of the Five Bells public-house, which the gardener had procured for that humane purpose. The contact was so violent, that the scythe, being well tempered, exhibited a large gap made by the bones of the hare.

NEW MODE OF UNEARTHING A Fox.-A pack of hounds ran a fox to earth, in Shropshire, when no terrier being found to venture after him, a sportsman proposed that a cat should be driven up the burrow, which was accordingly done. The terrier then entered-the cat killed and Reynard said "Good bye."

was

ON Tuesday, Oct. 13, as Col. Hanmer, son of Sir Thomas Hanmer, Bart, was proceeding on a shooting party with Mr. Congreave, of Alder, maston Park, Berks, in getting into the shooting cart, one of the picces went off accidentally, and dreadfully lacerated Colonel Hanmer's arm. The best surgical aid in the vicinity was immediately procured, and on the following morning Mr. Astley Cooper arrived. The wound received is going on in the most favourable manner, and no doubt is entertained of a cure being effected, without any permanent injury to his arm.

HORSE stealing about twenty years ago was so very common in the north F

of

of England, and throughout Scot land, as to be by many regarded as an illegitimate means of subsistence, rather than a serious crime; but, until within the two last years, the number of offences of this description had gradually decreased. It is now, however, so common in the above-mentioned districts, that upon an average about six horses are stolen weekly, scarcely one in twenty of which is recovered.

A CHALLENGE.-(From the Limcoln Paper).-A respectable correspondent desires that we will give place to the following:-"On Friday the 2d inst. Miss Harriet Beecham's horse Ironside, ran for the cup at Horncastle (the first race day). He had proved himself, by twice running round the course, a distance of one mile and a half, in two minutes, and was the favourite horse, although the cup was not awarded to him. This same horse is proposed to be run over Lincoln course, the third day of November next, to be ridden by Harriet Beecham, against any other three-year-old horse, ridden by any Lincolnshire Lady, (being proved to be her own horse, and proposed by a gentleman in the neighbourhood of Horncastle), for 100 guineas. Enquiries to be made of Harriet Beecham, Wood Enderby, Horncastle."

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.-The Editors of the Literary Gazette, have been so fortunate as to obtain a copy of a valuable work, published in America, on this subject; it is entitled "American Ornithology, or Natural History of the Birds of the United States; ornamented with Plates, engraved and coloured from drawings after Nature-By Alexander Wilson, Nine Volumes, in folio: printed at Philadelphia, in the years 18091814."-Mr.Wilson, it appears, was a Scotsman, a native of Paisley; and so devoted was he to his favourite pursuit, that he lived for years literally in the woods. The Editor of the Literary Gazette speaks of these volumes in the highest terms of approbation; and from his columns we

have copied the accounts of the woodpecker and mocking-bird, to be found in our present number. The price of the work, we hear, is as high as 601. or 701., and it is already scarce in America.

LAST week an eagle of the Osprey kind was shot between Bassenthwaite and Keswick Lakes. It was observed by the gentleman who shot it, soaring at a great height above the river Derwent, and plunging with incredible velocity into the wa ter after its prey. Upon emerging from the river, it boldly approached him, was fired at, and so stunned that it soon after perched upon the chimney of an uninhabited house not far distant, where it was soon killed by a second shot. Its length was two feet, and the spread of its wings about five. Its cere and legs were blue, its head whitish, its body above brown, and beneath white. This bird is the Falco Haliatus of Linnæus, and appears to be a rare inhabitant of this county.-(Cumberland Packet.)

CROMER, NORFOLK, OCT. 20.This day there was taken in the woods belonging to Cromer Hall, by Henry Warner, the gamekeeper, an eagle of the largest kind; it appears to be of that species called the sea eagle, which is of larger size than the golden eagle, whose wings extend very little more than seven feet, and weighing about 12 pounds, where as this weighs about sixteen pounds, and the extent of its wing is upwards of eight feet. Its plumage is handsome, but lighter in its colour than the golden eagle, and from which it may be fairly inferred that it is the great sea eagle, which is said to live principally on fish. This was first seen in an inclosure near the town, but was frightened up, and flew to wards the sea, where it was seen with a fish in its claws; it is much wounded, having been hit with shot several times; but it is intended, if possible, to preserve it alive.

ON Wednesday, Sept. 30, was shot, flying over Southampton beach,a beautiful young golden eagle, with a large

flat-fish

fat-fish in its mouth. The plumage is most handsomely mottled and variegated it measures from the extent of the wings, when expanded, five feet and upwards, and is esteemed a curiosity, no such bird having been seen there, in the act of flying, by the oldest inhabitant.

A COVEY of seven partridges alighted, on Saturday, Oct. 17, in Bath square, on the Point, Portsmouth, and from the direction they came, they must have flown from the Isle of Wight, the nearest point of which is five miles, without the possibility of their resting on the way; one of them died immediately from fatigue; the others were caught by various persons.

ONE day last week, Wm. Friend, game-keeper to C. Lyon, Esq. of Binchester, fired at a covey, consisting of fourteen partridges, and actually killed eleven of that number at a single shot. However incredible this may appear, we do not doubt the fact, placing full confidence in the veracity of the gentle man who handed us the information. -(Durham Advertiser.)

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, as one of Mr. Carr's men, at the Foundery Bridge, Norwich, was about his work in the stable, he observed the stable cat, lying with her young kitten and a young half-grown rat, both in the act of sucking the cat. He took the rat with his hands, for it appeared quite tame, and made no resistance or endeavour to escape. The lovers of natural curiosities will be sorry to hear that the man, not having the least smack of virtu, killed it, after shewing it to the people on the premises.

As two gentlemen were shooting at Barnsoul, Scotland, on Thursday, Oct. 1, a remarkable large snipe rose before them, at which, in order to make sure, they both fired, and brought it down. It proved to be of the most beautiful plumage, and of the following weight and dimensions, viz. eight ounces in weight, and measured from tip to tip of the wings, 194 inches, and in length, from the

top of the bill to the end of the tail, 15 inches. This, perhaps, was the largest bird of the species ever seen in this part of the country.

THE season for salmon fishing in the rivers entering the Solway Firth, and in the Firth itself, ended September 25.

THE migratory birds are somewhat earlier this season in their visit to our island than usual. A fortnight since woodcocks were seen in the woods of Cossey, near Norwich. A woodcock, in excellent condition, was shot in the neighbourhood of Sherhorne, Dorset, on the 9th inst.; and on the 20th, as W. Holbourne, Esq. was out in pursuit of a covey of birds, which had made into Charlecomb-wood, a little above the village of Woolley, Somerset, he shot a remarkably fine woodcock in high condition.

A YOUNG bear, from Davis's Straits, was landed at Wells, Norfolk, on Tuesday, October 20, and conveyed from thence to Fakenham, for the humane purpose of being baited.

A SHORT time ago, while a farmer in Newtonstewart, Scotland,' was employed in removing his fanners from an out-house, where they had remained covered with straw for up wards of six weeks, he discovered a poor hen, wasted to a skeleton, slowly attempting to regain its liberty. This circumstance having excited the farmer's curiosity, he looked into the fanners, where he discovered the bones and feathers of another hen, which had no doubt entered at the same time, attracted by the few grains of corn that are generally found strewed about the bottom of that well-known implement of husbandry. The surviving fowl, which still lives, was soon recognised, and claimed as the property of John Vernon, shoemaker, who had missed it about the time the fanners had been set aside, and from the circumstance of only the bones and feathers of the other hen having been found, it is inferred that the survivor had beco:ne carnivorous through necessity, and subsisted for some time by picking the

F 2

flesh

flesh from the carcase of its fellow prisoner.

A DOG STUNG TO DEATH BY BEES. -A short time ago, Mr. M'Laurin, brewer, Newtonstewart, removed a very fine watch-dog from his usual kennel to a situation in the garden, with a view of protecting his fruit from the attempts of juvenile depredators. Unfortunately, however, the poor dog was chained very near a bees' scape, the enraged and multitudinous population of which, not relishing the presence of such a neighbour, sallied out en masse, and in a mere twinkling literally transferred the seat of the hive from the cone of straw to the mastiff's body. It was in vain that the generous animal attempted to defend himself from such ferocious and unwonted foes; every time he opened his mouth the bees descended his throat in hundreds, burying their stings in the passage, and like certain patriots of the bibed race, heedlessly sacrificing their own lives to the supposed good of the republic. The dreadful yells of the mastiff at length attracted the notice of the owner and neighbours; but their assistance caine too late, as the poor animal was so dreadfully stung that he died in a few hours.

SPORTING ANECDOTES. Communications for this Department of our

Work are respectfully solicited.

To the Editor,-SIR,-While shooting on Wednesday, the last day of September, upon the manor of Sir, Brooke Bridges, Gunston, Kent, I

was surprised at flushing so early in the season a bird which I supposed to be a cock, from the manner in which it flew, and from its size. I fired at and brought it down, and to my astonishment it proved to be a snipe, the largest I ever met with It weighed rather more than 9oz. and measured from the tip of each wing 224 inches; and from the point of its bill to the end of its tail 17 inches. If this should be deemed worthy of insertion in your next publication, it will much oblige your obedient servant, Attonitus Starkie.

Ickham, Kent.

SATURDAY, October 17, as a per son was amusing himself with his gun, near Barcombe, Sussex, his dog put up a moor hen, which he shot at and killed. The bird falling in the centre of the river, his dog was proceeding to fetch it out, but before he had swam half way towards it, a voracious pike ascended to the surface, and to the astonishment of the gunner, seized the moor-hen, and plung. ed into deep water to gorge his prize.

A GENTLEMAN shot a partridge this month, near Crowhill, in the parish of Wrotham, Kent, and on approaching the place where the bird descended, he found that it had fallen exactly across the back of a hare in her seat, and poor puss being too much alarmed to attempt a retreat, quietly suffered the gentleman to dislodge the unexpected visitant, but the moment this was effected, she sprung from the intended grasp of the sportsman, and made her escape!

POETRY.

And mark, the signal starts the hounds again;

The eager hounds, with renovated breath,

More vigorous make their spring, and dash the obstructing heath. To those who will unsportsmanlike precede, "Keep back!ware hounds! and let them take the lead!" The indignant huntsmen cry-while all on fire,

With ears erect, and trembling with desire,

The untrain'd hunters, restless, paw the ground,

Or, plunging, start, and snort their foam around.

Not so the season'd hunter-firm he stands, 'Till the reins tighten in his rider's hands:

Then graceful animation marks his face,

For, like his rider, he enjoys the chace.

The Master's eye observant through the field,

The huntsmen watch, and due attention yield;

Three on the right the foremost place maintain,

Three on the left the same position gain;

Meanwhile the subalterns attend around,

Urge on the slow, and chide the erring hound.

Embodied close they labour up the steep, Then darting from the top, they through the vallies sweep.

Now comes the proof-old sportsmen have the lead,

And by their skill assist the glowing steed.

When, winding up the hills, the horses smoke,

They work the reins, and aid them in their stroke;

But

when descending rapid to the plain,

Take a firm seat, and guide with steady rein;

But

timid riders, wav'ring in the