over to the quantity of stinking breath which was issued to hail the fall of an animal so restricted in its means of defence, and so whelmed by numbers. The bear, boar, and wolf were worse than ridiculous; the second, in my judgment, had never munched chestnuts in leafy Ardennes; and as for the last, the poor starved gaunt wretch would not fight, and could not run. The jackass made best play, for, finding himself beset on all sides, he fairly fought his way, braying with all his might, to a corner of the arena, when his heels were so well employed that he kept his enemies at bay for a considerable time; nor was he pulled down till the greater number had received such tokens of his vigour, as for some days to disqualify their grinders for satisfactory service. Poor Neddy, however, was finally vanquished, and with difficulty saved from death. To show the extreme tenacity of hold which these dogs possess, the following exhibition was made. A rope being reeved through a block 20 feet off the the ground, one end was put into the month of a large dog, who seized it, and by his hold was raised to the block: on nearing this point a number of fireworks previously placed there ignited, but produced no effect upon the dog, who did not relax his gripe till he was lowered to the ground. I could not ascertain how he was made to do so at last, for, as he was surrounded, secured, and led away by half-a-dozen men the moment he alighted, I could not see whether his tail was classically bitten, à l'Anglaise. were Thus ended the sports of the day. Shortly afterwards returning to England, I took the opportunity of a dirty April day, when the streets were redolent of that black, soapy mud to be found in London alone, to pay a visit to my old friend Ben White (a character introduced to you some time since, by a correspondent), for the purpose of seeing what he had at home, and to have a chaff upon the way in which the thing was done by the Frenchmen. Ben was busy in his pit. The door was therefore opened by little Annie, who no sooner twigged me than she shouted out, "Eh, feyther, here's Mr. Lee come," and started at tiptop speed to procure a pot of heavy from the public. As I required no introduction (after casting an eye at the beautiful animals which occupied the kennels in the front court), I put my finger on the latch, and entered the little parlour, where I found the "ould mother as I at first thought "on hospitable cares intent," but on nearing her discovered that her position on the hearth was one of watch and ward, where she maintained a sort of armed neutrality between two bull-dogs, whose heads, ears, and throats bore evident marks of a recent and serious conflict, whilst their deep growls evinced a strong disposition then and there to try the thing over again. This inclination was repressed by "ould mother" with an argument which there was no resisting, for as she ever and anon found soothing words ineffectual, by way of a rod of Empire she wielded a red hot poker, of the effects of which her canine subjects seemed so well aware that they shrunk back to the utmost limits of their chains, and ceased their thundering menaces."Them dogs is so cantankerous arter a fit," was uttered as a sort of apology for not having attended the door, and Ben forthwith summoned. The old fellow's "welcome home from furren parts" was most hearty; but when he had heard how things were done in SIR, Yours, &c., JOHN LEE. Who can stay his proud career, Who can hope his tusks to gain? Pledge me those who oft have won Tuskied trophies from the foe, Who, on Peeplah's steepy height, Long may Nuggur's children stand Foremost in the ranks of fame, WILL. HONEYCOMB. Nuggur, May 20th. FLORIKEN. In last number your your correspondent Lincoln has fafa voured us with a few remarks upon the floriken, which I shall support (if you will find me a place) with some of my own, as I have in my time shot a few of those birds. The scene of my sport was the Northern Mahratta country, and there I never saw but one black floriken in the months of September and October; I have seen them at all other times of the year in different kinds of places, but black ones only at the commencement of the season, when they are found in the open long grass plains, immediately after the rains. In the northern circars, where I believe they are very numerous, a professional gentleman once dissected a great many (I think 40) before he found a black hen, which he did at last. I believe, too, that amongst the brown ones he found as many of one sex as the other. This was told me by a person who was present when the dissections were made. I was never in that part of the country. If the black are young ones, the change of plumage must be very sudden and very peculiar. They are indeed always smaller than the brown ones; but I was once out when a half grown bird was shot with its mother, who got up at the same time, and they were both brown. There is another peculiarity in them which your correspondent has not mentioned, and that is, the elegantly curved feathers which grow out from the corners of the mouth, backwards, about three or four from each side, and about 2 inches long, the shaft scarcely having any feathers upon it, and terminating in a circular feather like the top knot of a pea-fowl. The black bird can neither be the cock nor a peculiar species, as in either case they must be seen, at times, all the year round. A very remarkable thing happened one season when I was out shooting. A brown floriken was put up and shot; upon going to pick it up a nest of eggs was found at the place whence it had risen. It was left untouched. The same ground was beat over twice by us in the course of a week after, and the last day a black floriken was killed off the same nest. The only way in which all ap pearances can at all be reconciled is by supposing that at a certain age they assume this peculiar plumage, which they retain for about two months, and then that they put on the plain brown suit again; but this is ascribing such a strange peculiarity to them, that I must really confess myself "done brown" in coming to any conclusion. I have taken it for the bird described in natural histories as the "Little Bustard," and have compared it with the description of that bird, and found them agree; but never saw a hint of a "black little bustard." In the year 1828, the first floriken shot in the long grass in my neighbourhood was on the 1st October, on which day three were bagged, all black. I do not think they ever came in before the month of September, or remained as long as the long grass was suffered to stand, nor do I believe the black ones remained a fortnight. For the first few days nothing but black were to be seen; and after that the brown ones increased and the black ones decreased, till they disappeared altogether. The brown birds, after the grass was cut, were usually found in the daul fields; and at other times of the year, when there was neither daul nor long grass standing, I have put them up when beating ground covered with stunted bushes, and sometimes in high jungle; and in this way, one year with another, I think I have seen a brown floriken every month in the year. There is no such thing as a floriken in the country where I now am, or I would dissect and take a little more trouble to try and discover something regarding them. PIEBALD. SIR, BISON HUNT. I send you the following account of a bison hunt which took place in the vicinity of Niermund, a village about five or six miles to the left, immediately after descend ing the Raedumda ghaut on the road to Bombay. I call the animals bison, as it is the only name by which they are as yet known, although the description hitherto given by the natural historian of that animal is by no means applicable to them. After winding our way down the long and tedious Raedumda ghaut, we struck off to the left through deep ravines, following a narrow and uneven path for some miles, when we found our tents ready to receive us, with a sumptuous breakfast, and what was still more gratifying, good information of game, for all which we were indebted to the superior management of our friend Ran old and experienced sportsman. The meal being finished, together with the necessary equipment for the field, we turned out seven in number, well prepared to encounter the furious brutes we were in search of. Away we went one after another towards the summit of a neighbouring a neighbouring hill, that we might have a more extensive view of the country we had to traverse. We had not long been here before four or five bison were seen working their way through a thick jungle immediately below us, and, large as those animals are, it was with great difficulty their movements could for any length of time be observed. It was therefore thought most expedient to place bigarees on well clevated ground, or trees, that they might give information to the beaters who were in close pursuit of the game, endeavouring to drive it towards some of the different passes where we had stationed ourselves. We had not to remain long in this situation before the well-known cry of "Alla, alla," resounded from all parts of the valley, together with the noise of smart firing. It appeared that W- (by no means an inexperienced hand at this work) was pursuing an enormous bull through an almost impenetrable thicket; he had already dealt him a settler, as he thought, with his two-ounce rifle, and out of compassion had not spared the contents of either barrel of his Westly Richards; but, before he could reload, the monster was on his legs again preparing for a desperate charge. At this critical moment Hmade his appearance, but not before W- had served him out with a fourth shot, which drove the brute to madness. He now charged, but was repulsed by H- 's two well-placed shots on the shoulder, when a few paces only from the muzzle of his gun. He charged, however, a second time, and was again driven back with additional lead in his shoulder. This proved too much even for his gigantic bulk. He could no longer rally, but staggering backward, fell to rise no more; not however to breathe his last until H- and S arrived, pretty well fagged, to put an end to the conflict. I say fagged, and well I may, for this is awful work, more especially when the game is brought to bay. The distance or badness of ground between the sportsman and scene of action signifies little; all are expected to make for it with all possible speed, that they may render every assistance in their power. I know, for my own part, running, climbing, crawling, and occasionally falling, were the only means by which I succeeded in witnessing the death. One thing I had forgot to mention, which would very effectually have put a stop to my progress, viz. the coming in contact with one of the numerous balls which were whizzing about in all directions. Discretion in this case is out of the question: everything, therefore, must be left to chance. I observe in your Magazine for May, 1831, there is some mention of a bison, by D. D., as having been killed near Dharwar, in the Dudelley jungle. I cannot say that a description of the animal we had killed would vary much from his it is therefore needless my entering into any long detail; suffice it to remark that in length he was 10ft. 11in. from the tip of the forehead to the insertion of the tail, in colour black, and had a rise which stretched half way down the back, where it fell abruptly. Four men could scarcely carry his head, which was ornamented with horns 19 inches long, considerably curved, and bearing a beautiful polish. The legs were white up as far as the knee, and the under part of the belly of a reddish brown. He was soon deprived of head, heart, legs, and skin, together with a few ribs, in order to ascertain what quality of beef he was made of. The remainder of his carcase was left to such animals as wished to indulge upon carrion. We then retired to the nearest shade, that we might partake of some refreshment and discuss what next should be the order of the day. It is indeed a luxury, after such toil, to be quietly seated under the spreading branches of a spacious tree, cracking a joke upon the morning's work over a mag of brandy panee, and a weed by way of a finale. After having consulted with the leading shikarrees, it was determined we should make for the jungle under the majestic hills of Muckerum Ghur, about six or seven miles from where we then were-that is, six or seven miles as a crow flies, but as we trudged, it certainly was equal to thrice that distance. Excitement led us to undergo the severe test of wind and limb which the great steepness of the various hills we had to range before arriving at our destination put us to. I was not the only one who lavished a fair portion of abuse upon those who deceived us in their description of the route to covert, in which we at length arrived; but by no means in fitting plight for work, until the bottles were again uncorked and ourselves stretched for a while upon the ground close to a thick jungle where the game was said to be lodged. After a short rest up we got, all ready for another bout, but not to witness a second death, or even to hear the noisy rifle. All gave place to disappointment when the expected game was seen emerging from the jungle at a great distance, crossing one of the highest points of the hill with the speed and agility of an antelope. Here ended our chase, but not our fag, for after having lightened the baskets, we had to retrace our steps back to encampment, where we finished the day with a smok. ing khenu, and the night with no event worth mentioning, except that our sleep was once or twice disturbed by the prowling of a tiger, or some other wild inhabitant of the dark ravine we were in; but rest had too great charms for us then to render the circumstance a source of sport. I am, &c., P. S. Since writing the above I have been fortunate enough to fall in with Baron Cuvier's "Animal World," quite a new publication, wherein a full account of the animal erroneously called the bison, and which I allude to, is given. It appears from this natural historian that the proper name for it is the gayal. differs from both bison, buffalo, and wild ox, of all of which he gives a description. This work I hope will leave no doubt on the mind of sportsmen as to the error we have hitherto committed in supposing that there are wild It |