This rare was the subject of much local interest, it being the first time a schooner match has properly filled at Kingstown. There is something exquisitely beautiful in the scene of a fleet of schooners running before the wind, with their sails goose-winged. They appear, when viewed at a distance, stem on, like a veritable flock of immense birds, with snowy wings, lightly skimming the surface; and this race presented such a variety in size of vessels, that the largest looked the more like parent birds, and the smaller like their young. The race was more interesting for the novelty and beauty of effect than for the spirited struggle which ensued whenever a breeze favoured it. The Ella, immediately on starting, went away from her rivals like a bird of swifter and more powerful flight, leaving no shadow of doubt upon the minds of any that, barring accidents, she must win with considerable odds. And so it proved, for no other vessel could approach anywhere near her; and finally she arrived at the winning goal two hours and forty minutes ahead of the second vessel, the Maraquita.

And now we have another match to notice on the same day, between the famous cutters Surge, Mosquito, Amazon, Cymba, Wildfire, and Kelpie, for a piece of plate value £70. For a long time after starting, the Wildfire held a determined lead, the Mosquito trying her utmost to pass her, but to no purpose; when, after a long time, a sudden change of wind gave the hindermost vessels a signal advantage; and the interest of the whole scene was then one of the most exciting ever beheld; as one and all made a determined rush, apparently from various parts of the harbour, for the flag-boat-some close hauled, others full and bye; and those which had just before been leewardmost were now weathermost. On rounding, it was observed that the favourite, Surge, had carried away her topmast short off by the mast-head; and thus her chance of winning appeared considerably doubtful, being unable to set a topsail. On reaching The Muglins, the flood tide and light winds had thrown the vessels altogether; and many of the schooners engaged in the other match being also in the same predicament, no less than twelve vessels lay in line, sailing beam for beam nearly five miles' distance, until nearing The Kish light-ship, when, a breeze springing up, they rounded in the most perfect line of order that can possibly be imagined, and immediately proceeded to turn to windward for the East-Bar buoy flagboat. As the breeze freshened, the excitement increased; and the match was finally concluded in a strong wind-the Mosquito winning by 2 minutes and 10 seconds, the Surge being second, notwithstanding her loss of topmast, and being obliged to sail the match under three sails only. The Amazon was but 3 minutes behind the Surge, and Cymba 4 minutes and 10 seconds.

The Kildare-street Challenge Cup, value £65, was won by the Atalanta, 27 tons, H. Scovell, Esq., beating Peri and Water Lily; and having won it two years in succession, it now became the absolute property of the winner.

The purse of 20 sovs., given by the Dublin and Wicklow Railway Company for yachts of 20 tons and under, was won by the Flirt, 19 tons, Captain H. H. O'Bryan; and with this match ended as successful and interesting a regatta as we have ever had the pleasure to witness in the Irish waters.

(To be concluded in our next.)

"GIVE US A BIT!"

With eager eye and hungry look,
Poor Fido plainly asks his share,
Of sportsman-mistress-busy cook-
As cross as cooks so often are.

To whom, I wonder, 'tis he begs?
Maybe, before his prayer is heard,
He'll have to "up" on his hind legs,
And stand in attitude absurd.

Or follow with a longing glance
Each trick a wicked lad can play,
And jump-and snap-and miss his chance-
And tantalize his time away.

Or, little toddling fair-haired lass

His ardent gaze shall sadly flutter,

Till as a ransom ere she pass,

He's more than half her bread-and-butter.

Fix'd daintily by rule o' thumb,

He'll watch John Ploughman bacon carve ;

While, if his sweetbread isn't come,

My Lady fears "Poor Fi. will starve."

Thus goes the world-of bed and board
How different are the lots we meet!

This pup is living like a lord,

And that has not enough to eat.

And, just as Fido's great desire

Is some choice tit-bit to secureQuick, gobbled up-he's leaping higher, And trying twice as hard for more!

So, men the goods of life will prize!
Once tasted, heeded not a whit,
They Fortune crave, with eager eyes,
To throw 'em down another bit!

HORSES AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS.

BY CECIL.

Every variety of the horse is endowed with some peculiar property or characteristic in which he more particularly excels. The cart-horse exemplifies this in his aptitude to take a dead pull at a heavy weight. The bulk of that animal enables him to do this, and his phlegmatic temper is essentially adapted to such exploits. The characteristics of the equine family are capable of many divisions and subdivisions, by which their usefulness is materially influenced. In the thorough-bred horse we can recognize many peculiarities-perfections and imperfections incident to certain families, and in the breeding of those valuable animals it is a study of the utmost importance.

The gigantic cart-horse, there is every reason to predict, will, ere many years pass away, be in very little request. The power of steam has already dispensed with his services for heavy road waggons. In London and in other large towns, horses more quick in their steps are in demand, to keep pace with the accelerated movements of the times. Country roads are generally in such good order that a heavy horse and a dead pull are seldom required to extricate the load from the mud, Steam power is steadily, but surely, lending aid to the agriculturist; and when the cultivation of the soil is extensively performed by that means, the services of the heavy lumbering cart-horse will be very limited.

There are certain characteristics connected with thorough-bred horses which we can trace, by the assistance of the "Stud Book," with greater accuracy than in any other classes, confirmatory of their being inherent. The nature of the substance of which the horse is composed has great influence in this respect. It is well understood that the bone of the race-horse is more compact and less porous than that of the cart-horse, and the gradations are distinguished in the intermediate crosses. The muscles and sinews of the former are likewise of a firmer texture. This superiority of material, is not so manifest as to be capable of distinction by an examination of parts taken from subects of the same class, but it is doubtless the source from which certain families of the pure breed excel others in transmitting to their progeny the inestimable qualities of soundness, providing that attribute is cultivated by proper food and judicious treatment. Breeders, who entertain a just appreciation of the value comprehended in soundness, will find it exemplified to the utmost extent in the progeny of Orville, unless it has been contaminated by crosses, in which its converse is conspicuous. This is not restricted to constitution only; the limbs, and especially the legs and feet, partake of that good quality. Stoutness in running is likewise a character for which that inagnificent horse was celebrated, and his offspring inherit his