222 AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES 



which, for fidelity and spirit, vied with anything I ever saw of 

 the kind, was taken by the artist in the course of a few minutes. 

 Any finish attempted to be given to it would probably have 

 destroyed the effect, but for an effort of this sort the wielder of 

 the brush at that time appeared incapable ; and I have not at 

 hand the means of ascertaining that he ever at a former period 

 of his life attained to further excellence than that of hitting off, 

 in a few masterly strokes, a correct and life-like representation 

 of his subject. I was highly amused, I recollect, at the indigna- 

 tion of this rough genius, when inadvertently addressed by the 

 Shepherd as Mr. Howie, the name of an animal painter at that 

 time in considerable employment in Edinburgh. The mistake, 

 a likely one to occur, had been taken at first in good part, or at 

 least passed over with no stronger symptom of annoyance than a 

 wry face, or a shrug of the shoulder ; and it was not until the 

 artist had become partaker of the poet's pressing hospitalities, 

 had feasted on freshly-caught yellow-fins and forest- mutton, and 

 had dashed over a tumbler or two of whisky-punch, that his dig- 

 nity fairly took fire. Suddenly, the loathsome name of his rival 

 having been once more applied to him, up he started, seized hold 

 of his hat and stick, clapped the former impressively on his head, 

 and, brandishing the latter with a menacing air, thus addressed 

 the astonished bard : ' My name, sir, is Howe, not Howie. I 

 am Howe, sir, the animal painter ; the only animal painter in 

 the world. I don't daub signs, boars' heads, and Turks, red 

 lions and green crocodiles, like the miserable prostitute you con- 

 found me with. Good afternoon, Mr. Hogg ; good afternoon, 

 gentlemen. I leave that,' pointing to the sketch, which had 

 been placed on the chimney-piece, ' to correct your ignorance, 

 and to teach you that Howe and Howie are very different men.' 

 So saying, followed by a travelling companion, who had evidently 

 from his appearance been placed as a curb upon his vagaries, he 

 stalked out, and, in spite of every remonstrance and apology, 



