thirteen points, which, with the various
other points played by A and B, complete the
game, or sixty-one points ; while C and D
have only been able to play twenty-four points.
Thus the game is won by A and B without
holding a single point.
ATTACHMENT OF ANIMALS.
The attachment formed by animals, from
living together, have produced some remark-
able facts. Feeling has been evinced by those
reckoned most insensible, and even the
strongest laws of nature have been set aside.
The cobra di capello and the canary bird, who
for years, inhabited the same cage at Mr.
Cross's, Exeter Change, are strong instances
of the latter ; but my communication more
particularly alludes to the former. When I
lived in Paris, they were two remarkably fine
ostriches, male and female, kept in the Ro-
tunda of the Jardiu du Roi. The skylight
over their heads having been broken, the
glaziers proceeded to repair it, and, in the
course of their work, let fall a triangular piece
of glass. Not long after this, the female
ostrich was taken ill, and died after an hour
or two of great agony. The body was opened
and the throat and stomach were found to
have been dreadfully lacerated by the sha p
corners of the glass which she had swallowed.
From the moment his companion was taken
from him, the male bird had no rest : he ap-
peared to be incessantly searching for some-
thing, and daily wasted away. He was
moved from the spot, in the hope that he would
forget his grief ; he was even allowed more
liberty, but nought availed, and he literally
pined himself to death. I heard of a curious*
expedient the other day, which prevented a
similar catastrophe, and which has led me to
address you : A gentleman, residing in this
country, had for some years been possessed of
two brown cranes (Ardea pavonia) ; one of
them at length died, and the survivor became
disconsolate. He was apparently following
his companion, when his master introduced a
large looking-glass into the aviary. The bird
no sooner beheld his reflected image than he
fancied she for whom he mourned had re-
turned to him ; he placed himself close to the
mirror, plumed his feathers, and showed every
sign of happiness. The scheme answered
completely, the crane recovered his health and
spirits, passed almost all his time before the
looking-glass, and lived many years after, at
length dying from an accidental injury.
The FALCONER and (soi-disant) CHAPLAIN.
" There was a pleasant story of old lord
Cottington (observes Mr. Leigh Hunt, in his
novel of Sir Ralph Esher), which Hyde has
been heard to relate, and the particulars of
which were told me by a gentleman who was on
the spot. The king, during his stay abroad,
was going to make Mr. Wyndham secretary
of state, for no better reason than that his mo-
ther had been the royal nurse. Cottington
went to his majesty, and begged his attention
for a few moments to the merits of a worthy
person of his acquaintance, for whom he had
to solicit a favor ' Let us have 'em my lord,'
said the king, l and you know if I can oblige
the man I will. It is not money, I hope ?'
' Nay, sir, had it been money,' answered the
lord treasurer,' I should have begged a little
for myself, to give some colour to my title ;
not to mention other reasons, which (God be
praised) occasionally make every body merry
but the baker. It is a much lighter matter on
which I come to your majesty, though of great
importance to the poor man.' ' Who is he, Cot-
tington ?' returned the king ; ' a poor man not
wanting money, is a marvel I wou-ld fain be ac-
quainted with. He is the only wild fowl of Ll*
103
PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.
species, and must partake of the nature of the
bird of paradise, which, they say, lives upon
air. Pray let him take me along with him.'
* Your majesty/ resumed Cottington, ' has
hit wonderfully upon two points in the man's
fortune ; one that concerns his present estate ;
and one that touches, it is to be hoped, upon
his future. Sir, it is of Mr. Wood, an old
falconer of his late majesty, whose humble
petition I have now to make known to you.
He is a man extremely well versed in his art,
having followed it from his youth upwards, to
the great content of his late blessed majesty ;
and, I believe I may add, of his majesty's
successor.' i Old Wood,' said the king, ' I
know him well, and a good brisk old fellow
he was. He would toss up a lure in a second,
that one might have taken for a partridge
oneself/ ' Well, sir, he can do as much now.
I do not believe there is a man of his art
breathing who is better acquainted with the
quality and mettle of his hawks, or more tho-
roughly experienced in all which they affect,
or whatsoever suits their individual natures.
He seems to know what sort of relish to give
their food, by the very feel of their beaks
tinder his finger.' * He must be a proper fal-
coner indeed/ said the king/ * Truly is he,
sir ; and as his knowledge, so is his care.
No man waters or bathes his hawks with more
I had almost said fatherly attention ; nor
feeds and looks to their cleaning with a more
happy result.' ' Nay, he's something like the
son of a hawk, if you come to that/ said
Charles. ' His own beak, I suppose, by one
of sir Kenelm's sympathies, helps him to a
knowledge and consideration of all other
beaks/ 4 A shrewd quip, i' faith/ said Cot-
tington, laughing ; ' and a pity it is that sir
Ken elm, with his stately discourses, heard it
not. But, sir, to be serious with regard to
this poor man : money is not his most pressing
want ; if it were, he would forego the men-
tion of it, like a good subject; but he is
mightily desirous of being serviceable to your
majesty in another way ; and, therefore, in
pursuance of what I have partly stated, I must
add, that there is not a better caterer or coper
of his birds 'twixt this and the land's end ;
none that can cut a pounce with a more mas-
terly nicety, or better provide against dulness
and overgrowth in the beak. He is, further-
more, one of those who scorn to have too many
fowls on hand, being as active as a youth in
taking them in due season ; and, for reclaiming
and keeping his hawk on the fist, I never
met, not only with his equal, but with any
man who could stand by him.' ' Well, my
lord/ said the king, ' I know your love of the
sport, and fully credit your zeal in behalf of
the fowler ; and now what is it I am to do ?
for you know these are not the times or places
tor adding to the list of our servants ; nine-
tenths of whom, as it is, have nothing to do/
Tis true, sir/ replied Cottington, 'but, if
your majesty will pardon my zeal in behalf of
an old brother sportsman, to whom I have
been indebted for many a day's jollity, I may
take the freedom of reminding you that there
is a vacancy in the list of your majesty's chap-
lains, the filling up of which with the name
of my honest friend, would make the poor
man happy for life/ * The list of chaplains,
my lord treasurer!' exclaimed the king;
* surely I would not stand upon niceties
but a chaplain and a falconer ''Forgive m,
my dear liege/ interrupted Cottington, with
imperturbable gravity, ' but knowing your
liberality in such matters, and hearing from
persons of good credit that your majesty was
about to confer the secretaryship of state on
worthy Mr. Wyndham, I thought I would
make a bold face and lose no time in endea-
vouring at some preferment for the no less
deserving Mr. Wood. He will soon learn to
read, if, in truth, he does not possess that ac-
complishment already, for I think I have seen,
him perusing an almanac ; and, in the progress
of a few days, I doubt not he will be quite as
able to further your majesty's interests in the
way I speak of, as Mr. Wyndharn in his more
exalted station/ The king, at this discourse,
is said to have looked more disconcerted than
he had shown himself on more trying occasions.
He blushed, then laughed, then blushed
again ; and finally settled the pretensions of
both Mr. Wyndham and Mr. Wood, by ob-
serving, ' Odsfish ! my lord, you have dealt
me a hard knock ; but I suppose it was out
of love, seeing that I was going to do a foolish
thing ; and so I'll not be so foolish as to per-
sist in it/ "
THE CANARY BIRD.
The history of our various singing birds is
wonderful and amusing ; and none less so than
that of the Canary. This little bird, so highly
esteemed for its song ; reared with so much
care, particularly by the fair sex ; and which
affords such innocent amusement to those who
are fond of the wild notes of nature, is a na-
tive of those islands from which it takes its
name. It was not known in England till the
fifteenth century ; consequently, no account
of it is to be met with in any of the works of the
old ornithologists. Bellon,who about the year
1555 described all birds then known, does not
so much as mention it. At that period the
breed was brought from the Canary islands.
It was so dear that it could only be purchased
by people of fortune, and these were often
imposed upon. It was originally called the
sugar bird, because it was so fond of the
sugar cane, which circumstance has caused
some surprise among naturalists sugar being
poison to many fowls. Experiments have
shown that a pigeon, to which four drachms of
sugar were given, died in four hours ; and
that a duck, which had swallowed five
drachms, did not live seven hours after,
It was only in the middle of the sixteenth
century that these birds began to be bred in
PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.
Europe ; and the following circumstance, re-
lated by Olina, seems to have been the occa-
sion of it : A vessel which, among other
commodities, ,vas carrying a quantity of
Canary birds to Leghorn, was wrecked on the
coast of Italy; and these birds, being thus setat
liberty, Hew fo the nearest land, which was the
Island of Elba, where they found the climate
so favorable that they multiplied, and would
have become domesticated, had they not been
caught in snares, and divers other ways, for
sale ; and the breed of them there has long
since been extinct.
The breeding of these birds was at first
attended with great difficulty, as the treatment
they required was not known ; but vast num-
bers are now bred in England of the pure breed,
as well as a great quantity of handsome mule
birds, chiefly from the cross of the green lin-
net, whose original note surpasses that of all
the linnet variety. It was at one time sup-
posed that those birds bred on the Canary
Islands were much better singers than those
reared in England, but this does not ap-
pear to be the case.* As the male parrot
is much superior in his colour and plumage
to the female, so is the cock Canary bird.
The hen birds sometimes sing, but they are
much inferior in the strength of their notes
to the males ; neither is their plumage so
gay. The form of them, however, is singu-
larly symmetrical and elegant.
In former times various treatises were pub-
lished, in various languages, on the mode of
rearing Canary birds ; and many persons
made it a trade, acquiring considerable for-
tunes by it. In the Tyrol there is a company,
who, after the breeding season is over, send
out persons to different parts of Germany and
Switzerland to purchase birds from those who
breed them. Great numbers of these are sent
to England, where, considering the distance
they are brought from, they are sold at a cheap
rate.
The principal food of these birds is a plant
called Canary seed, first supposed to have
been brought for this purpose from the Canary
Islands to Spain, and from thence dispersed
all over Europe. In some botanical works
this plant is laid down as Phalaris Canari-
ensis, and is supposed to be the phalaris men-
tioned by Pliny. A great quantity of it is
now sown in England, particularly in the
Island of Thanet, and is sold in the London
market at from 50s. to 70s. per quarter.
THE FRENCHMAN AND THE CLERICAL HORSE-
DEALER.
A complaint, which caused a great deal of
conversation in Bath, was made by a French
gentleman, named Lafu, against a clergyman
who resides in the neighbourhood of that city,
and who is remarkable for dealing very pro-
fitably in horses. The magistrates applied to
See Hanington'fl Paper in Philos. Traas., Vol.
LXI1I p. 340
on the occasion recommended that the circum-
stances should be stated in a court of law,
after having the following account from the
lips of the Frenchman. " I go to buy ahorse
from him, and he ask me forty guinea. I say
no, by Gar, I no give that. Well, say the
clergyman, I tell you what ; you shall have
him for thirty-five guinea ; but, d n my eye,
you shall no have him less."
Magistrate. You could not think of dealing
with a clergyman who was so ready to swear.
Frenchman. Owz, I did : I thought a cler-
gyman would not swear any thing but true ;
so I paid him the money. Well, I got upon
him, and he go beautiful. Then I put him
up in the Bell's stables, and I ride him next
day, but he go upon three leg ; so I put him
up again, but he still go upon three leg, and
then I gave him a doctor ; but, by Gar, he
walk upon his knee, and so I say, if you walk
upon your knee, I do not walk upon your
back. Magistrate. You mean that the horse
was unsound ? Frenchman. Owi, he got the
gout. Magistrate. The gout ! horses don't get
the gout. Frenchman. But he was a clergy-
man's horse, and they both have the gout. The
horse's leg was swelled, and so was the mas-
ter's. Magistrate. Well, I suppose you sent
back the horse ? Frenchman. No ; the cler-
gyman said, d n his eye, he'd no have him ;
but I ask Mr. Bell to buy him for thirty-five
guinea ; but he said no, I not give you more
than five pound ; so I keep him in the stable
twelve week, and then I send him to be sold ;
and what do you think I got ? Magistrate.
Why, perhaps five pounds. Frenchman. No,
by Gar, I got fifteen pound. Magistrate.
Well, I think you received more than you had
a right to expect, in your transactions with
this worthy clergyman. Frenchman. Re-
ceive ! Why, I receive nothing. I got the
fifteen pound to pay for the dinner. Magis-
trate. For dinner? Frenchman. Oui. For
my horse's dinner for the twelve week in Mr.
Bell's stable. The unfortunate Frenchman
thus lost, by his dealing with the reverend
horse-jockey, no less than fifty pounds.
THE MISER SPORTSMAN " SERVED OUT !"
A gentleman residing in the neighbourhood
of Taunton, who is notorious for the strictness
with which he guards his preserves, was visit-
ing at the house of a friend, where he was
introduced to a third gentleman, an utter
stranger to him. In the course of conversa-
tion this latter personage, who affected con-
siderable effeminacy and dandyism, intimated
that he was very desirous of enjoying a day's
shooting, at which sport, however, he was a
mere tyro. The man of preserves looked at
the querist, and, in an unusual fit of gene-
rosity, promised a day's pleasure. Accord
ingly, it was agreed that on the next morning
he should breakfast with him at his seat, and
thence he would accompany him to his covers.
Morning came, and with it our sportsman,
110
PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.
dressed, not in the usual shooting gear, but
in a full ball dress, with dancing shoes instead
of boots. His host stared, though rejoicing
that nothing more formidable was about to be
introduced into his preserves. The meal con-
cluded, he takes him to the window. " There
is the cover ; I regret that I cannot accompany
you." (Had he been an evident sportsman,
he would have followed him like one of his
own pointers.) The dandy went, and, lo !
proved to be an unfailing marksman. The
birds rose, and fell as quickly, until the keeper
spied him demanded his name rushed to
his master. " He has my permission, John ;
the pumps and silk stockings will only frighten
the birds a little, aha !" " Why, Lord bless
me, sir, he's knocking 'em down right and
left he's killed a bushel." Away runs the
astonished owner the stranger had already
killed five hares, twenty pheasants, and two
cocks. Enraged, the owner eyes his mar-
tyred friends an explanation ensues the
never-missing shot is warned off the manor
pumps, silk stockings, and all. It was Cap-
tain M , a celebrated sporting character.
A SPORTSMAN OF THE OLD SCHOOL.
Mr. Harry Smith, who died in Heather's
Buildings, in the East Pallant, Chichester,
at the age of eighty-four. The above veteran
was well known by the appellation of ' The
'Squire." He was a complete sportsman of
the Old School skilful in the use of the
cross and long bows, and at all athletic exer-
cises an adept at the single stick and quar-
ter-staff, which last he would, till lately, turn
with astonishing celerity. A well known fact
of his prowess in the last-named exercise we
subjoin: In the year 1779, a serjeant of
Elliot's Light Horse being then in Chicbester,
and who was reputed one of the best swords-
men of the day, challenged his sword against
" the 'squire's" staff, to draw the first blood ;
many are living who saw the encounter ;
when at the expiration of four minutes, " the
'squire" gave his adversary the end of his staff
in his forehead, which laid him flat on his
back, and gained the victory. The stall',
which is seven feet ten inches in length, is
now preserved, and has thirteen cuts of the
sword in it.
THE OTTER.
It is well known that he is now become, in
Great Britain, very scarce ; so much so, in-
deed, that one is rarely met with, and scarcely
any establishment for hunting him at present
exists in England. The otter may be fol-
lowed occasionally with harriers, but the otter
hound, of which mention is made in several
old publications on the subject of field-sports^
is no where to be met with. Yet though
these antiquated tomes speak at some length
on the subject of otter hunting, they are, ne-
vertheless, silent as to the peculiar character-
istics of the dogs in question : hence, w
might reasonably conclude that, at a period
not very remote, these hounds were very well
known, though the mode of producing them
now appears to be wrapped in the scarf of
oblivion. Though the chase of the otter is not
likely to become prevalent in England, yet
information relative to field-sports must al-
ways be interesting to the true sportsman ;
and, perhaps, some one among the number of
your numerous and intelligent readers may
be induced to favour us with a description of
the dog formerly used for this purpose. The
following is an account of the mode of catch-
ing sea-otters on the north-east coast of
America.
In the first place, it may not be amiss to
observe that the Russians have, for some
years, carried on a very considerable trade in
furs procured from that coast, which princi-
pally consist of the skins of the sea-otter.
For taking these animals, the Russians retain
in their service many of the native inhabitants
of the coast just mentioned, a number of whom
proceed together in separate bidarkas;* and,,
as any of the party perceives an otter, he
throws his arrow (or small harpoon) at it, and
pulls to the place where it plunges. He here
stations his boat, and then lilts up his oar
The rest of the hunters, on observing the
signal, form a circle round it: and, the mo-
ment the animal shows its head above water,
he that is nearest throws his arrow, and then
hastens to the spot where the otter again dis-
appeared ; while the hunter, by raising his
oar, again exhibits the signal for a second
circle to form. In this manner the chase con-
tinues, till the animal, exhausted by fatigue,
as well as loss of blood, which incessantly
flows from repeated wounds, is, at length,
taken. If, at the commencement of the chase,
the prey happens to receive a serious wound,
he is quickly captured ; but it sometimes-
occurs that twenty bidarkas are employed
half a day in taking a single otter. This
animal will sometimes tear the arrow from its
body with its teeth, for the purpose of effect-
ing its escape, which, however, seldom hap-
pens, and is almost impossible, as the Cadiack
people, exercised from childhood to this species
of the chase, are not only very expert at it,
but are able to ascertain the course of the
otter under-water. In fine weather, this is
known by the bubbles which appear on the
surface ; while, in rough weather, the otter
always directs his course against the wind.
When a female otter happens to be attacked,,
in company with her young one, the mother
immediately clasps the young one with her
fore feet, and plunges beneath the surface.
However, as the cub is not able to remain
* A kind of small boat, peculiar to that part
world.
PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.
Ill
long under water, she is under the necessity
of rising again very soon, and of thus exposing
herself to the darts of her pursuers. It some-
times happens, that the hunters come upon-
the female by surprise, and separate her from
her young one, in which case the cub is sure
to be taken immediately; but the mother no
sooner hears its cries than she swims to the
very bidarka from which they proceed, and,
regardless of all danger, shares the fate of her
little complaining captive. If the female has
two cubs, which is sometimes the case, she
will destroy one herself, in order that she may
be able to devote her whole attention to the
protection of the other.
When a sea-otter is killed, the hunters ex-
press their triumph by a general shout.
The first plunge, or dive, of that animal ex-
ceeds a quarter of an hour; the second is of
shorter duration, the third still shorter ; and
thus the intervals gradually diminish till, at
last, it can plunge no more. These creatures
sometimes swim on their sides, at other times
on their backs, or in an upright position.
When attacked, they make no resistance, but
endeavour to save themselves by flight;
where, however, they see no means of escape,
they will scold and grin like an angry cat.
On receiving a blow from a club, they turn
on their side, draw up their hind legs, cover
their eyes with their fore-paws, and thus
seem to prepare themselves for death.
The sea-otter is much larger than the com-
mon otter. It is about four feet in length, of
which the tail occupies about thirteen inches;
and the largest weigh from seventy to eighty
pounds.
SPORTING ANECDOTE OF THE LATE LORD
NELSON.
Lord Nelson had been shooting one day
near Palermo, and on his return he and Cap-
tain Hood came down to a small creek, where
only one boat lay, in which was a boy. Nel-
son enquired if the boy could shove them on
board the flag-ship, for which he would pay
him well. The lad did not know him in his
shooting-jacket, and said he was waiting for
his master, who belonged to a merchant brig,
and he had orders not to stir from the beach,
so he could not do it. " Let us take the boat
by force," said Hood, " the owner will not
dare to grumble." " For that very reason I
won't allow it. I have marked the boy down
for a good one," was Nelson's answer ; u I
would rather swim on board, at the risk of
being drowned, than do an unjust and tyran-
nical act to one who dare not resent it. Here,
boy, is a dollar for so well obeying your mas-
ter's orders." The master came down at the
time, and the sportsmen were accommodated
with a shove alongside ; and when the boat-
swain's whistle, four sidesmen, and marines
under arms, announced it was the admiral,
both master and boy were alarmed ; and the
fcrmer was still more astonished at his great
condescension when Nelson sang out" tumble
up, messmate. You shall partake of our
sport to-day, be it bad or good ; and a glass
of grog into the bargain !"
SHARK FIGHT. BY AN EYE-WITNESS, A.
NATIVE OF CALCUTTA.
In the month of May, an instance of intre-
pidity and dexterity, on the part of an up-
country native, well worthy of being recorded,
occurred lately in this neighbourhood. I wa*
walking on the bank of the river at the time
when some up-country boats were delivering
their cargoes. A considerable number of
Coolies were employed on shore in the work,
all of which I observed running away in ap-
parent trepidation from the edge of the water
returning again, as if eager, yet afraid, to ap-
proach some object, and again returning as
before. I found, on inquiry, that the cause of
all this perturbation was the appearance of a
large and strange-looking fish, swimming close
to the bank, and almost in the midst of the
boats. I hastened to the spot to ascertain the
matter, when I perceived a huge monster of a
shark sailing along now near the surface of
the water, and now sinking down apparently