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are perfections in which I am informed Mr. Giles's hounds excelled. flashy pack, always flinging beyond the line of scent, would not adorn the kennel-doors with many noses throughout the season.

To cross this country the horses must be perfect at their fences, for many of them are very strong, with deep blind ditches; and others require an animal that will creep, as there are many cramp places and much hedgerow timber which frequently precludes the possibility of flying the fence. The hills render short legs and good backs desirable; and not only must a horse be able to get up hills, but descend them quickly also-no inconsiderable accomplishment; and yet one that is very frequently disregarded. When the scent is good, condition is a sine quâ non, and here a short digression on the old-fashioned grazing system. Many years ago I made up my mind never again to attempt riding a horse as a hunter that had been turned out to grass during the summer months. Last season, however, I was tempted by the very superior appearance of a horse that was offered to me, to alter my determination, although I was not at the time aware that he had been subjected to such treatment more than a week or two. The result was that he melted like butter in the sun, and with all the care and attention I could bestow upon him he was never fit to go, throughout the season. It is true the last was one of unusual severity; but it will be a long time ere I am again induced to admit a grass-fed horse into my stables under the denomination of a hunter. The constant vexation and disappointment arising from want of condition convert that which should be a pleasure into mortification. To have a horse breaking-out after a day's work, refusing to feed, and not recovering under eight or ten days, are items of annoyance requiring more philosophy than I possess, especially knowing they may be avoided. How infinitely indebted is the sporting world to poor Nimrod, for having laid down the groundwork of a system so universally beneficial both to riders and their horses. His advice was founded on reason, and practical experience has subsequently furnished ample proofs of the value of his theory: it is astonishing there should be a single dissentient voice raised against it. Our most learned physiologists inform us that the quality of the blood depends upon the nature of the food with which the animal is supplied; that the muscles, fat, and other substances derive their nourishment, and are constantly resupplied by the blood; therefore the powers of the horse are most materially regulated by the description of nourishment afforded to him. Any person who has devoted the slightest attention to the management of horses, must be practically aware of the effect of diet, and of the consequences of a change from hay and corn to grass. Firm texture of muscle is one of the principal causes which renders the horse capable of endurance; that desirable texture is acquired from the properties contained in hay and corn, accompanied with proper exercise: by substituting grass the muscles soon lose that valuable character, and combined with idleness fat predominates, which latter substance soon wastes away when the animal is put into work. The change from good to bad condition is very rapid, from the relaxing effects of succulent food containing only a small proportion of those elements which, through the agency of the blood, are capable of conversion into muscular fibre: on the other hand, the change from bad to good condition is slow, because time and work are indispensable to re-establish muscular fibre. From this

cause farmers very frequently fail to obtain high prices for their horses; they will fill them with grass in the summer: good judges will not, therefore, become purchasers unless at a reduced price. As a proof of the advantages derived from stabling horses on hard food during the summer, I never met with any person who had once adopted the system who ever returned to the grazing plan. That any benefit is afforded to the feet and legs by turning horses out to grass, is the greatest fallacy possible. I have known the recommendation proposed of paring the feet down so thin, that when the horses are turned out the soreness occasioned by the operation will effectively prevent them from galloping about. Independently of the cruelty-a very important consideration -nothing can be more likely to produce lameness. Such treatment produces more or less inflammation; and if the ground be dry, chronic lameness in the feet will in all probability ensue. The adoption of one general plan for the management of the feet is likewise calculated to produce mischief, from the ostensible reason that all feet are not alike in form or texture. To treat a horse's feet successfully, their peculiarities must be considered. Those which are of a hard brittle texture require moisture; such as secrete a vast quantity of crust or hoof and sole, demand the frequent use of the rasp and drawing-knife; while to those which are thin, especially in the soles, moisture is most pernicious. Horses with high heels should have them lowered when out of work, as much as can be done with convenience and safety; and in order to promote expansion it may be advisable in some cases to apply tips or halfshoes, tapered off towards the extremities, to throw additional bearing on the heels. When moisture is required, there are several ways of supplying it; but the most effective are clay or sawdust, saturated with water; the latter is to be preferred. Either of these can be placed in a spare stall or loose box, and each horse put to stand therein during certain portions of the day. Pads of tow moistened with water may be made use of to the soles, and folds of linen or old rug fastened round the external part of the foot. These attentions occupy but little time, and an animal that is not worth them is not worth keeping. Many horses with questionable feet so treated will go through a season's hunting, that would be useless if turned out to grass. There can be no comparison between the two systems as regards the legs: if they require blistering, firing is very fortunately much out of fashion-they will in either case derive much greater benefit in a loose box, where the animal is kept on hay and corn, than in a field where he cats grass. Ths object sought by firing or blistering, is to promote absorption, which dry food assists; but succulent grass, by relaxing the solids, retards it.

After several years of preparatory introduction, first in Suffolk, afterwards at Cheltenham, and subsequently at Bath, as a master of staghounds, Mr. Theobald is about to make his debut as a master of foxhounds; and no man can be more universally known-for during the greater portion of the time he has been hunting "the antlered monarch," but especially last season, scarcely a week passed but the desperate runs were recorded in the widely-circulated columns of Bell's Life. Should the same presiding genius follow Mr. Theobald to the haunts of the wily fox, and an equal share of good fortune crown his efforts in the way of sport, he will establish a lasting fame. The chase of the

fox, and the pursuit of the stag, require tactics essentially different ; but as Mr. Theobald never undertook to hunt his own hounds, no difficulties will arise on that point. The district which he is about to hunt is that formerly occupied by Mr. Tredway, and a portion of Mr. Horlock's, which combined will form a nice country, and, providing the foxes are carefully preserved, capable of showing much sport.

Without pretending to any knowledge in nautical affairs, there were many of Her Majesty's subjects who, from national feelings, took great interest in the contests which have recently come off in favour of the "America" for the Royal Squadron Cup, and subsequently in the match with the "Titania"-events upon which our yachtsmen generally appeared to have entertained mistaken opinions. Has it not, however, been usually admitted by our sailors that the American vessels generally had the advantage of ours in sailing qualifications, especially in beating to windward? Their quaint appearance, both of hull and rigging, certainly indicates the appearance of speed, though very possibly there are many other points in which our vessels are superior-internal room and luxurious accommodation, for example. Similar defects are conspicuous in other events, besides those of sailing-the race horse, for instance. A speedy animal, broken and trained merely to race, is not exactly the kind of nag a gentleman would be at ease upon to take his canter in Rotten Row, where ménage tuition is necessary to produce the acmè of perfection inseparable from pleasant action, for that specific purpose. I do not mean to assert that some of the best race-horses are not capable of being rendered very pleasant to ride, but not invariably so, inasmuch as the lengthy stride usually desirable for racing is not precisely the desideratum of a riding horse, and from that cause it generally happens that thorough-bred horses with shorter and more lofty action, which from those combinations are not sufficiently speedy to race, make, when their education is cultivated, the best riding horses. It does not appear that among the numerous members of the Royal Yacht Club a vast number derive their pleasure in sailing with the majority the prevailing gratification is confined to laying at anchor in the Solent; at the most, during very fine weather sailing round the beautiful shores of the Isle of Wight, or lounging about the island in the becoming dress of the club, followed by a boat's crew of nauticals. Let me beseech my readers not to mis-pronounce the last word, and substitute g for c. There are, nevertheless, many exceptions: noblemen and gentlemen, who are admirable sailors and good judges of naval tactics in all their bearings; neither is it any reflection to those who do not aspire to more active service, their object being, in many cases, the health and pleasure of their wives and families, more successfully accomplished in smoota than in rough water.

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OBSERVATIONS ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF TEXAS. BY WILLIAM BOLLAERT, F.R.G.S.

(Concluded.)

RUMINANTIA.

During my various perigrinations in the mountainous parts, I searched, but in vain, for the animals of the Llama family. On my return to this country I find there is some confusion about these animals, and will introduce here a few words about them.* Auchenia Glama.-The llama : This was the camel of Peru, used as a beast of burden in the times of the Incas. Its flesh is used as food, and its long coarse wool manufactured. Auchenia Alpaca.-Sometimes called the Peruvian sheep, or alpaca. It is smaller than the llama; also used as a beast of burden, and its flesh eaten, and its wool is finer than that of the llama. It is sometimes found wild, or rather having strayed, something like the mustangs or wild horses. Auchenia Guanaco.-The guanaco. This is a wild animal, but may be comparatively tamed. Its flesh is good, and covered with wool and coarse hair. Auchenia Vicuna.-The Vicuna is also wild-the smallest of this family. Its flesh is good eating, and covered with very fine wool, from which cloth, ponchos, hats, &c., are manufactured. Deer (Cervus).—The Virginian. Is most abundant all over Texas; indeed, the principal animal food of the settlers "far west" and of the backwoodsman. The deer is taken as follows:-1. By what is known as 66 deer-stalking," and the wilder the deer, that is such as are met with in the wilderness, will allow the hunter to come very near to them-say 60 to 80 yards. The Americans seldom take a longer range than 100 yards, and are surprised at our ranges of 250 to 300. 2. To watch near their trail when they go to water. 3. To hunt with dogs. This is called" driving," and seldom exceeds a couple of hours. 4. To entice them by making a "salt lick" near a watery place, when from his ambush takes his game. 5. To have a pet doe, with a bell attached to her neck she will go into the woods to feed, and on her return wild deer will often follow her to her home, and thus taken by the unerring aim of the hunter or farmer. Perhaps the most interesting is the following; at least it is the most scientific :-6. “ Fire-hunting, or Eye-shining." The hunter is generally assisted by another, to carry a bag of pine wood, so as to replenish the fire in the pan.+ Dark nights are selected for this singular mode of deer shooting. The hunter on foot or horseback carries the fire-pan, blazing with pine or other light wood, over his left shoulder, wending his way quietly through the woods. His shadow, which is elongated by a depression of the pan, and vice versa, is the line in which, if there be any deer looking towards the light, their eyes are "shined." If the animal be about 100 yards distant a horizontal streak of dim light is observed, but on nearing the *See Paper to Linnean Society, 1832. A frying pan with a long wooden handle.

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deer both eyes will be seen distinctly, of a bright light blueish colour. The hunter may approach to within forty or fifty yards of his game, and managing the fire-pan so that he preserves "the shining" on the eye or eyes, he then fixes his rifle over the end of the handle of the pan, or in a moveable rest or fork fixed on a small piece of wood attached to the handle, brings it in a line with the deer's eye if he wishes to shoot the animal in the head; if he wishes to shoot it in the body he depresses his line of fire. Perhaps a lamp with a reflector would answer for this purpose. The eye of the horse, cattle, the cat, &c., may be "shined." Travelling one dark night across a prairie near Houston, my horse's eye was shined" by one of these midnight hunters, and it was only by dint of much loud hallooing my horse, and perhaps myself, escaped being shot. A friend informed me that he once shot a deer having thirty-six points on its antlers; that is, eighteen on each side, denoting that the animal had seen eighteen summers, and he was toothless. The deer is very tenacious of life: a hunter had "plummed" a mortal shot into a fat buck, and expected to see it give the customary leap and then fall dead. The deer, however, ran full 300 yards, and then fell dead. On cutting it up, the wound was found to be a severe one, the heart being torn to pieces. From some experience I have had in "gunning" in America, I have never seen a Yankee rifle do such steady work at long or short ranges as an English one. It is said that there is a black-tailed long-eared deer in N.W. Texas. Elk.-Occasionally seen in N.W. Texas. Horns of elk have been found embedded deep in the soil. Antelope.Found in W. and N.W. Texas. I have seen some towards the Guadalupe Mountains: they were very shy. Mr. Kendall thus writes of this animal in his journey to Santa Fé :

"This day, for the first time, we encountered antelope, an animal somewhat resembling both the deer and the goat, but with flesh far preferable to either. It runs with great velocity, and has a stride like a horse. How fast the animal can run when in possession of four legs, is a question I am at a loss to answer; one, with a fore leg broken by a rifle ball, made out to escape from one of the best horses along after a long chase. On the table lands at the foot of the Rocky Mountains they are met with in great numbers, and many are seen on the Upper Brassos and Colorado. Although a shy, they are still a very inquisitive animal, and are frequently lured up within gun shot by simply hanging a red handkerchief upon a ramrod or stick, and moving it aloft. The hunter keeps his body out of sight as much as possible, when the antelope, seeing nothing but the handkerchief, approaches by slow degrees with head erect until within rifle shot, and then pays the penalty of its curiosity with its life."

Mountain Goat of the Rocky Mountains, is only seen in those regions. Sheep.-Introduced from Mexico and the United States, as well as horned cattle the latter sometimes found wild, and very good eating. Bison, or Buffalo (Bos americanus).-A few will occasionally come down to the coast, but their range is in N.W. Texas. In the Comanche language Cootes is the term for buffalo, in the Lipan Cibolo; but whether Cibolo has originated from buffalo, or the reverse, I cannot say.

CETACEA.

The dolphin and porpoise are seen in the waters of the Gulf, but whales rarely.