attended with the greatest success ; for (to use a modern phrase) we doubt very much whether European ducks would “have it." Wild fowl are exceedingly wary and mistrustful. They never alight without making sundry evolutions round the spot, and have videttes out to reconnoitre whether the enemy is lurking near them. The pumpkin “ dodge,” which Navarette and Wright both assert is practised in the duck hunts of the Celestial Empire, and by the Indians in Cuba in their wild goose chases, ought, as the saying is, to “ be told to the marines, the soldiers won't have it.” It may therefore be a good story for the Chinese marines ; but it won't do for the English fluviatiles."

The best situation for a decoy pool is near some marshy country. It ought to be surrounded by a wood or coppice, to prevent the wild fowl being frightened or disturbed in their quiet haunts. The pool ought to be about sixty yards square, with four pipes (as they are called) at each corner. These pipes, which get narrower, lead to a ditch that is closed with a funnel net. The pipes are covered on the top with a strong netting, and are protected on each side by screens made of reed, sufficiently high to prevent the decoy men being seen by the timid and wary birds. In each screen there are apertures made sufficiently large for the decoy men to command a view of the pool, and for the dog (to which we shall presently advert) to pass in and out through. As it sometimes happens that the wild fowl, having been allured a certain way through the pipes, get frightened, and attempt to fly back to their place of safety, Lord Fitzhardinge has invented and introduced a net which can be let down at a moment's notice, and which at once prevents the escape of the web-footed tribe. In order to induce the wild fowl to enter one of these pipes, certain tamed ducks or “ traitors” (as a French writer terms them) are trained to follow the whistle of the decoy man, or are led by a bribe of hemp, or some such seed that will float on the water. Should the above fail to attract the sleepy or dozing birds, a small dog, who has been taught his lesson, is made to pass backwards and forwards through the screens, lured on by the temptation of small pieces of cheese, and the wild fowl are easily led by this canine “ artful dodger” nearer and nearer to the funnel or purse net, until at last the decoy man shows himself behind a screen ; and the scared birds, rushing into the net, are taken. Sometimes the quadruped fails to attract (like many a biped) without the “ foreign aid of dress and ornament." He is then decorated with a scarlet handkerchief, or some fantastic suit, looking like Toby in that perfection of theatrical entertainments, Punch's puppet-show ; and in this eccentric costume he entices many a victim to instant destruction.

One of the finest decoy pools that I have seen in England is near Berkeley Castle, the property of the noble owner of that fine ancestral domain. The late Earl possessed one in 1783, and the present Lord had a new one made ; which now produces, both as to quantity and quality, the finest ducks in the country. The pool, which is situate on the verge of a wood, and within a short distance of the cottage of the decoy man, is more than sixty yards square ; the four pipes being in proper proportion. A most intelligent quadruped, of rather questionable breed, gives his able assistance in the capture of these birds. I never witnessed a more tractable animal, or one who lures his victims on to destruction with greater ease and nonchalance.

It has often been a matter of surprise to me that decoy pools have not been encouraged in Ireland, and that they should have diminished in our own country. Skelton, the best practical man upon the subject, remembers in Lincolnshire twelve or thirteen “ decoys” where now there are not two. Despite the mistaken mania for free-trade, I venture to affirm that at least in the article of “ ducks” there would be the greatest consumption of our home produce ; which, being generally fed on acorns and other nutritious substances, are as superior to the fishy Hollanders as English treble X ale is to the “ bonne bierre” of a provincial French cabaret. During my transatlantic travels I have tasted the justly-famed canvas-back duck of the United States ; and, good as it is, it cannot, according to my humble gastronomic knowledge, be compared to the produce of Lord Fitzhardinge's decoy.

Although the rising generation are equal to, if not superior to their predecessors as “ good shots,” we are inclined to think that the hardihood of the sporting community of the present day has in some degree degenerated. The modern introduction of the battue, added to a desire of filling the game-books, so that a flaming account of the day's “massacre" (as it ought strictly to be called) may appear in the provincial and London journals, has tended much to make the “ gunner" of eighteen hundred and fifty a very different sort of personage from that of the commencement of this century. Wild goose shooting has therefore in a great degree gone out of fashion. There are of course many exceptions to the general rule ; and among these may be mentioned the noble Earl, the truly sporting owner of Berkeley Castle, and others. A man, to follow this truly exciting pursuit, must, as the common parlance goes, “ be as hard as a nail.” He must be prepared to brave the bleak wintry cold, the soaking rain, the freezing snow, the pelting rain, the pitiless storm ; he must be satisfied to remain for many a dreary hour in a mud-hole, to lie down in a bed of rushes, or to adopt the modern water cure of being immersed in a wet ditch ; he must be prepared to face a regular east or nor'-wester in the marshes, to be exposed in an open boat, or to sit like Patience in a punt—when on his wild goose chace.

There are six sorts of the above birds which visit our country during the winter. The grey-leg, to which the common goose owes its origin ; the Bean, Brent, Barnacle, and the Anser Ruficollis and Albi. frons, so graphically described by Colonel Hawker. It would exceed the limits of this paper were we to enter into the different manners of shooting these « distinguished foreigners :" a perusal of the abovequoted author's work—“ Instructions to Young Sportsmen”—will give every insight into the mysteries; the gun to be used, the quantity of powder, the size of the shot, the nature of the wadding, the punt, canoe, and all the requisites for shooting per mare et terram.

Owing to the march of improvement, the dress recommended by the gallant Colonel can now be readily obtained at almost every town or village in the country. Over a warm woollen suit a tarpauling coat, an oilskin cap lined with flannel, and a pair of boots made by Mitchell of Norris-street, Haymarket, London, will enable the wearer to defy all weathers : in the absence of the latter a pair of fisherman's or Indianrubber overall boots will equally answer the purpose. In recommending the above-named tradesman we are not influenced by any invidious feeling: there may be others equally good ; but as we always like to speak well of the bridge that carries us safely over, we are bound to say that to our mind his “ waterproofs” cannot be dittoed- they preserve the feet from damp without producing the slightest perspiration. We have tried them in fresh and salt water, and can vouch for the fact.

As we write for every class of gunner, from the urchin schoolboy who makes sad havoc among the thrushes and black birds during the Christmas holidays, to the adventurous sportsman who on the plains of India does not rest satisfied until he has killed a dozen wild hogs, a man eating tiger, half-a-dozen bears, an equal number of antelopes, a couple of hyenas, a porcupine, and a bull nhilgie, we shall allude to a daring pastime, which faute de mieux, or from a love of variety, may interest the friends of the trigger ; we refer to sea-fowl shooting. The inclement isle of St. Kilda, the Bass Rock, and other rugged spots on the Scotch coast, are famed for the vast number and variety of these birds. Cormorants, gannets, ternes, gulls, literally swarm like bees throughout every fissure and cavity of the lofty rocks; while myriads may be seen flying over the hanging cliffs, the frightful precipices and promontories, which rise like mountains from the raging waters beneath. Inaccessible from below, these birds might enjoy an undisturbed security, were it not for the wily ways of slaughtering man, who has invented means to eject them from their peaceful homes.

We strongly recommend the gunner who visits St. Kilda, the Bass Rock, or any part of the Scottish coast, to provide himself with one of the adventurous inhabitants as a guide ; who will not only conduct him to the best spots, but direct him through the intricate and dangerous passes. A couple or three guns, and a quick loader, will prove a great advantage ; as the flocks of birds are “ prodigious !” After passing a few hours on terra firma (if such an expression can be applicable to the slippery steep cliffs), the sportsman may engage a boat, and have a day with the sea mews or common gulls. No sooner does one fall, than his feathered companions may be seen congregating round the dead body. A call or whistle, or an inanimate decoy, made of the head, legs, and wings of those carrion, will (we mean no pun) gull the rest into fanciful security, bringing them within the range of the heavy piece of ordnance that is necessary for this sport. A good shot may amuse himself very well with a rifle ; there being no better practice than at one of these sea-fowl on the wing or on the wave : the noise of the bullet whistling through the water intimates the good or bad direction of the marksman.

Since writing the above our attention has been attracted to an Edinburgh newspaper, The Post, which gives the following paragraph respecting duck shooting :-“ His Grace the Duke of Buccleugh and Lord John Scott visited Granton Pier on Wednesday, and about twelve o'clock embarked in a steam-tug for Cramond for the purpose of duck shooting. This sport is generally performed during the night ; and, to accomplish it successfully on the water, very light boats are necessary. Attached to the tug was what is called a ducking boat, made of the lightest materials, and half-covered (fore and aft) with painted canvas. Lord John Scott, we understand, has brought from England the celebrated duck-shooter Singer, so honourably mentioned by Colonel Hawker for his skill and powers of endurance. We have no doubt the sport has been commensurate with the skill of the sportsmen." Sincerely do we echo this wish. It is ever gratifying to find the nobles of the land supporting the sports of their ancestors ; and so long as they take part in our truly national and manly pastimes, so long will they deserve the well wishes of their countrymen. The poetical eulogium passed upon the family of the nobleman we have alluded to, by one of the most talented of his “ kith and kin," is a sentiment that will be responded to from John o'Groat's house to the Land's End :

“ May the forest still flourish, both borough and landward,

From the hall of the peer to the herd's ingle-nook;
And huzza ! my brave hearts, for Buccleugh and his standard,

For the Queen and the country, the clan and the Duke.
" Then up with the banner, let forest winds fan her,

She has blazed over Ettrick eight ages and more ;
In sport we'll attend her, in battle defend her,

With heart and with hand, like our fathers before."
A few words more before we conclude with the “ trigger."

The sport throughout England has been very great this season ; pheasants, partridges, hares, and woodcocks have been plentiful everywhere. In Scotland the general returns of grouse have not been so great as in former years, although the following account of the “ killed," which we extract from the Inverness Courier, proves that there has been considerable sport in the land of the heather. “ In Marr Forest, the Duke of Leeds and his party shot 93 stags, 40 hinds, and 15 roe deer. At Ardverikie, Lord Henry Bentinck shot 49 stags; and at Glenavon the same nobleman shot 22 in a fortnight, his friend killed 16 in the same time. On the Inverbroom moors and corries, A. K. George, Esq., bagged 270 brace of grouse, 7 stags, and 5 hinds; and at Glenbeg and Inverlail, Felix Pryor, Esq., and Mr. Pryor, shot 11 stags, 6 hinds, roe, and 200 brace of grouse. At Achintoul, John M. E. Jones, Esq, and S. D. Penrose, Esq., shot 12 stags and 2 hinds. F. U. Graham, Esq., at Fasnakyle, shot 11 stags ; and at Coigach, H. Brooke, Esq., shot 9 stags. Colonel Porter and friends shot, at Inchnacardoch, 12 red deer and about 30 roe. The Dundreggan party (Sir Henry Meux, Bart. ; Richard Arabin, Esq.; and Mr. Bateson) shot 17 stags, 2 hinds, 8 roe, 1,000 grouse, and 400 black game ; besides snipes, hares, ptarmigan, &c. From the Corrybroughmore Moors, C. H. Corbett, Esq., bagged 492 brace of grouse, and a number of hares, snipe, and partridges. On the Monar Hills, H. W. White, Esq., shot 8 stags and 3 hinds. On the Clune Moors, W. D. Philpott, Esq., Captain Musgrave, and C. Capel, Esq., bagged upwards of 500 brace of grouse, 51 brace of black game, 30 ditto of hares, 104 ditto of partridges, and a few snipe and wild fowl. At Strathconan, Mr. Balfour shot 17 stags, 3 hinds, a good bag of grouse and wild game; besides 7 roe and 300 hares. From Boleskine and Dunmaglass moors, J. S. Entwistle, Esq., got 400 brace of grouse. In Locharvon Forest, Sir Arthur Chichester, Bart., shot 20 red deer and 12 roe. Lord Vivian and Mr. Shafto Adair shot 953 head of grouse and black game, and 2 roe deer, at Knockie. At Torridon, Mr. Mackenzie shot 9 stags. On the Island of Harris, Campbell, of Jura, shot 43 red deer, mostly stags. On the Cromdale Moors, Mr. Bruce, of Kennet, and Archer Houblon, Esq., shot 1,004 head of grouse and black game.

TROUT FISHING AMONG THE BLACK MOUNTAINS.

MY DEAR PISCATOR,

You asked me in your last letter to give you some account of the streams which run from the Black Mountains. I take up my pen to do so with much pleasure, especially as the sport I met with may induce you, or some of your friends, to try their luck in the “gentle craft.” Should the weather, however, be unpropitious for fishing, the scenery will amply repay any one the trouble of a short tour among the mountains. I arrived by coach at Abergavenny April 1850, and thence got conveyed to Llanfihangel Crugcorney, four miles on the Hereford road. There is a very nice inn here, called the Skyrrid, or Holy Mountain, so named from the mountain Skyrrid Fawr, which rises close to it. It is asserted that no insects live on the top of it: and I was told that when any Roman Catholic happened to die, some of the earth from the top of the mountain was placed in the coffin. The ascent is not difficult; and a most magnificent view is obtained in clear weather from its summit. A vessel can be seen with the naked eye in the Bristol Channel. The inn is kept by very nice people of the name of Thomas, who attended to my wants with much comfort to myself and my purse, for I found their charges very reasonable ; my room neat and cleanly ; and, in fact, all that I could desire. This is the best centre point for fishing, as all the streams run within easy distance. The Honddu is not 200 yards from the inn-door. This brook, as it comes first, I will first describe, and in so doing I will take it from the furthest point I fished up, which is a couple of miles from its source, Capel-y-Fin; there we will start from, which is on the borders of Brecknockshire, Monmouthshire, and Herefordshire. A little brook, called the Bwch, joins the Honddu, and makes it a very pretty stream, with plenty of stickles running into deep pools. The trout are numerous, and on a good day I have no doubt a moderate fisherman could catch from twenty to thirty brace. It is very bushy, and the fish are shy ; but when they are on the move they make up for it. I found the great red spinner, the March brown, and the cockwing blue, the best flies for April. The last day or so I killed a few with the cockobonddu and the sandfly. There is scarcely a bit of dead water the whole of the course of this brook, brawling over large rocks, but with no cascades. About three miles from Capel-y-fin Llanthony Abbey is situated. I need not describe this to you, as it must be well known to you and every tourist. There is an inn established in part of the ruins, where travelling tourists and fishermen stop; but I should recommend Llanfihangel, as being cheaper, more comfortable, and nearer the centre of action. The brook, about two miles below Llanthony, passes through a most beautiful valley, with woods on one side and the bleak Darren, or Landslip of Cwmyoy, on the other, with the Black Mountain, Mynydd Duu, towering over it. It is a place to be seen to be admired ; and once seen, never to be forgotten. The streams in the Honddu are here wider and longer, and the fish are much larger, though not so numerous. I may note here that the fish seldom exceed half a pound, at least, with the