was nevertheless all eagerness to be of the party; this, however, we valued him too much to permit.

We had scarcely reached the wall already alluded to, within fifty yards, when we felt ourselves seized by the shoulder in Donald's powerful grip. "There they are," said he. "Hist, hist;" and the whole party were made to understand that the game were in sight. And a pretty view for a sportsman's eye, in good truth, it afforded ! In a sort of stubble-field-if stubble it can be termed, in such a wild valley as there presented itself-about half gun-shot from the wall, we beheld what seemed, to the eye of an inexperienced sportsman, or, we should rather say, to a sportsman unaccustomed to this species of game, a multitude of large ravens, employing themselves in gleaning. On a nearer inspection, however, these ravens appeared to have curly tails, adorned with a white feather or two intermixed, as a relief to their gloomy blackness. There they remained these proud, and plump Highland blackamoors, as if waiting in defiance of attack, and determined to resist our rude intrusion on their feeding territory. Luckily, however, it was not our first acquaintance with their peculiarities; and those of the glen, by whom we were accompanied, were up to all the trickery and cunning of these splendid birds. We crave one moment while we add, though we know not why, that it appears, by general sporting acquiescence, permitted to shoot a blackcock how you can, when you can, and wherever you find him. Now, were we to see a pheasant sitting on the top of a park-wall-which we frequently have seen-none but a poacher or a pot-hunter would deign to fire at the beautiful animal till it "fluttered in the air;" but with the blackcock

C'est autre chose :

Bang when you can, and over it goes.

Precaution and silence was, therefore, the word of command, in order to secure success. Luck, for the time, placed us in a good position; and, having crept up to the wall, we rested our doublebarrels on the top within twenty yards of the formidable black army; in fact, we managed just comfortably to bring five glossy heads along the sight, and, with nervous excitement, were on the very point of pulling the trigger, when a confounded gillie sneezed-only sneezedbut it was a detestable sneeze: we have hated people with colds ever since. This was enough; the whole pack rose in a dense cloud; not a moment was to be lost. Instead of the murderous aim we had chosen, as we thought, so cunningly, we had no alternative but that of banging into the centre of the flock. Down came two black bodies, plump like coals, from the heavens! Bang! bang! went the file firing from right to left; over the wall we jumped, keepers, gillies, shooters and all, to pick up the dead and make prisoners of the wounded. This, however, proved not so easy a matter as might be supposed; two lay dead as hammers-a simile we cannot explain; three others were only legged or winged, and they made a desperate attempt to escape; but the pack of bipeds, all eager for their prey, were too strong for them, and after floundering, ancle deep in swamp, over flowery heather and rough stones, all were at length captured in life, and bagged in death-two brace and a-half, no bad commencement for the day; though the skirmishing which obtained the

:

victory might not have been exactly in sporting règle. Never mind grumblers it caused much mirth, and pardon for the sneezer. True, we had expected at least six brace; but we are easily satisfied, the half loaf contents us; and on the party walked, hoping for better luck

next time.

Having reached the mountain-slopes, hares rose here and there and everywhere, before and around us; and we succeeded in killing two brace, after some very interesting runs. On our arrival at the summit of the mountain, the day, which hitherto had been cloudy, dark, and misty, became brilliant and clear, the sun bursting forth in unrivalled splendour, and the view of a hundred mountains seen almost to the summit of Ben Nevis, the wide, dark-looking, and extensive grouse-ground and valleys which lay in solemn grandeur at our feet, was a picture of unequalled interest alike to the sportsman, artist, and lover of nature's wildness. Add to this the calm waters of Loch Rannoch, nearly twelve miles in length, and two of general breadth, which lay, as it appeared, almost at the foot of the mountain on which we stood; and though literally two miles distant, the mountain shadows on its waters were quite distinct, so still and placid was all around. This beautiful lake, glittering and sparkling ever and anon as the sun's rays, darkened by a passing cloud, which swept through the heavens, left on its unruffled surface gloomy and flittering shadows, is the resort of a large-sized trout, probably not delicate eating, but affording ample sport with the rod. And many there are who eagerly seek permission to try their skill with the fly, from the owners of the extensive shooting grounds by which it is surrounded; the principle one being the Earl of Mansfield, who rents the moors immediately contiguous to Meggernie, for which he pays a large annual rent. In this desirable sporting possession he succeeded Lord Grantly, and although we believe his first season of sport did not average his expectations, yet during those which have followed, though his outlay may be large, the total of his game-book has been most ample. Loch Rannock is bordered on the north by a long, lone eminence of gentle slope, regular and unbroken outline; whereas the hills to the south are higher and more abrupt, and stand distinctly apart the one from the other. Of all these beautiful scenes, nature tendered us a superb and truly interesting picture; but time did not admit our dwelling on such pleasing objects, though long could we have lingered on such a spot.

The chirping grouse and silvery ptarmigan awaited our coming near at hand most courteously, just granting us sufficient time to admire mountain, valley, and lake as we walked on, and they were severally pointed out to us and named by the keepers (their denominations, however, are utterly beyond the power of a sportsman's pen to write); the stillness of the scene being alone disturbed as the echoing shot, reverberating from hill to hill, told a tale of death to the feathered tribe, among which we were fortunate enough to number several golden plovers: without exception, in our humble opinion, the most delicious morsel that ever was placed before a delicate appetite, and no bad finish for a hungry sportsman who has duly attended to the substantials, after a long day's walk. Readers, should hitherto have tasted this little, well-flavoured bird-always an acqui

you not

sition to a game-bag-do us the favour, and yourself the enjoyment, to follow Mrs. Kitchner's advice, viz., to kill one the first opportunity; and having killed it, should your establishment not be blessed with a cook-of course we do not mean one of those fat females in petticoats who most unjustly defame the cognomen, but a cook-why write a civil note to "Soyer," and ask for his brief attention to the succulent little animal, then eat it, and wash the delicious nutriment down with a glass or two of Lafitte, if you have any-if not, château Margeaux will answer the purpose; and then send us a dozen or two, if you like, for the hint, as we shall then be ill-repaid for the pleasure you will have derived. But we must walk on, for the day advances, which was our last on the hills of Meggernie.

As we reached the summit of another portion of the Schiehallion range, where the ground was covered with large stones and rocks intermixed with the heather, surmounted by a cairn, the shepherds' handiwork, we were gratified by the sight of numerous mountain-hares scudding up the declivities. A few of these we were fortunate enough to tumble over-they make good soup, but eat better as a roast, recollectand among others we witnessed a very strong, large fellow make direct for the cairn; higher he could not go, and descend towards the valley on the opposite side he certainly did not; we therefore reasonably surmised that he must have taken refuge among the loose stones; and such proving to be the case, the grey old gentleman was quietly removed from his retreat by the hind legs, and snugly deposited in a covered basket with all the energies of life unharmed; and this with the intention that he should afford us a little amusemennt in the lowlands, as we shall hereafter explain. A flight of blackcocks also passed directly over our heads as we were descending, towards evening, through the heathered valley leading towards the castle; we had at the very moment fired at a grouse, and were, consequently, in the act of reloading the discharged barrel when these black gentlemen fluttered, or, more properly speaking, sailed through the heavens immediately aloft: we had scarcely sufficient time to raise the gun to the shoulder, take a hasty aim, and fire; in fact the shot was one almost at hazard, point blank to the skies, at least sixty-five to seventy yards distant; to our astonishment and gratification, nevertheless, down came, with a startling thump, the most beautiful in plumage and largest blackcock we have ever beheld, before or since. So large, so fat and heavy was he, that, stewed with onions-no bad dish, by the bye-he might have graced the bottom of the lord mayor's table at a civic feast, and been taken for a boiled turkey with celery, or, à la broche, would not have failed the palate of an alderman. We decided otherwise, however; and instead of stuffing ourselves with him, we graciously permitted him to be stuffed; and he now figures in a glasscase, mourning for himself, doubtless, in his glossy black coat, and looking so lively that, were his glass cage but broken, he would, surely, take wing once more, and fly to meet his mate mid the dark recesses of Ben Lawers.

(To be continued.)

A LETTER TO NIMROD.

[The following letter I lately laid my hands on by accident. It was addressed by Captain Rossier, to the late Mr. Apperley, upon the publication of one of his most unsuccessful works a French Stud Book. There is little in it beyond a very important fact connected with the traffic in horses between this country and the continent; and that is, the bias of equestrian taste among foreigners. On the continent the horse is a subordinate agent: horsemanship is the prime object. In England riding is considered good or bad, as it shall develop and aid the natural properties of the animal ridden, or otherwise. For this reason unmade horses are the most fit for foreign markets. EDITOR.]

SIR, I have read with attention, and with the most lively interest, your first volume upon race-horses; and I hope, for the prosperity of horsemanship in France, that you will continue your useful instructions. Having been an assiduous reader of the Stud-book since its beginning, the editors have sometimes given me a place in their columns; and I have taken advantage of it to give some advice to French amateurs who would break or train their horses themselves. I have joined to it some particulars upon the studs of Kakeknen, of Neussadt under Dosse, and some particulars upon the progress of the Society for the Amelioration of Horses, in Switzerland; a society which I founded, to prove and to ameliorate the qualities of our Swiss horses, for quickness in trotting, in harness, and for carrying a man, and for strength in drawing, and for the step; the last example has been imitated since in different countries. In short, sir, your excellent remarks upon Germany have interested me so much the more, as it is in that country that I have studied the horse, and above all, horsemanship, from Mecklenburgh to Hungary, in Poland, in Prussia, in Hanover, in Saxony; in a word, in all the countries where they ride best horses of the riding school and of

war.

I have had the pleasure of visiting, too little to my taste, your country, so extraordinary with respect to horses; but I do not understand the language, and that hinders me from uniting myself with those distinguished amateurs which it contains. I have, therefore, been obliged to confine myself to four different visits; to buy, with my best judgment, some horses for my use. The only friend that I possess in England is the excellent Thomas Moss, merchant at Liverpool; but that part of the country unhappily does not furnish the sort of horses to which I am particularly attached, to take them back to Switzerland. Moreover, I have sometimes employed a skilful man, and a great connoisseur of London. He has bought me several little transports of horses pretty well chosen, and for moderate prices.

I have been obliged, sir, to enter into some little details respecting myself, in order that you may accord to me, or refuse me with know

ledge of the cause, the favor which I have asked you. This is it :I hope to return to England in the month of October or next spring. Although I have always confidence in my agent, I should like to be favoured with the support and the advice of a distinguished person of your experience; and your special and local acquaintances have engaged me, sir, to take the liberty of asking your advice, and the permission of presenting myself to you. Although I have quitted Paris for some time, my good friend the Count of Blangy, and Lord Seymour, will be, I hope, willingly my guarantees with you. The last amateur has put me, according to his manner, more than once to the proof, either to leap, or to make his horses trot; and I have reason to believe that he would, if it were necessary, support my request of you, sir.

The design of my voyage will be to buy for my own use a horse of three-quarters, or of pure blood-if possible an entire horse; but i onry destine him for the exercises of the riding-school or the squadron, but my weight being 182lbs. 18 ounces (for I am very tall), will render this bargain difficult; although I do not require any quickness in the gallop, but mildness, suppleness, grace, and a great deal of strength and of hardness; a temper cold but generous, and excellent hoofs, on account of our hard roads. Besides, I shall search after two or three stallions of half and three-quarters blood, good trotters; in short, horses for the road, well squared, well membered, and well-conditioned: these last will be destined for reproduction. I have actively sought after the amelioration of our Swiss race, in conversing by word of mouth, by writing, and by practical example; but the essentially democratic form of our government of the Cantons opposes itself strongly to the efforts of the friends of the country; and until now I have been little fortu

nate.

We possess, notwithstanding, at Lausanne, Nimrod, a stallion of three-quarters blood, grey, little, very well known in England, from whence we were able to obtain him, because of an accident which had befallen him in his right knee. This stallion has not enough depth of girth, although he is very old; and I wish to replace him worthily.

Now, sir, if my request is too indiscreet, have the goodness to pardon me. I have been encouraged by the postcript, which terminates your last work, and more still by the desire of making your acquaintance; for I hope, in that case, sir, to induce you to communicate to the public your ideas and your observations upon different points of more general use than the last upon which you have treated, such as will be, amongst other things, the different methods of crosses most common for the species; the manner of taking care of and directing English horses on the road on the continent, particularly after their arrival; and a thousand other instructions well selected (being presented under the authority of the author of different articles signed Nimrod.)

I perceive, sir, that I become too long; but I have been, unhappily, obliged to lose much of your time in speaking of myself; and it would have been more agreeable to me to employ the time in speaking of our favourite subject of all that relates to the horse.

I avow, notwithstanding, that horsemanship has always been the end of my labours more than the horse himself; and that for the most simple —that our country, being a country of vineyards, could never be proper to bring up horses of luxury, on account of the excessive dear

reason

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