238 NATTTEAL HISTOET SKETCHES. 



in Melbourne, hunted by Mr. George "Watson, of steeple- 

 chase celebrity. Their meets are advertised, and their 

 doings duly chronicled in Sell's Life in Victoria, by 

 "Nirnrod's Ghost." As they rarely meet more than ten 

 or twelve miles from the kennel, and the wild-dog and 

 kangaroo are now rare in this district, a " bagman " is 

 generally the order of the day ; and I rather fancy that 

 the meets of the Melbourne hunt bring out men more 

 to try the merits of rival nags and riders among the 

 stiff three-rail enclosures of this country, than to show 

 the real science of hunting. 



It is little wonder that steeple-chasing should be a 

 favourite amusement in this land of " posts and rails ;" 

 and Abbott and Walkover will long live in the recol- 

 lection of all who have seen this game little nag and 

 rider leading the van in a good field of Victorian 

 steeple-chase cracks. Trotting-matches and foot-races 

 are constantly taking place. Regattas are often got 

 up in the bay. There are some excellent wrestlers on 

 the diggings. Border gatherings, periodically held in 

 different districts, recall the memory of the Scot to the 

 games of "Auld Lang Syne;" and every Christmas 

 some sporting and eccentric " Pub." advertises amuse- 

 ment for the million, in the shape of sack-races, 

 climbing the greasy-pole, and other good old English 

 sports. 



Pigeon-shooting from the trap seems to be on the 

 rise, and every season has a champion. Just as I was 

 leaving, two or three heavy matches were on the carpet. 



