about two feet from the tip of the nose to the insertion of the tail. Its head and nose are broad and flat; the mouth bears some similitude to that of a fish; the neck is short and equal in thickness to that of the head; the body long; the tail broad at the insertion, but tapering to the end; the eyes are small, and placed nearer to the nose than is usual in most quadrupeds; the legs are very short, but remarkably strong, broad, and muscular. "The otter, intended to seek its food in the water, is endowed with all that is necessary to make it swim with the greatest rapidity. Its tail, equal in length to half its body, serves both as oar and rudder. It dives almost every instant; and as it has lungs capable of containing a large quantity of air, it can remain a long time under the water. It must, however, when this is exhausted, rise to the surface to breathe, and if anything detains it too long beneath the water it must perish. It is not even sufficient that it should take breath-it is necessary to its existence that it should rest at times on the land. It does not usually remain in the water more than eight or ten minutes; and there is this difference between the otter and those animals which are truly amphibious-that it is only on the land it devours the prey which it has caught in the water. In the rivers and lakes frequented by the otter, the bottom is generally stony and uneven with many trunks of trees, and long roots stretching under the water. Where the bank is hollow and scoops inward, the otter loves to fix its retreat. Very little, however, is known of its habitation. A clever naturalist abserves: That it burrows under ground, in the bank of some river or lake, and makes the entrance of its hole under water, then works up to the surface of the earth, and there makes a minute orifice for the admission of air, and this little air-hole is often found in the middle of some thicket.' Others maintain that its retreat is always at the edge of the water, sheltered by the impending bank." "I have never seen an otter very near," said Crawford, "But I dare say you have, Evelyn; as you have been fishing in the Irish rivers, where, I am told, they are more numerous than in ours." "Yes, I have seen some few," I replied; "and one of them turned out for me the most unlucky beast that ever I met with." "How was that?" Lavalette asked. "Some bet I suppose? You made sure of capturing him, and did not succeed." "No such thing," I replied; "but since you wish to know, you shall hear. When last I made a fishing excursion to Ireland, I took with me a little terrier of the Scottish breed, to which I was very much attached. He was a real good one, and I will just mention an instance or two of his staunch and varmint qualities, when you yourselves can be the judges. At one time, the officers of a regiment, quartered in a tower, near which I was staying with a friend, could not produce a dog bold enough to face a badger; when they bethought them of my little terrier, Pepper, and sent to borrow him. Pepper had never seen a badger before; but, undismayed by his formidable glistening teeth, which shewed like an impassable cheveux de frise, Pepper flew at him at once, and drew the beast, although a badger of large size. "Pepper, although not swift, had an excellent nose, and he was so true, that if you heard his tongue you might be sure game was at hand. One day, as I was strolling through a field, I came upon a quarry that had been opened in the centre of it, but had been long disused, and was overgrown, and nearly filled with brambles. The day was cloudy, with a strong wind, from the violence of which a hare had taken shelter in this quarry. But Pepper soon disturbed her retreat, and the hare went off at a moderate pace, followed by the dog. They soon were out of the field, and I lost sight of them; but judging of the direction they were likely to take, I ran to a fence, from which, as the ground on the other side sloped downwards, I expected to obtain an extensive view in the direction I supposed the dog and hare to have taken. In this supposition I was not disappointed. The hare was not visible; but at about a quarter-of-a-mile from and below me, I saw the terrier questing. I soon joined the dog; and not far from him, to my great amazement, lay the hare in the agonies of death. Pepper seemed proud of and satisfied with his performance, and was industriously looking for another quarry. "I have often seen hares run down by a single greyhound; but how such a feat could be accomplished by a not swift little terrier puzzles me to find out. On considering the matter, it has sometimes occurred to me that the hare, not seeing the dog, and as the wind blew strong and was loud, did not hear his approach, was surprised, and pounced upon in its form. But I leave it to you both, who have wiser heads, and are better sportsmen than I am, to solve the enigma. However this may be, let me relate how I lost my little favourite. "Being about to make a short trip to the Continent, I did not wish to cumber myself with more luggage than necessary, and so I left Pepper behind me, my friend in Ireland kindly undertaking the charge of him during my absence abroad. "One Sunday, not long after my departure, the family being at church, a stable boy took Pepper and a fine Newfoundland dog belonging to the house, a stroll along the river, close to which the gentleman's residence was situated. The dogs soon found an otter, which instantly took the water, Pepper springing after him almost at the same moment. The otter and dog seized each other immediately, when they sank and disappeared under water. When they had been out of sight for some time, Lion, the Newfoundland dog, showed evident signs of uneasiness. At length, finding Pepper did not re-appear, he lost all patience, and springing into the river, he dived and brought his little friend to the surface, swimming towards the bank. The stupid boy mistaking Lion's friendly intentions, struck him on the head with a large stone, which made him drop Pepper, and the latter sank again, alas! never to rise more. Whether he was alive when Lion brought him to the surface is doubtful, as he had been so long under water. I rather think not. Poor Pepper! I grieved very much for you, and since your death I have never possessed another dog. "Lion's friendship for the little dog was great, and was shown in many beautiful and interesting ways. Amongst others I may mention that he always let Pepper take his bone from him, enduring with great patience and forbearance, without resentment, the many petty insults which the little dog offered him. When attacked by dogs larger than himself, Lion always took his part, and this was not seldom the case; for Pepper, goodnatured and friendly with dogs of his own size, always flew at larger ones when they came in his way, thus provoking their assaults. His friend Lion was never moved from his equanimity and forbearance by his petulance, but once, and then the large dog's ire was only shown by putting his heavy paw on Pepper to keep him quiet, occasionally showing his formidable teeth if at any time the little fellow evinced unusual restlessness under the pressure. GAMES OF THE BALL: CRICKET. BY LORD WILLIAM LENNOX. In We consider that this game has a particular claim to patronage, for it is one in which the people of England can generally take a part; it excites no feeling of envy by its exclusiveness; it tends to encourage a good feeling between the higher and the more humble classes, and brings about one of the greatest gifts bestowed upon mortal man-mens sana in corpore sano. The ball presents itself in many varied forms. early youth we have cricket, hockey, trap, foot-ball, and "fives;" as we enter manhood it delights us in the old-fashioned bowling-green, flies over the smooth green baize of the billiard table, or the less-exciting bagatelle board, golfing rackets, and tennis, diversifying the amusement, and in every form the " 'ball may be kept up" with the greatest satisfaction, as one of the games of Merrie England. China is famed for its "ball practice.' Homer sang of it as it was played by the maidens of Corcyra. And Strutt informs us that handball was from very early times a favourite pastime in Great Britain among young persons of both sexes; and in many parts of the kingdom it was customary for them to play at this game during the Easter holidays, for tansy cakes. The last-mentioned authority gives a play from an ancient MS. of the date of the twentieth year of the reign of Edward VI., which represents bowling as early as the thirteenth century. It was at one time a fashionable game; and even in our day there are well-frequented bowling-greens, which are attended by a most respectable class of our fellow-creatures. Some of our former monarchs took part in this recreation; for, according to a statement of a celebrated bas-bleu in the reign of Charles I., we find that ill-fated sovereign trying his skill with Mr. Shute, one of the members of the City of London. Let us describe the circumstance in the literary lady's own words: "Barking Hall, the property of my great-grandfather, Richard Shute, Esq., a Turkish merchant, was an antique building of a castellated form, situated at the end of a long avenue of elms, near the town of that name. Here Mr. Shute made one of the prettiest and most commodious bowling-greens ever seen; and Charles I., who was partial to the amusement, having heard of the fame of this new bowling-green, told Mr. Shute, when he next came to Court, that he would dine with him the following day, and have a game. Mr. Shute made the best preparation that the shortness of the time would allow; and the King was so well pleased with his entertainment, that he would frequently lay aside his state, and resort thither, with only two or three gentlemen as his attendants. They generally played high, and punctually paid the losings; and though Mr. Shute often won, yet the King would at one time bet higher than usual, and having lost several games, gave over. And if it please your Majesty,' said Mr. Shute, 'one-thousand pounds, some rubbers more; perhaps luck may turn.' 'No, no,' replied Charles, laying his hand gently on his shoulder, thou hast won the day, and much good may it do thee; but I must remember I have a wife and children." happy would it have been for this country if every monarch had followed this wise remark! According to Grammont, this game was patronized by the Merry Monarch during his residence at Tunbridge Wells. How Of the numerous games to which the ball has given rise, few if any have become more justly popular than cricket, and at no period has it been more encouraged than at the present. The following programme for the month of July and August will bear us out in our assertion; and the names and rank of the players remind us of those palmy days when George IV. formed a cricket ground adjoining the Pavilion at Brighton, and figured as a batsman and fieldsman, supported by the late Dukes of Hamilton, Richmond, and Bedford, Lord Winchelsea, and other members of the aristocracy. CRICKET. A grand match will be played in Lords' Ground, Marylebone, on Thursday, July 1st-The Marylebone Club against the Household Brigade. Marylebone Club. Earl of Coventry E. T. Drake, Esq. W. Whitbread, Esq. Dean Matches to come : PLAYERS. Household Brigade. Lord Garlies Monday, July 5th.-At Lords', County of Kent (with Caffyn Jackson and G. Parr) v. All England. 8th.-At Lords', Zingari Club v. Household Brigade. 9th.-At Lords', Present Etonians v. Present Harrovians. 12th. At Lords', North of England v. South of England. 15th.-At Lords', The Horse v. The Foot. 19th.-At Lords', Gentlemen v. Players. 26th. At Lords', The All England Eleven v. United All England Eleven. the benefit of George Parr. (Return match.) For 29th.-At Lords', The Gentlemen of Kent (with two players of Kent) v. The Gentlemen of England. August 12th. At Manchester, North of England v. South of England. (Return match.) 16th.-At Canterbury, Kent (with Caffyn Jackson and Parr) v. England. (Return match.) 19th. At Canterbury, The Gentlemen of Kent (with two players of Kent) v. The Gentlemen of England. (Return match.) During the Canterbury gathering, private theatricals by the best amateur company extant will be the order of the evenings. RAMBLES ALONG THE TROUT AND SALMON RIVERS AND LAKES IN THE SOUTH OF IRELAND. "No murmur waked the solemn still, I suppose there is not a reader of the Sporting Magazine who has thrown a fly, but knows there is no better sport, no more exciting manner of passing an hour, nay hours, than fishing-when the fish are taking. And yet, of all those who " go a fishing," not one-fifth know how to fish. It is a science that, to be successfully enjoyed, must be earnestly studied; and not alone the art of fishing, but the habits of the fish you angle for, must be studied likewise. Each resident of the stream, the pool, or the shallow, has its own peculiarities; and, to be successful, the angler must know what those peculiarities are. I would travel any length to spend my month's aunual tour with a scientific angler. Not a cast is made, not a corner fished, by such a one, but is the result of study. How often will the unlearned in the ways of trout pass thoughtlessly a small curl behind a stone at the very neck of the stream! Yet it is there the father of the family has taken up his abode, to pick up the various descriptions of prey which he seeks, as they pass away with the endless wave of waters. The scientific fisherman knows the construction, as well as the philosophy of the movement, of the prey he seeks. There are few of this class of anglers but are intelligent men; and so little envious is the true sportsman, that it will add to his enjoyment if you tell him of something requisite for his sport which he has not previously learned. I generally choose the month of May, for my annual ramble amongst the rivers and lakes of Ireland. May has something in it which reminds the old of young manhood, ere the "teens were passed. The air is bracing, and bears on its breath the odour of flowers. Each day becomes warmer as you hurry along to balmy delicious June, when all |