act honestly. I adverted to this subject more fully in an early number of the New Sporting Magazine, and, as many others have since also done, urged upon the farmers and others the necessity, for their own sakes, of showing some little attention in preserving foxes and game for the amusement of themselves and their landlords to a reasonable extent only, rather than, by raising up a cry against all country sports, force the country gentlemen to leave their places to seck for and obtain the quiet enjoyment of rational out-of-doors pleasure at some distant place, or perhaps in a foreign country, which the too often pertinacious and unfounded complaints compel them to do, and to abandon residing on their own estates; placing the management of their property in an agent's hands, and depriving thereby the country of that return of rents and expenditure of capital it ought to participate in ; but which, according to the present "New England" system, it seems their object as much as possible to prevent, and to drive away to distant lands

To what an extent this in many places has already been done, and is likely to be still further carried, is too evident to require comment. As a method to induce foxes to locate themselves where they would be safe, and as a means of always having a wild fox at hand when the hounds came to draw for one, I some years ago suggested the plan of having a tame fox kept somewhere near the keeper's house, or in the vicinity of where wild foxes are known occasionally to resort; and I stated some circumstances which had come within my own krowledge of the success attending this method, and that, if properly followed up, any person fond of hunting, and desirous of showing sport, might always be sure of having a fox found in the neighbouring cover. But this was met by the observation of a correspondent in the early numbers of the New Sporting Magazine, that such plan would not answer, and that the chain of the tame fox would effectually prevent others resorting to the tame one, however secluded the latter might be placed. This, however, I did not credit, and determined to try the plan myself, and the result of which I now send you after a trial of several years; besides, finding from several friends they have heard of the same thing occurring elsewhere. In the summer of 1843 I had three fine cubs sent me to put down at a cover some distance off, where foxes were scarce. One of the three was so remarkably tame and engaging in his ways, that it was quite useless to think of turning him down, with any hope of his doing for himself; for in a week he would have been worried to death, or found sitting in the first lad's lap he could find, helping him to eat his bread and cheese. So I agreed to keep this cub, and make a pet of him, giving him the royal name of "Prince Albert." He became a great favourite, and thrived and did well, and would play and romp about like a kitten. When grown up I had him, in the month of February, placed out at the back of the keeper's house, in a rather sequestered place, but where many persons passed in the course of the day, and close to the side of a rough cover where foxes were wont to congregate, and at night we could hear the Prince barking, and as often answered by the wild foxes-some close, others at a distance; and their sharp, clear, sounding bark was again heard nearer and nearer, until they and the Prince could converse without exerting their voices. This continued for several months, "Prince Albert" being chained to a small kennel, but which he very seldom

occupied, however rough the weather might be, preferring to make his kennel on the ground, under a tree, or bit of gorse. This was his first season; and in the month of May a lady friend of his laid up her cubs about two hundred yards off, producing six, which all did well, and remained to be found in the hunting season, the Prince retiring for the rest of the summer to the horse-block at the house. The next year, at about the same period, I placed him again near the keeper's, only instead of any kennel he was fastened to the root of a tree growing out of a bank where there were many rabbit holes, and one of which he very soon enlarged into a domicile for himself, and generally lay in it if the weather was not too warm. The same visitations "and sweet converse" took place between the Prince and his wild associates this season as before, and again another vixen lay up within a hundred yards of him, and produced seven cubs-a large litter; these also remained till grown-up, and were always found whenever the hounds came to draw the covers. Another litter was also bred not far distant. The third year, 1846, the same plan was resorted to, and that year I had no less than three litters, two of which were within a few hundred yards of " Prince Albert," and the third about a quarter of a mile off. Nor was this the only result of the Prince's attractions, for during the winter months, and before he was placed near the keeper's house, he kept up a visiting acquaintance at home, and frequently in the dusk of the evening, or at night, when going to the stables, a wild fox was seen to steal away from chatting with "Prince Albert," though a kennel full of dogs were but a few yards off, and some were loose about; but still this did not prevent the wild foxes coming at night to pay their duty to the Prince. And another result, which I anticipated would occur, was, that whenever the hounds drew the adjacent covers, one or more foxes were always found, showing that the attraction of the tame fox made them remain somewhere handy about. I feel quite sure this would also be the case even if no cubs had been born there, the vicinity of the tame fox causing the wild ones, whether a vixen or dog fox, if otherwise inclined to pass by and travel onward, to stay and lay up near him. Having found this to be the result for the last three seasons, and that each succeeding year during that period has produced an increased number of litters in the immediate vicinity of this tame fox, there cannot, I think, remain a doubt but that this increase of population is owing solely to the conjugal feeling and amiable disposition of "Prince Albert ;" and that any person so disposed, by adopting the same method that I have done, may always secure a certain find for the foxhounds, whenever they came into that neighbourhood. In the winter months scarcely a night passes without the barking of the wild foxes being heard round about, as they approach the domicile of their tame brother, who evinces an equal desire to retain their acquaintance and company, till it is time for him to be again put down at the beforementioned earth he has made for himself near the keeper's house, and who tends and daily feeds him while he remains there.

Feb. 10th, 1847.

IN-DOOR SPORTS OF INDIA.

BY MASTER HARRY.

We have already shown that fastidious indeed must be the sportsman, and "prodigious" his "bump of destruction," who cannot indulge his appetite for sport, even unto satiety, o'er the plains and paddy fields, and amidst the jungles and mountains of Hindostan.

But in a country where one cannot venture to be out of doors for any period after sunrise, without returning to his bungalow with the incipient symptoms of blue cholera, or jungle fever, or, what is most probable, be prevented from returning at all by an attack of coup de soleil, it is natural enough that man's inventive powers should have been racked to their utmost extent, to discover every possible sort of amusement to be attained, under cover, such as billiards, habitual swiping, duck-hunting, cock-fighting, fumigating, and "catscragging." This latter recreation being as intellectual a one as a griffin could possibly devote his spare time to patronizing, and in which a Scotch terrier or two, and one of the grimalkin species, are the principal performers, together with a thousand-and-one other equally delectable pastimes.

Now of all in-door sports, and I must confess to have been almost singular in my taste, the one I chiefly devoted my time to was→→→

COBRA DI CAPELLA FIGHTING WITH THE MONGOOSE.

The cobra di capella is well known to be as poisonous a snake as India is capable of producing, whose length varies from three to six feet; whilst the mongoose, or Indian ichhneumon, resembles the English stoat in shape, although somewhat exceeding it in size, possessing the most unerring eye, as well as a skin as tough as a Polar bear, to judge from the quantity of" punishment" it carries off with so apparently little inconvenience to itself.

There was a novelty in this sport which greatly enhanced the excitement concomitant on contests of any kind, and the "science" displayed on both sides was invariably "first-rate."

In the first instance, I sought out the dwelling of one of the Bengal snake-charmers—a considerable "artiste" in his line, who contracted with me to supply cobras at two to three rupees a piece, according to size and other good qualifications. The mongooses (query, mongeese?) I kept myself for this particular sport; and whenever I wanted a fight, the snake-charmer was summoned, and made his appearance with a small basket containing some half-a-dozen "beauties for fighting.

Having got a very considerable degree of dread and fear of everything that crawleth on the face of the earth, my first consideration invariably was to place myself out of danger, for which purpose I usually planted a table against the door, and placing a chair on the top of it, I looked on from my throne-like elevation at what went on below.

Old blackey having at length opened his basket, selects a belligerent, which he takes up by the neck as coolly as if it was an empty claret

bottle, and having set him loose on the floor, the door of the mongoose's cage is drawn up, and out walks its inhabitant.

At first he feigns not to observe the snake, who, as soon as it spies its antagonist, folds itself into its position of attack and defence, keeping its head about a foot from the ground, to give it a greater facility of overlooking the enemy's manœuvres, as also a greater stretch in its dart on him, when within reach.

The mongoose then walks round the room in order to find out a place to which he may retreat when worsted; and having satisfied himself that there is no escape for him, he cautiously advances towards the cobra.

And now the fight commences.

Round 1st. Mongy comes a little too close, and the viper lashes out (never, however, loosing his folds or disturbing the coil from whence he gains his impetus). Mongoose, on the alert, ducks his head, and "walks round" again.

Round 2nd. Snake hissing like a steam-engine; the ichneumon gets behind him, and crouches in the act of springing; both very funky. At length mongoose makes a feint of springing; reptile sends his head to meet it, which mongy avoids by jumping on one side, and the next instant he has seized the snake by the back of the neck.

Now commences a beautiful "rally." The cobra, finding himself in the fatal grasp of his opponent, loosens his coil, and writhes in agony, giving Mr. Mongoose some awkward blows with his tail now and then. But it is of no use; the animal once having taken hold, can never be made to let go until the viper is cut to pieces-some time after he is dead in many instances, when, to make all safe, he eats the piece still left in his mouth.

In its wild state, the mongoose, after being attacked and bitten by a cobra di capella coolly walks off, and having eaten some herb, known only to itself, which naturalists have sought in vain to discover, returns to renew the fight; but when unable to find this herb, from the fight being confined to a room, they very frequently die, although I only lost one, and he was terribly mauled in the encounter.

The above story of the mongoose's remedy can be confirmed by hundreds; and the most singular part of the story is, that, although he has been traced by the natives after having been bitten, it has never been discovered what he eats, though followed for miles, and seen returning out of some underwood, munching like an alderman.

Such is the sport in which I used to take delight; and had I lived when Sardanapalus made such a splendid offer for a new pleasure, I certainly should have sought an audience, and introduced this sport to his especial notice and patronage.

I have mentioned "duck-hunting as being one of India's in-door sports; and that the reader may not be carried away with the idea that it is "popping at wild ducks out of our window or verandah, I will enlighten him with regard to it. First, catch your duck—at least, I should say, catch somebody else's duck, which answers the purpose just as well, considering that ensigns and griffins don't keep farmyards; then collect about half-a-dozen dogs that take to water; then ensconce yourself comfortably in your verandah, before a liberal supply of pale ale, and an unlimited supply of cheroots; collect the best fellows

in cantonment about you, and send your nigger to put the duck in the tank, which lays in your compound (the space before your verandahyour lawn in short), and as soon as he takes the water, let two or three dogs after him at a time. Away rattle the "canines" at once after what they consider to be a trespasser, and the duck puts on the steam at the same moment to escape from what he considers to be two ugly customers. At first the duck has all the best of it, and has also very much the appearance of a little brigantine sailing gaily away with two "seventy-fours" in chase, until the dogs are getting nearer and nearer, and the duck is within reach of the nearest pursuer, who no sooner makes a grab at poor ducky, than, hey, presto! he gets a mouthful of muddy water, and the interesting biped is no where visible. At length he comes to light some dozen yards in rear of the astonished dogs, who, thinking him to possess some supernatural power, and being fatigued with their swim, give it up as a bad job; and forthwith two others are sent in chase, and so on for sometimes four hours and when the duck is at last caught, which he very seldom is however, the only inconvenience he experiences is being carried ashore between a dog's teeth-a somewhat novel mode of conveyance to him no doubt-after which he is allowed to waddle off to his own farm yard, there to retail to ducks, geese and goslings, the adventures of the morning, and the perils sometimes attendant on aquatic excursions.

This is one of the most refined amusements with which we (griffins) manage to while away mony a weary hour beneath a burning sun. Perhaps the reader will spare me (and be glad to do so) the labour of recording the mysteries of "cat-scragging:" the name alone is ominous of ill, and indicative of uncivilization.

The natives of India are particularly partial to cock-fighting, as well as quail and partridge fighting; but I have never seen people excel in it to such a degree as the Malays. Their gamecocks are the pluckiest birds ever fledged, and as valuable to their owners as their very existGo from one end of India to another, and you will invariably find natives from highest to lowest who boast of a favourite fighting-cock. The spurs used by the Malays are flat, and as sharp as a razor on both sides; and I have frequently seen a bird's head taken as cleanly off by his antagonist as if it was done by a cook on a chopping block.

ence.

The quail-fighting is excellent sport, and patronised by all the native princes of India at their courts, where immense sums of money change hands on such occasions. This little bird, when in fighting condition, is about the size of a hedge-sparrow; but its determined pluck shows that its heart is bigger than its body, and makes one wonder where he stows it.

I need not say that there is not a house in India without its billiardtable; every mess-room has its two or three; and call on your tailor in the morning, it is ten to one you find him playing "the losing game with your bootmaker, who no more can "stick to his last" whilst he hears the balls" going," than a leech can stick to a lobster.

Such are a few of the principal in-door pursuits of the griffin in India. That they may seem childish, is true; but they at least enable him in some measure to dispel ennui, and to forget for the moment dearer ties left at home, to be no more seen until he again regains his native land. a better and a browner man.'