thorns, and the only way to get well through the woods is to have your shooting-jacket faced with very strong fustian, and the front of your trousers faced with the same material. The woods are so very extensive that it is quite impossible to beat them with any chance of success, without you make a party from eight to ten, and by placing your guns round the covert before beating commences, there is every chance of a good day's sport; as you may have the luck to get shots at boar, deer, jackall, hare, woodcock, and also the large buzzard, which is a noble bird, viewed, as he always may be, in this wild country. Good dogs are always in great request at Corfu, and fortunate is the man who possesses two or three couple of hard-working spaniels. We had a rare lot of good beaters on one of the days I was out shooting at Fetlia—no less than a dozen or more sailors belonging to H.M.S. Vanguard, which was then stationed at Corfu ; they went to work in earnest. I cannot do better than describe a day's sport, to give some idea of the excitement that prevails when a wild boar or deer is started, and perhaps killed. As soon as the yacht or boat, as the case may be, touches the shore, out jump the dogs, giving tongue for joy. Gups are loaded forthwith, and then we proceed to business. We enter the wood ; in a few minutes “mark cock” is heard, and then "bang, bang”—"mark mark” again. " Hollo” cries one, " why did'nt you fire ?” “Oh!” answers another. "I'm for boar and deer, I'm only loaded with ball !” We advance, the excitement increases every minute ; wild and jealous shots are told to “hold hard," when “mark” is again heardpresently a view halloo is given, and a cry of “a wild boar,” “a pig, a pig," which said halloo drives the blood through one's veins at something like railroad pace. “Look out," "mark right," "mark left, four deer as I'm alive !" and at the same moment, perhaps, “mark to the right, three pigs, an old one, and two young ones with her!”. Crack goes a rifte! bang goes a trusty gun, with “ who-whoop!”--the deed is done, a mighty one has fallen!“who-whoop," “ who-whoop” is heard, and every one makes his way as fast as he can to do honour to the fallen monster-a large wild boar has been killed with slugs-now out comes a long hunting-knife. the animals throat is cut, he is placed on the back of one of the beaters, and sent to the boat. Perhaps now the flask goes round; and then on we go again, delighted to think that a wild boar has been brought to book, and each sportsman hoping that he may have the same good luck before the close of the day.

Bravo! Squire !-a ticklish shot through the trees, and the old gentleman carries off a deal of ammunition, too.

But it is Master Bang's turn now; and Scylla and Charybdis between them make but short work of it. Next to a good shot, nothing tells more in cover-shooting than a good retriever. Many a hard-hit

bird will be left to die by inches, instead of coming gloriously to bag, but for these opportune services. Like a clever hack, however, a good retriever is rather a difficult thing to define ; while some people seem to fancy that so long as you have a horse for the one, or a dog for the other, the end is accomplished. For our own part, indeed, we do not bow to the fashion that suffers only such dogs to retrieve as by common acceptation are held to look like retrievers. For water you may want the amphibious cross, perhaps ; but any man with a temper may teach almost any dog with a nose to play his part at the fetch-and-carry business.

- We have all our prejudices. Every Englishman has a right to many. One of mine is to think a regular retriever positively not worth his keep, if one of your setting dogs will retrieve. However, I acknowledge that a good retriever, which does not refuse to come in when signalled to, without being called to, is very useful when you shoot in cover with beaters ; but even then he should not be the idle rascal one generally sees. He should be broken-in to hunt close to you, like a mute spaniel. I grant this is somewhat difficult to accomplish, but it can be effected. I have seen it; and if it be practicable, it is at least worth the trial; for if you succeed, you make one dog do the duty of two. You will thus obtain in the course of a season many a shot which your other dogs-especially in hot weather-would pass over; and if the retriever hunts quite close to you, he can in no way annoy the other dogs, or interfere with them-for I take it for granted he will be so obedient as to come in to heel the instant he gets your signal."

Colonel Hutchinson is our authority here. From his entertaining and instructive little work, “ Dog-Breaking,” we borrow another hint or so on the same theme :

“ Though you may not wish your young pointer (or setter) to retrieve, still you would do well to teach him, whilst he is a puppy, to fetch and deliver into your hands anything soft. You may occasionally throw it for him, or leave it behind you in some place, where he will have observed you deposit it, while he is following at your heels. If you practise him in this, you will probably find him, years hence, occasionally bringing you some dead bird he may come across, and which you otherwise might have imagined you had missed, for its scent might be too cold, and consequently too changed, for the dog to have thought of regularly pointing it. I have observed it was something soft which you should teach your dog to fetch and carry. Probably you have seen a retriever taught to seek and bring a stone, upon which, in a delicate manner, the tutor has spit. Does it not stand to reason that this must have tended to give his pupil a hard mouth? When your dog has picked up what you desired, endeavour to make him run to you quickly. Many who teach a dog to fetch and carry, praise and encourage him while he was bringing what he was sent after. Clearly that is an error. It induces the dog to loiter and play with it. He thinks he is lauded for having it in his mouth, and carrying it about. Reserve your encomiums and caresses until he has delivered it into your hands."

LITERATURE.

THE COMIC ALMANACK FOR 1853. London : Bogue, Fleet-street.

Under the strong impression that the condition of the laughing philosopher is by no means an unenviable one, this little Olio may be considered as an auxiliary to such a happy consummation. Cruikshank, as usual, wields the pencil, and pen too ; less of the latter, perhaps, would not diminish the effect of the plates. “Look on this picture, and on this,” philosopher of the world, and then confess your disposition to enjoy “ a happy New Year.”

such a happy co less of the latteris picture,

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS OF THE METROPOLIS.

"We belong to the uopopular family of Tell-truths, and would not flatter Apollo for his lyre."---Rob Roy.

N. You are quite wrong ; nothing worthy of notice at any of the theatres before Christmas, indeed! Now, my friend, mount your chapeau, and jump into the Brougham, and you shall see what you shall see.

M. By all that's great-glorious and free, I will add, if it please you--i never could have supposed that JULLIEN'S PROMENADE CoxCERTS would act so powerfully in herding humanity together. Why, I never beheld such a dense mass in Drury LANE ; no, not even at a great Protection Meeting.

N, Out of order, you must not institute comparisons, particularly at such a time as this, when Protection

“Oh ! no, we never mention it !" M. What an orchestra ; what a singer, fair Anna Zerr! Queen of Night, your florid execution is most charming. What a house ! what nectar for the Gods--and Goddesses too-provided in those comfortablo lounging-rooms. What journals, magazines, and reviews; what readers, and what a Leader. Oh! Jullien !

“ None but himself could be his parallel.” America should make much of you ; for search all the world around, it would be difficult to find one who studies the public's taste to such a degree.

N. Listen to Beethoven's sublime symphony, and if you've music in

M. I know the rest, my fides Achates. Here now, I can “ dance all night till —" to the “ English Quadrille."