been handed down from one generation to another, until it has become one of the peculiar characteristics of the blood. Mr. Blaine's remarks upon distemper are so excellent, that I would advise the reader to peruse them attentively; they are far too extensive to insert in this short chapter, but the few following lines are so exceedingly descriptive of the cause of the disease, that I shall insert them without apology. "The distemper has become so naturalized amongst our dogs, that very few escape the disease altogether. A constitutional liability to it is inherent in every individual of the canine race, which predisposition is usually acted upon by some occasional cause. predisposition itself in some breeds seems sufficient to produce it, and such have it frequently very soon after birth; but the predisposition is more frequently acted upon by some occasional cause, of which there are many.

The

"Contagion may be regarded as the principal of these; few dogs who have not passed through the disease, escape it when exposed to the effluvia or the contact of the morbid secretions received on a mucous or an ulcerated surface. Yet inoculation with distemper virus frequently fails to produce it, and the disposition to receive the contagion is likewise not always in equal force, but it appears stronger and weaker, at various periods in the same animal, and is perhaps under the control of the accidental changes in healthfulness of habit, &c., &c. Cold applied in any noxious manner to the system, is a very common origin of the complaint; throwing into water, washing, and not after drying the animal, unusual exposure during the night, &c., are frequently causes of distemper in young and tender dogs. I have seen it produced by violent hemorrhage, by a sudden change from a full to a low diet, and, in fact, any great or sudden derangement in the system is sufficient to call the predisposition into action. The usual period of its attack is that of puberty, or when the dog attains his full growth; in some it is protracted to two, three, or even many years old, and a very few escape it altogether. The having once passed through the disease, is not a certain preventive to a future attack. It occasionally appears a second time, and an instance fell under my notice of a third recurrence, with the intervention of two years between each attack."

In another place Mr. Blaine says, in speaking of the effects produced by the distemper: "The importance of the subject renders it not improper again to repeat, that of all the symptoms that appear, the epileptic convulsions are the most fatal. It is, therefore, of the utmost consequence to prevent their occurrence; for when once they have made their attack, art is too apt to fail in attempting their removal. The best preventive means that I know of are to avoid or to remove all circumstances tending to produce debility, as looseness, low poor diet, too much exercise, exposure to cold, extreme evacuation from the nose, and no less the operation of mental irritation from fear, surprise, or regret; all of which, I must again repeat, are very common causes of fits in distemper."

*The practice of dressing or anointing young hounds when suffering from distemper is by no means to be recommended; although the seasonable use of this most salutary application preserves health, and renders not only distemper, but other diseases less violent in their attacks.

ON THE GAME LAWS, SHOOTING, &c.

BY CECIL.

(Continued.)

Nothing is more obnoxious to game, especially in the breeding season, than the numerous cur-dogs which are harboured in many situations by agricultural labourers, for what ostensible purpose it is difficult to declare; many instances occur of these little, wretched, barking nondescripts, being kept by people who have not the means of procuring bread for their families, and yet the useless nuisance consumes as much food as would appease the craving appetite of a poor emaciated infant; independent of the havoc they make among the game, the extirpation of these mongrels would be a blessing to the class of persons who foster them. Constantly roving about the fields, driving indiscriminately the partridges and pheasants from their nests, chasing hares which, when young, they not unfrequently destroy, they drive the game completely from the vicinity in which they are kept, or render it so wild that it is next to impossible to get within shot of it. Sheep dogs are equally annoying; and although some persons may advocate their utility, others are as eloquent in proclaiming their uselessness. Under the banners of the latter class I shall enlist myself, and must, consequently, assign some reasons for doing so. The advocates for these animals will argue that the shepherds in open districts, where it is customary to fold the sheep, cannot do without them, as they require their services to drive the sheep into the folds, and to assist in capturing them when they are wanted to undergo any examination from lameness, the ravages of the fly, or any other purposes; so far some assistance is unquestionably requisite, but would not a boy be a much better companion, at the same time that he (the said boy) would be learning the rudiments of an occupation which, in after life, he must depend upon for his subsistence; how much more beneficial to him and to his fellow-beings, than that he should be permitted to lead a life of indolence, or, being suffered to follow the dictates of his own talents and propensities, may, and which in all probability he will, fall into all kinds of vicious and idle habits! It is not only essential that youth should be cautioned against improperly passing their time, but they should have a proper employment selected for them, and instructions given how the various branches of that employment ought to be performed. In these times of over population, every means that can be suggested ought to be brought forward to afford occupation for the labouring classes, especially for the juvenile branches.

The use of the sheep-dog, however, is most excusable in the open districts of down and hill, and which are, most strictly speaking, denominated sheep countries; they are not situations calculated for the

preservation of game, hares excepted, at least not to an equal degree with arable lands; those portions only which are in cultivation affording harbour for partridges, and pheasants as a matter of course resort to woods and plantations. In arable districts the sheep-dog is even less an object of utility; in fact, no justifiable argument can be advanced for encouraging him; in such localities the enclosures and yards present facilities for occasionally confining the sheep whenever they require to be caught. The shepherd may desire to keep such an animal as a companion, and may be proud of the performance of his protegé, perhaps as much so as the sportsman is of the performance of his pointers and setters, but that is no argument as to his usefulness; besides which, the expense of his keep is a consideration. Another reason for discouraging this breed of dogs, and one which is paramount over all others, is the very great susceptibility which they evince of communicating that dreadful malady-hydrophobia; indeed, if no other existed, it is quite sufficient to justify the use of the strongest arguments against their being fostered. In nine cases out of ten hydrophobia may be traced to the sheep-dog. It is not only the havoc which they make in disturbing and destroying game, but they very frequently lead the shepherds into the pursuit of it; with much spare time lingering on hand, while listlessly watching the movements of his flock, it cannot create much amazement, if his dog getting on the scent of a hare, that he should encourage the chase, not perhaps so much with an expectation of making a capture as for the diversion and relief of the monotony which such a life of necessity enjoins. In the time of year when partridges are depositing their eggs, should the dog, by disturbing the hen bird, which he is very likely to do, proclaim the exact position of the nest, providing he can find a purchaser for the eggs, which it is very probable he may, where is the shepherd who will withstand the temptation of so easily acquiring a few shillings in augmentation of his limited daily stipend? such proceedings would soon annihilate a head of game-much more would they be prejudicial in establishing one.

The question now arises as to the most practicable means of disposing of the objectionable quadrupeds. With the first description, the cur dog, a little persuasion will, in all probability, have the effect of inducing his owner to make away with him; at all events, I would advocate pacific means in the first instance. The purchase of the cur for the consideration of a few shillings, accompanied with the explicit understanding that his place shall not be occupied by another of the same genus, will generally be a means of obtaining the desired purpose, and is far preferable to the ulterior one of destruction, a method which must be resorted to when no other will prevail; it should, however, be accomplished sub rosa, for reasons most ostensible. In disposing of one of the canine genus, yclept a sheep-dog, more tact and difficulty will, in all probability, be experienced; his owner, imbued with certain prejudices, of a nature somewhat difficult to overcome, may pertinaciously consider that the services of his animal are essential to his interest; the farmer may probably sanction his servant in maintaining the position of his deputy, and with all the rhetoric that can be urged no argument will convince the proprietor that anything can

be adopted as an equivalent for the offensive quadruped; a little coin, the all-persuasive medium, may operate on the functionary; a little game and other attentions of a conciliatory kind may win the good graces of the farmer; if not, the obnoxious animal must be tolerated until circumstances and future suitable opportunities may lead to events offering more favourable results; above all things, I should caution any person not having the authority possessed as owner of the soil-and, even then, the full exercise of it may not on all occasions be a measure of policy-when about to embark in the preservation of game in a new district, or even when entering on a manor where it is already preserved, to avoid as much as possible quarrelling with the aborigines.

Considering the foregoing matters as being disposed of, the next circumstance claiming attention is the destruction of vermin; it is perfectly useless to expect to promote and preserve a head of game so long as those enemies to its existence prevail, and it will invariably be found to be the case that vermin of every species is the most abundant where the least regard has been paid to the game, from this very ostensible cause, that they will increase and multiply unless measures have been in operation to diminish their numbers. Hawks and owls, although not in general very numerous, are most destructive of the feathered tribe, and every means must be taken to annihilate them both by the assistance of traps, and with the gun. Hawks, however, are birds so wary and shy in their nature, as not very often to be seen within range of the fowling piece; but they may readily be taken in traps, especially when the remains of a bird or leveret, upon which they have been surprised when enjoying their feast, is made use of as a bait. A vigilant keeper may, by watching birds of prey, very soon discover where they strike their quarry and make their repast, when, if he cannot come upon them by surprise near enough to shoot them, he will most probably discover their booty, and thus be enabled to convert it into a bait for his trap, which, it is almost needless to remark, should be set with the least possible delay. Owls may much more readily be met with, within range of shot, especially during the twilight of an April evening, when they are mostly on the wing, offering, by their very quiet gliding manner of flight, the most seductive objects for shooting at; but, like many other equally attractive and deceptive appearances, they are not so surely the victims of man's beguiling intentions. They are so completely guarded with feathers, that unless within a short distance, or they be fired at just as they are bearing away, they will sustain a smart rap without being brought to bag, consequently large shot should be employed against them.

To a person whose time is not otherwise occupied, a more amusing and exciting engagement can scarcely be undertaken than that of shooting those feathered depredators, who would, if not destroyed, be so great a barrier to his future sport; and every one of them that falls to the gun, is taken up as a trophy, and regarded as an omen of future success; besides which, the practice of shooting at all kinds of birds, during those periods of the year when the regular shooting is out of date, keeps the hand in, and very materially contributes to the perfection of the sportsman. Independently of which, if preserved, the

various tribes of birds form an interesting collection, and add vastly to the more essential portions of the household furniture required in a rural habitation. En passant, it is not amiss to remark, that a little observation will readily teach any person to recognise the droppings of the various birds of prey, and the vermin which destroy game; and by this means they will be more easily enabled to discover their places of nocturnal resort or repose, and thus be prepared to attack them with greater facility and certainty of success, than by any other means. The mischievous magpie, the variegated jay, and the speckled starling will prey upon the eggs of partridges and pheasants to an enormous extent; the reduction of their numbers is therefore an object of essential importance. The former of these may easily be captured in traps, with a moderate share of precaution and skill, always bearing in mind that the best bait for either birds of prey or vermin of any kind that can possibly be made use of, is the remains of that which they have just been preying upon, but which they have not been able to consume. The most effectual time for their wholesale destruction is that when they are setting, when the old ones may be caught in the traps, and their eggs will consequently perish; some attention should, however, be bestowed, to ascertain that the young ones are not hatched, in order, if that be the case, to have them found and immediately destroyed; for, obnoxious as they are, it is barbarous to leave them to die from want of the ordinary parental services which nature has provided for them.

Stoats, polecats, weasels, hedgehogs, rats, all claim attention, and in most instances are to be ensnared in traps, never losing any opportunity of searching for their holes and nests. It may, very probably, be a circumstance eliciting some surprise, that the rat should be enumerated among the enemies of partridges and pheasants; but I am quite prepared to declare, that wherever they abound, they commit excessive depredations, during the breeding season, by destroying the eggs. It is well known the havoc they make in the dove-cot; and their depredations are equally extensive among the feathered tribes of game, when their nests are formed near farm yards, or other situations abounding with them; brooks generally swarm with them, and these are a species of the most destructive kind. The immense numbers of these rapacious creatures which abound in some districts, especially in the vicinity of farm buildings, on light loamy and sandy soils, when the hedge rows are formed on banks, is almost incredible; and when once they have gained a head, their destruction is a source of very great difficulty. Being driven from the buildings when the barns are cleared of grain, those which escape the fangs of the terriers, or the fatal blows of the bludgeon or pitchfork, betake themselves to the adjoining fields, where they take up their abode in the banks, make their nests, and rear their young ones in quarters very difficult of access; indeed, their fortresses may be denominated as impregnable: nothing but the total annihilation of the banks in which they have taken up their location is effective. To drive them out with ferrets is a work nearly bordering on impracticability, besides which the ferrets are apt to be lost, and all they can do is to drive them from one hole to another, with the only chance of killing them being by means of