With a very indifferent scent, the hounds had a very severe day on the 28th, when they met at Ashmead Dulkin. After drawing several coverts blank, they found in Redwood, and crossed the Berkeley canal; turned back to Bushey Grove, where they probably changed foxes; from thence to the Castle, again to Bushey Grove and Breadstone, back to the Grove, where they lost him. The month of March, ushered in with dry winds, adverse to scent, has abruptly terminated the sport of the season. With the exception of one day (the 6th instant), scarcely anything could be done. On that occasion they met at the kennels to finish the season in the Berkeley country. Proceeding to Hill wood, they very quickly had a fox on his legs; he broke away over Whitcliffe Park, turning to the right along the flat, in the direction of Peddington, as if Lobthorn had been his point; but leaving Peddington on the left, he held his course to the right, leaving Stone on the left, to Eastwood, and making his way back towards Hill wood, was lost. A second fox was found in a small withy bed, with which they had a quick spurt over the meadows, and ran into him in Churchill wood. On the following Saturday they went to Cheltenham; but the excessive dryness which has prevailed must, in all probability, prove an impediment to sport; though, strange to say, I have seen a good scent on those Cotswold hills when they have been as dry as they are at the present moment. Up to the last date, these hounds have killed fifty-three brace and a half of foxes; and I was exceedingly surprised to hear Ayris's statement of the prevailing number of the male sex. Naturalists are of opinion that with most animals females usually predominate, but the case is completely reversed with foxes. The authenticity of Ayris's observation is unequivocal, as he has for many years kept an account, not only of the number of foxes killed, but also distinguishing dogs from vixens, unless, being torn by the hounds n covert, there was no means of deciding. The proportion killed this season is thirty-three brace of dog-foxes, seventeen brace of vixens, and three brace and a half doubtful. They have already numbered nearly their average, which is estimated at fifty-five brace; and as there is another month for them to hunt in the Cheltenham country, there is no doubt they will this year exeeed the complement. To a sportsman interested in hounds, a more pleasing occupation can scarcely be proposed, when the hunting season has terminated, than an inspection of the young entry on their return home from their walks to the kennels where they are bred extensively, as in the case with Lord Fitzhardinge's. At a moderate calculation, there will be at least sixty couples to come in; and after his lordship has drawn twenty couples for his own pack, Mr. Ayris will hold a levée, and dispose of the remainder to those masters of hounds who have been fortunate enough to secure them. March 15th, (To be continued.) 299 A SHARP LOOK-OUT. ENGRAVED BY J. WESTLEY, FROM A PAINTING BY H. FRANCIS. "The Skye terrier," says Mr. St. John, "though so much prized by our English visitors, has by no means the determined, blind courage of the English bull-terrier. Nevertheless, there is much quiet intelligence and character in this dog; and, if well entered at vermin when young, they are useful enough. Like all terriers, though eager hunters, they do not appear to hunt so much to find as to kill. They generally take the water freely and well, though I have had smooth bullterriers better swimmers and divers than any rough dog I ever possessed." Thus far for the general characteristics of the rough terrier. Let us borrow from the same agreeable and truthful writer an individual portrait that no other man, saving Landseer, could equal. How thoroughly it realizes the varmint, up-to-everything look and instincts of the animal! "In wildfowl-shooting, when no dog is required save a quiet retriever, Fred (so was he christened by some of my children) is always allowed to accompany me, as, from his quiet discretion, he is never in the way. In roe-shooting also he is allowed to remain at my feet while I am waiting in a pass. At the same time, if permitted to hunt, no kind of animal, running or flying, quadruped or biped, comes amiss to him; and he is equally at home in any ground, rock, or loch. There is a kind of quiet, discretionary courage that some of these rough terriers have, which is very amusing: nothing seems to put them out; and Fred is as much at home in a crowded railway station or London street as in a furze-cover. He rather annoys me sometimes, when travelling; for as soon as he has seen me safely housed in an hotel, he is very apt to wander off, in search of adventures and acquaintance of his own through the town, wherever it is; and although it may be a new place to him, he invariably finds his way back to my room for the time being, regardless of all obstacles in the form of waiters, chambermaids, &c. I used to be afraid of losing him: but after some experience of his ways, I find that I may safely leave him to his own devices; for, having once or twice despatched ostlers and boys in all directions to search for him, I perceived that he always came back alone, looking rather ashamed of himself, and not venturing to make himself very prominent in the room till he had examined the expression of my face from under a chair or sofa-for dogs are great physiognomists. Then, on seeing that I am generally too pleased at his return to be angry at his absence, he comes out of his place of refuge, wriggling his long, rough body about in all sorts of coaxing but uncouth attitudes; and at last, putting his honest, rough face in my hand or on my knee, he finds that peace is declared: and he waits patiently till I take hat in hand again; for, once having explored the streets, he seems to take no further interest in the place. "There is no end or limit to the quaint conceits of some terriers of this kind, when they live in constant intercourse with their masters. Fred's great attachment to my children, too, makes him a universal favourite in the house; and he walks about with them amongst their pet animals, apparently taking as much interest in them as the children do themselves. I must say, however, that he requires a formal introduction to any new living acquisition of this kind; but, once introduced to them, they are safe from his strong white teeth for ever." No wonder, with such a description as this before us, the rough terrier still continues the favourite he is; or that drawing-room couches, fair ladies' caresses, and the window-seat in town-carriages come now as naturally to him as any of the odd holes and corners his own curious disposition might elseways introduce him to. 26 Frantic 2 won £500 at Newmarket untried. 8 won the Derby 1 won Two-year-old Stakes untried. at Manchester Autocrat........ bay bay Backbiter...... brown.. ... 14 by Venison, out of Southdown, by Defence.... started 17, won 13 won Ascot Cup 5 by Orlando, out of Plenary, by Emilius 5 by Bay Middleton, cut of Empress, by Fmilinsstarted 5, won 11 by Gladiator or Don John, out of Scandal, by started 24, won Selim 3 won the New Stakes.... untried. 7 won the Derby 4 by Sleight-of-Hand, dam by Young Phantom..never appeared 13 by Ismael, out of Caroline, by Irish Drone 5 by Touchstone, cut of Crucifix, by Priam untried. never appeared started 1........ started 1........ 15 by Slane, out of Cobweb, by Phantom........ .... 16 untried. Ellermire .... 9 a pure Cleveland horse........ chesnut started 27, won 11 won £100 at Goodwood untried. 12 by Harkaway, out of Guiccioli, by Bob Booty.started 82, won 4 won the Corinthians....untried. Cleveland Short-bay legs Cobrut Connaught Ran-chesnut ger 6 by Nutwith, out of Glenara, by Sultan.. Siedmere, Malton ..... Theobald's Park, En- Cawston, Rugby Mr. Hemming ..... Turf Tavern, Doncaster Mr. W. Daykins Bushbury, hampton Wolver J. Daily Queen'slit.,Cheltenham W. Hirons...... 4 Welshbourne.... Warwick .... Duddighill, Willesden.. Bullock...... Mr. C. Smith ..... Wroughton, Swindon..Mr. Truelove.. Rawcliffe-fam, York...P. Bateson. |