THE SPORTSMAN AND HIS DOG. WHEN on a visit some years since to one of the most noble-hearted of English Noblemen, and I may truly add one of the best of English Sportsmen, at his romantic Shooting Castle, situated in one of the most beautiful of the Highland glens, the subject of conversation turned on a French Sporting Work written by M. E. Blazé, entitled Le Chasseur au Chien d'Arrêt. At the period to which I allude, I had neither the time nor inclination to peruse the book, and was, consequently, unable to give any opinion as to its merits as a Sporting Work, or of its general interest to the reader. Circum B stances, however, which would be uninteresting to the public, induced me some months since to recur to the subject of the book in question, which was most kindly forwarded for my perusal. I therein found so much. excellent matter as regards the truest natural history, and such thoroughly good sporting notions, intermixed with so many amusing anecdotes so well and so piquantly told, that I humbly ventured to translate the whole into English, with the assurance that such portions of it as may not be acceptable to the experienced sportsman as a matter of interest, could not fail to be so to the inexperienced, who will gain therefrom abundant and excellent information, from which he will be enabled to put theory into practice. To M. E. Blaze, who I sincerely trust still lives and sports, I have only one apology to make, viz. that my pen can scarcely convey to the English reader a faithful opinion of the merits or the ability with which this work is written, inasmuch as it is almost impossible for any translation to embrace the numerous interesting anecdotes with which it abounds in the same witty and pleasing style of which his own language admits. The fact, however, of its having found a translator who is most truly devoted to field sports of every kind, and that that translation has been admitted among the pages of the most widely-circulated sporting work in the most sporting country of Europe, must be a pleasing proof to him of the interest and value of his work, and I have only to add, in his own words:" Et ce n'est point un livre ordinaire: il vous enseigne l'art de vous amuser; il vous donne un plaisir de tous les jours; la joie, le bonheur, la santé dans ce monde, et par-dessus le marché la vie éternelle dans l'autre : c'est ce que je vous souhais." TAKING THE FIELD. "Enfin ce jour pompeux, cet heureux jour nous duit." CORNEILLE. AT length the sun rises on the long wished-for day: all is ready. The law permits war against the partridges. The hare, quiet in her form, which believed itself in peace with man, will see that peace. was only a truce, which truce is ended. Ah! how many unfortunate partridges and rabbits will this day quit the delightful shade of the clover for the burning air of the kitchen! How many quails, on the wing for Africa and Asia, will find their intentions frustrated! Alas, having fattened themselves, the better to withstand the chances of the voyage, their plump and yellowed breasts will serve to satisfy the sensuality of gourmands! God created them to be eaten at the second course, and they submit to their destiny. Some, wanting taste, dare to eat them at the first; but I shall in a moment prove to them it is a grave error; in the meantime be careful not to imitate them. An amiable philosopher, M. Anthony Deschamps, put to me the following question: "Do you believe that man is permitted to kill a partridge?" "Unquestionably," said I, "in the shooting-season, having a license, and on ground where none can dispute his right." "You do not understand me: I ask you if you believe that, notwithstanding the three conditions you have named, man is justified in destroying a partridge, an animal which God has created?" "Most undoubtedly but on the condition that he eats it also." "You believe, then, one may fearlessly eat a partridge ?" "Certainly, when cooked to perfection." Pythagore, bishop of St. Peter's, said otherwise I am aware of it; so much the worse for them; they ought to be pitied. Listen to me: I admit the dilemma: either we ought to eat partridges, or they should |