haustedly bore off his prize. The men, who had the curiosity to watch the fight, as a proof of their story, conveyed the dead salmon to the nearest dwelling-that of Mr. George Mackintosh, March Strype, near the entrance of the secluded valley called the Streens. The victorious salmon had torn off the flesh, or rather fish, along the back from head to tail, to the very bone. In the movements of salmon spawning, the males heve been often seen chasing one another, but such a fray as this has not been witnessed by the oldest fisher or poacher on the Findhorn.-Elgin Courier. THE ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON.-The election of the Commodore to this Squadron has been postponed till the meeting in May. "BURKING" HORSES.-Amongst the many schemes hit on by the industrious, that of burking, or suffocating horses, with a view of purchasing the carcasses, is just at present not the most neglected. Within a circle of three miles, in one part of the county of Essex, it is said that more than twenty valuable horses have been thus destroyed within the last twelvemonths. Other varieties of cattle have also suffered in the same way, and with, we should suppose, a greater profit to the perpetrators of these villanies. The body of a horse, under any circumstances, cannot be worth much; while that of a cow or calf in good condition might fetch a fair price in a distant or London market. In either case, however, we know of nothing so likely to counteract such a system of robbery as that excellent institution the "Farmers' and Graziers' Mutual Cattle Insurance Association:" with its aid and strength every charge might be prosecuted to the utmost. STATE OF THE ODDS, &c. THE NOMINATIONS.-The year 1847 has scarcely evinced that strength at starting which has latterly topped one season over the other. Though, certainly, the different new stakes have been filling well, "the old established" have not all reached the rank-and-file amount they numbered this time twelvemonths. The handicapping, again, has been thought but "so-so ;" and the acceptances thus far stand somewhat in corroboration thereof. Winter handicaps, though, on most occasions are difficult things to venture on. Some horses have improved, and others gone back; while all bring themselves to believe (through their pastors and masters) that they ought to be uncommonly well in. The great cause of complaint just at present is that the weights are not regulated enough by public performance; and yet it is a generally-admitted fact that no man can make a good race, or satisfactory show of the "left in," who trusts alone to official returns. The gentlemen chosen to fulfil these always disagreeable duties have hitherto displayed a very great ability for their task; and if here and there their efforts may perhaps not," on paper," have been quite so successful as usual, they have still little to fear from what the voice of sheer ignorance or interest may advance against their estimates. Having thus, we trust, taken a more charitable, and, as we believe, a more unprejudiced, view of this too-much-talked-of objection, we may return to the more self-evident side of the subject, and demon strate by comparison the rise or fall of our different spring-tide attractions. The Great Northamptonshire Stakes had in 1846 seventynine subscribers; in 1847 it boasts just a hundred. The Chester Cup in 1846 had one hundred and forty-two subscribers; it now glories in a hundred and seventy-six! The Great Metropolitan last season reached only sixty-one, while it has now within two as many acceptances, with a hundred and fourteen nominations; and the Liverpool Cup shows a hundred and thirty-seven against the ninetynine of last time. So far for those at a premium; while amongst the "bears" are, first, the Newmarket Handicap, with seventy-seven nominations instead of a hundred and thirty-two, followed by only thirty-eight acceptances; then "the Somersetshire," with sixty-four for eighty-one; and third, the Doncaster St. Leger for '48 closing with a hundred and thirty-six subscribers in the face of the hundred and forty-seven for '47. On the whole, though, we think the "ayes" have it, and that racing is progressing even yet. The Duke of Richmond has sold Red Deer, and Sir Gilbert Heathcote Akbar; the former goes to York, the latter to Italy. At the sale of the late Mr. Plummer's stud, Alice Hawthorn went to Mr. Peck for £800, who bought nearly every lot-the et cetera at very low figures. A very slack off-month's work on the Derby has still confirmed one great feature in the business of its predecessor-the gradual and formidable advance of Epirote, who must ere long be playing a seesaw game for the premiership. His friends are always anxious to make a bargain, whereas the support now sent into the Dutchman comes very much as if given, as Falstaff would have it, "upon compulsion." The faith of the majority is evidently failing, from some cause or other, either real or ideal. Mr. Mostyn's picked pair, without any forcing or flavouring, continue in remarkably good odour; while Allertonian, Wanota, and Lunedale are also in the enjoyment of high favour as well as high places. Then, in the "occasionals," and just one remove or so from those whose names are seldom heard, we have Red Hart, with far more enemies than advocates, though not limited either way; Christopher, said to be sold to a Mr. Conway for a whole dump of money, and to be quite as much of a clipper as Sir Tatton himself; Conyngham, Tantivy, Projectile, The Liberator, and the Marpessa Colt, all still to be had and welcome at the prices quoted. Of the "non est" since our last, Johnny Armstrong, in mountain metaphor, is "gone dead," and the Cobweb Colt, as far as the public seem interested, would not be much missed if he too had started on the same route. Severus, by the bye, has not paid forfeit on that understanding, but yet lives and hopes; the regretted of his stable happened, after all, to be a yearling. The only advice we have to add on to these deaths and counter-deaths of Derby nags is, that Mr. Mostyn has very handsomely taken the hint we offered him last month, and just christened three of his three-yearold team as follows:-The colt by Lanercost, out of La Femme Sage, "Wiseacre;" the colt by Lanercost, out of Miss Martin, "Mr. Martin ;" and the filly by Lanercost, out of L'Hirondelle, "Swallow." The betting on the quartette put in place for the Oaks has been far more animated than usual, but with just the same effect as that on the Derby-all against the hitherto-established favourite-Slander, to wit, who, it will be observed, has actually yielded the honours up. The other three are very much in request. As the acceptances for the Chester Cup will not be known until the day this appears, we think it sufficient occupation of time and space to give the latest offers on it. CHESTER CUP.-20 to 1 against Mendicant, four years, 8st.; 25 to 1 against The Flitch, four years, 6st.; 25 to 1 against Camera Obscura, four years, 6st.; 30 to 1 against Antler, six years, 7st. 8lb.; 35 to 1 against The Lamb, four years, 6st.; 35 to 1 against Punch, four years, 6st ; 40 to 1 against Bedlam, three years, 4st. 9lb.; 40 to 1 against Newcourt, aged, 7st. 10lb.; 40 to 1 against Erin-go-Bragh, four years, 6st.; 50 to 1 against Mickey Free, six years, 7st. 3lb.; 50 to 1 against Crim Con, five years, 7st. 2lb.; 1000 to 20 against Jenny Wren, five years, 6st. 12lb.; 1000 to 20 against Milden, five years, 7st. 7lb.; 1000 to 20 against Intrepid, six years old, 7st. 5lb.; 1000 to 15 against Golden Bee, four years old, 5st. 7lb.; 1000 to 15 against Annandale, five years, 7st. 13lb.; 6000 to 19 against Woodpecker, four years, 7st.; 1000 to 15 against Maid of Lyme, four years, 7st. 2lb.; 1000 to 15 against Sister to Pedometer, five years, 7st. 5lb.; 1000 to 15 against Plaudit, five years, 7st.; 1000 to 15 against Queen of Tyne, aged, 7st. 91b.; 1000 to 15 against Bourton, four years, 6st. 13lb.; 1000 to 15 against Pink Bonnet, three years, 4st. 11lb. METROPOLITAN HANDICAP.-17 to 1 against Jenny Wren, five years, 7st. 5lb.; 20 to 1 against Pink Bonnet, three years, 5st. llb.; 25 to 1 against Meanoe, three years, 5st. llb.; 25 to 1 against Vampire, three years, 4st. 12lb.; 33 to 1 against Bourton, four years, 7st. 8lb.; 40 to 1 against Lady Sarah, six years, 7st. 3lb. 2000 GS. STAKES.-4 to 1 against Glentilt, 8 to 1 against Conyngham, 10 to 1 against Lunedale. EMBELLISHMENTS. MAKE READY!"-ENGRAVED BY J. SCOTT, FROM A PAINTING BY THE HANDBOOK OF THE CHASE: THE HOLIDAY HUNTS-BY GOODWOOD AS A SPORTING RESIDENCE; WITH A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE HOUSE, KENNEL, RACING STABLES PRESERVATION OF FOXES.-BY A SALOPIAN IN-DOOR SPORTS OF INDIA.-BY MASTER HARRY M r 6 4814 RISES. afternoon) 1 55 2 14 2 30 2 46 7 28 3 3 3 18 2T WATERLOO (LIVERPOOL) C. M.s 5 39 15 3 W LIVERPOOL STEEPLE CHASE. r 6 4416 4 T Wem Fair. Moreton in Marsh's 5 4217 8 30 3 32 3 46 5 FHOOTON PARK STEEPL.-CHS. [S.C.r 6 4018 9 33 4 6 S Burnley Fair. 0 4 17 7 Third Sunday in Lent. 8 M s 5 461910 37 4 32 4 45 r 6 352011 40 5 0 5 16 5 33 5 48 6 10 6 29 6 54 Morning. 7 17 9T BROCKLESBY HUNT STEEPLE-CS.r 6 3122 0 42 10 W COVENTRY RACES--Commnct. of s 5 5323 1 40 11 T LEOMINSTER STPL. CHS. [Season. r 6 2624 2 35 7 49 8 26 12 F WILMSLOW STEEPLE CHASES. 15 M GREATWILTSHIRE (PICTURE) CMr 6 16 T Bridgnorth Fair. LOUTH S. C.s 6 17 WSt. Patrick. WARWICK RACES. r 6 7 15 2 8 2 28 18 T LEAMINgtonGnd. MlTRY. S. C.s 6 7 2 8 36 2 51 3 13 19 F WETHERBY ST. CHS. Ruthinr 6 8 3 22 M LEAMINGTON ANNUAL S. C. 23 T NORTHAMPTON RACES. LUDLOW r 5 59 7 1 10 24 W Market Drayton Fair. 25 T LADY DAY. CROXTON PARK RACESr 5 54 9 2 41 8 29 9 10 26 F Cambridge Term Ends. BIBURY'S 6 2010 3 15 9 5310 34 27 S Oxford Term Ends. [RACES. r 5 5011 3 4411 1511 48 28 Palm Sunday. s 6 2312 4 11 29 M Folkingham Fair. r 5 4513 4 36 s 6 2714 4 59 r 5 41 15 5 22 30 T LINCOLN STEEPLE CHASE. 31 W CALEDONIAN (OPEN) C. M. ... 22 11 Leamington, Annual ...... 22 3 Pembrokeshire ............ 11 Finchley-Match ......... 22 4 Wilmslow ................ 12 Derbyshire.................................. 23 ............ 16 Ludlow ....... .................. 23 17 Worcester-Match ........ 24 Fighting Cocks........... 25 18 Portsmouth. Kendal .................. 30 19 Lincoln 5 Aylesbury.. 9 Cambridgeshire & Bedfordsh. 17| Birmingham COURSING MEETINGS IN MARCH. |