42 ANIMAL PAINTERS 



drawing and of his sporting works we reproduce 

 two pictures. " Taking Wild Horses on the Plains 

 of Moldavia " appeared in the Sportmg Magazine of 

 1 80 1, in illustration of an article on the subject of 

 catching the horse, which run, or then ran wild on 

 the plains of Moldavia, Wallachia and new Servia. 

 This work was etched for reproduction by Howitt 

 himself. " The Chase " (p. 38) was suggested by a 

 passage from William Somerville's famous poem : 



Then to the copse, 



Thick with entangling grass, or prickly furze, 



With silence led thy many-colour'd hounds, 



In all their beauty's pride. See ! how they range 



Dispersed ; how busily, this way and that, 



They cross, examining, with curious nose, 



Each likely haunt. Hark ! on the drag I hear 



Their doubtful notes, preluding to a cry 



More nobly full, and swell'd with every mouth. 



As straggling armies, at the trumpet's voice, 



Press to their standard ; hither all repair, 



And hurry through the woods with hasty step, 



Rustling and full of hope ; now, driven in heaps. 



They push, they strive, while from his kennel sneaks 



The conscious villain. See ! he skulks along, 



Sleek, at the shepherd's cost, and plump, with meals 



Purloin'd : so thrive the wicked here below. 



Though high his brush he bear, though, tipped with white, 



It gaily shine, yet ere the sun, declined. 



Recall the shades of night, the pamper'd rogue 



Shall rue his fate, reversed ; and at his heels, 



Behold the just avenger, swift to seize 



His forfeit head, and thirsting for his blood. 



Howitt's connection with the Sporting Magazine 

 began in the year 1793, and continued, with the 



