that even if they do understand their business, very few of them can take a horse across country. "The King of the Butchers" in this respect is, however, we see, in place again; and after losing two places from that cause, it is to be hoped he will mend. Very excellent new kennels are being built in the Park at Birdsall; so the hopes that Lord Middleton would ere long take to the Cottesmore have come to naught. Jack Morgan is fast getting Southwold back to its old Musters, Sutton and John Walker form, and the cub reports are good; in fact, one litter is said to have eleven in it. Last season they killed thirteen brace of old, and nine and a-half of cubs, and drove seven brace to ground. They had only 43 couple of hounds in the kennels for the four days, but this year they have put forward ten couple of their own breeding, and swelled their numbers to fifty. They began their 1857-58 season with 20 couple from Captain Thompson, 18 from Lord Middleton, 12 from the Yarborough, and 3 from Sir Watkin Wynne's; and certainly, they have a hound Lounger, or brother to Lounger, which takes our fancy quite as much, if not more, than anything we have seen this year. He has a great deal of quality, and a great deal of the Comus type about him, a sort in which our untutored eye especially revels. Old Jem sent Jack a present of Barrister, who has done the kennel immense good, to judge from the style of the entries by him, which form quite a family group of ten or eleven; and Lord Middleton's Corporal, and Lord Yarborough's Clinker, were the other sires. Distemper has visited both Ben and Jack's kennels lightly, and the latter has lost three puppies, only one of which he wished to keep. This season, besides Lord Yarborough's two, he has sent bitches to five of the Duke of Rutland's, to wit, Trusty, Notary, Grappler, Chaser, and Rallywood; and he has borrowed Sir Watkin's Pyrrhus. The kennels at Belsford are very natty, and the £400 has been well laid out. There is loose-box stalling for 14 horses, and Morgan's house is an eccentric, but a comfortable piece of architecture. In short, after the melancholy knocking about this rare country has had, things seem to have taken a good turn, and every one is satisfied; though, perhaps, the horses are not exactly such as "Tearaway Jack" has been used to for these 14 seasons past. There is a story of his screwing through a wonderful cubhunting run on a little bit of a dun pony; but he still continues very nimble and slight, and scarcely pulls 10st. 71bs down. We shall not attempt a stern chase, after the full account "in another place" of Mr. Farquharson's sale. The twenty couples of big hounds and the three of young which were bought in were sold, through Mr. Tattersall, the next Monday, to Mr. H. Villebois, who bid rather stiffly for them at the sale; and Treadwell, who had reached the Wimborne station with his wife, and was just starting for a tour, was sent for back again post-haste. He will not take a place this summer; but we sincerely trust that he will not think of retiring at fifty-eight, with so many good seasons in him yet. There is far too much early putting forward of first-whips now, before they are fitted either by experience or temper to take the head of a kennel; and there has been, as we all know, a very sad instance of the kind lately. Old Percy was there, rather feeble after his illness, and sitting on the corn-box, chatting to his friends about the bygone racing days of Langton. The great heat was the only drawback, and under the wall of the kennels it was quite overpowering; but that did not quench the sympathetic flow of the men on the wall. Mr. Stratton quite carried out their injunction to "mind and take care of Rosamond," as, when we got into the train at Wimborne that night, he was taking her home in his personal charge. The George Carters, father and son, and both in top-boots were there, and reported favourably of Mr. Assheton Smith's health. The general power of Autocrat, and the exquisite form of the rightly-termed Rarity, we shall not easily forget. The Old Berkshire Hounds have removed from Tubney to Oakley, where Mr. Morell lived before he built Headington Hill. Sir Warwick, who was bought in for 190 gs. at the sale, has been sold to the Duke of Beaufort, so that Clark has, like Harris, two mementoes; and Marlborough, the mighty water-jumping black, has died of lock-jaw, so that the Surrey Union will not have the pleasure of seeing him perform. It is very singular that this horse should have died, in his new hands, almost as soon as Golumpus died in Mr. Morell's; and, moreover, the gentleman who bought him bid second for one, if not both, of these welters, when Mr. Greaves sold them. Foxes are reported very plentiful both there and in Leicestershire; but neither Harriet nor Firebrand will live to rout them from Thorpe Trussells or Cream Gorse, as they died, with four couple of others, not long after their arrival at Quorn. There is no doubt that they had had the distemper before; and the seeming distemper of which they died has been rife at Quorn, and was of the most virulent kind, with, probably, a good deal of yellows mixed up with it. Hence Treadwell has only put eleven couple forward. From reasons which need not be dwelt on, fox-hunting does not go on comfortably in the Harborough country; and we heard of two bitchfoxes being poisoned lately. The Leicestershire people have got a notion that Goodricke's Gorse is to be destroyed; and we hear that the idea has been mooted, though we do not believe it will be carried through. Five times last season it was drawn blank; but it seems that a strange dog lived in it all those months, and was not shot till April and the day after, a huge yellow cat, which had been seen once or twice when the hounds were there, was also disposed of. Between the two, the cover must have been made pretty uncomfortable for game of all kinds. However, when the rabbiters went, they dug down to a litter of five cubs; and as the old bitch was seen by a truly enthusiastic watcher, on the wettest of nights, to come, and not object, they are most probably there still, or close by: so that the character of the cover, dear to all Meltonians for Sir Harry's sake, is saved. Thorpe Arnold, the new cover in the Duke's country, will no doubt be ready this season. They talk of throwing a bridge across the river; and thus, with a little management, their fox will always point for Little Dalby and Burrow Hills, and Will Goodall get those bursts over Leicestershire for which his soul so craves. Foxes have been there, and among the sandbanks of the neighbouring dry channel of the Melton and Oakham Canal, cubs have been laid up; so that, in due time, Will may love it even better than Piper's Hole. HORSES, AND THEIR PROPENSITIES. BY CECIL. There are certain peculiarities incidental to all living creatures, from which even the human race is not exempt; and they are produced by various causes, some of which are evidently inherent. This faculty of inheritance may, in some instances, appear to be doubtful, inasmuch as various idiosyncracies sometimes lie dormant in the parents, but are capable of being traced to more remote progenitors. The temper of the horse is not totally exonerated from these influences, though it is capable to a very great extent of being controlled by treatment, or in more appropriate language, education. I come to these conclusions from personal experience and observation, and will therefore, as I proceed, illustrate my argument with examples. To these I will introduce, by way of preface, the opinion expressed by "Stonehenge," in his excellent work," British Rural Sports," where, in the chapter on Brood Mares, he makes use of the following remarks: "The temper is of the utmost importance; by which must be understood, not that gentleness at grass which may lead the breeder's family to pet the mare, but such a temper as will serve for the purpose of her rider, and will answer to the stimulus of the voice, whip, or spur. A craven or a rogue is not to be thought of, as the 'the mother of a family; and if a mare belongs to a breed which is remarkable for refusing to answer the call of the rider, she should be consigned to any task rather than the stud farm. Neither should a mare be used for this purpose which had been too irritable to train, unless she happened to be an exceptional case; but if of an irritable family, she would be worse even than a roarer or a blind one. There are defects which are apparent in the colt or filly; but the irritability which interferes with training often leads to the expenditure of large sums on the faith of private trials, which are lost, from the failure in public, owing to this defect of nervous system." Temper is a property, a virtue it may be aptly termed, deserving the utmost attention of breeders, not only with reference to docility, but in a more extensive sense, in connection with the nervous energy of the system and corresponding physical power. This energy is affected by the amount of nervous excitability of the brain, in conjunction with the nervous system, influencing the muscles of locomotion. If that be in proportion with the physical power of the animal, he will be capable of manifesting great superiority either on the race-course or in the hunting field, providing his physical powers are in a healthy state, and cultivated by proper work or training. Extreme irritability or impatience of reasonable control, in the hunter or race-horse, by over-powering the muscular system, will occasion prostration of strength, and the animal will be found incapable of endurance. On the other hand, if the muscular powers are greatly in T excess of the nervous energy, the horse is of little value except for purposes in which sluggishness is unimportant. Racing is the ordeal or medium of discovery, and breeders cannot be too circumspect in investigating the characteristics of the animals they intend to introduce into the stud. The fallacy of judging from external appearances is easily explained. The nervous energy proceeds from the brain, and is transmitted through the spinal-marrow to the nerves in connection with the muscular system or locomotive powers, all of which beautiful and wonderful machinery is entirely hidden; therefore the most skilful judges cannot pronounce upon the merits of a horse until they are put to the test on the race-course. In corroboration of the transmission of this propensity, I will instance a case which came under my own observation, and an infinite number of similar events may be confirmed by observing the habits of horses on the race-course. I had it on the authority of Mr. E. Jones, now of Ropley, but formerly of Prestbury, who trained Valve, a daughter of Bob Booty and Wire, that she was gifted with a very irritable temper, so much so as very materially to affect her running; indeed, with the exception of one race in Ireland, she never accomplished the task of getting her head first past the winning-post, out of some seven or eight attempts. She was the dam of Vigornia, a mare whose temper was as readily excited whenever a repetition of any preliminaries induced a reminiscence of previous performances. When in training, a fresh route to the exercise-ground was selected, with as many variations as circumstances would permit, and everything carefully studied to avoid alarming her. The usual, and in many instances unavoidable, custom of walking her about on a race-course or its vicinity, was certain to disarrange her nervous system, and her defeat was an inevitable result. On one occasion she won, with the odds 20 to 1 against her, by this simple device. She was saddled in her own stable, about four miles from the course, ridden by the boy who looked after her, to the startingpost, where the head lad was put up, to perform the duties of jockey; and without even a canter to occasion any reminiscences, she was started, when she won with the most perfect ease. Pussy, her halfsister, inherited a similar failing, although she won the Oaks and several other races. Griselda, own sister to Pussy, inherited the characteristics of her family; and Captain Pops, a half brother, although less irritable, was by no means exempt. This extreme irritability of the nervous system is not confined to the turf. Many years ago a horse called Sir Sampson, the sire of a numerous progeny of first-rate hunters in Shropshire, was noted for this propensity. It was, however, in most instances, capable of modification, and very superior hunters they became, providing they were fortunate enough to fall into good hands, and received kind and proper treat ment. It becomes a matter worthy of much coasideration what effect this constitutional irritability has on the temper, as well as the utility of the horse. I am not disposed to insult and scandalize the species with the accusation that they are by nature prone to vice, but I feel convinced there are certain individuals in whom the constitutional nervous propensities are excessive, and that they are more readily susceptible of impressions which establish vice. It is not vice originally, though such animals are very susceptible if ill-treated. The exuberance of spirits natural to young animals highly kept, not unfrequently tends to produce uncontrollable tempers, which the ordinary race of colt breakers are not calculated to subdue. Even at that early period of life, when the foal is running by the side of its mother, an indiscriminate person sometimes places his hand unceremoniously upon its quarters: in all probability the little creature kicks at him, not from vice, but from fear. On a subsequent occasion, when approached, and without being touched, the same impulse is produced, and the young animal kicks again; thus the vice may be established. This, however, does not happen if the foal be properly handled and caressed, so to speak, from the time of its birth. The neglect of early fondling and association with mankind is the most prolific source of obduracy in the horse. Much of the disposition which characterises the animal at a mature age, is established in his youth, The seeds of rebellion, obstinacy, and strife are readily sown by the hand of ignorance and indiscretion; like noxious weeds, they thrive more vigorously than those of obedience, docility, and cheerfulness. As that of the child, the education of the horse should commence at an early age, and both should be treated with kindness. Pleasure should be associated with early lessons, obedience inculcated by firmuess, not by brutal severity. But when we look through the large circle of the human race with whom we may be acquainted or otherwise in the daily habits of intercourse, and contemplate the sadly mistaken principles they constantly adopt in the government of their children, little surprise can exist, that our noble, useful, and faithful companion, the horse, is in many instances improperly treated. One fond mother ruins her child by submission to its wayward propensities; another austere parent treats her offspring with cruel severity; and each, by opposite means, sow the seeds of obduracy and disaffection. Few there are, who adopt the happy medium. In the horse, a dogged, sullen, spiritless submission may be enforced by the cruel brutality to which the breaker too frequently has recourse; but that prompt and eager response to the rider's will, that manifest alacrity to accord with every wish, and which gives to the horse so much of his value, can only be founded on habitual confidence and attachment. Instinct is a faculty with which all animals are gifted, and the horse possesses that attribute very extensively. Somerville beautifully expresses himself on this subject : "Nor will it less delight th' attentive sage Pleasures and pains are two of the principal sources which may be said to cultivate instinct in the brute creation. It is therefore a natural consequence, that if the presence of man affords pleasure to the horse, by a repetition of those acts, through the agency of which it is conveyed, the animal will become attached to his benefactor. On the other hand, if pain is an attendant, the poor animal naturally shuns the source from whence it proceeds, and if he has the power, will remove himself away. But he is generally prevented either his head is fastened to the wall of his stable, or he is held by the bridle. Thus he |