Irish Humour 139 



vehement expostulation she at last ventured up and gave 

 the required kiss. " That's on my beard," said Johnny 

 Mahon ; " I must have one on my lips." Where- 

 upon, without further ado, she gave him another most 

 hearty kiss on the lips, and thus ended a thoroughly Irish 

 scene. 



At that time Birr was the home of Major Trocke, that 

 most eminent of Irish amateur jockeys, who, for more than 

 thirty years, continued to ride with much success over the 

 glorious Punchestown Course. The very last time he rode 

 there he won the great handicap, the Prince of Wales' 

 Plate, on his own mare " Countess," and has ever since 

 been known as the G.O.M. of Ireland, When we were 

 hunting at Birr he was riding to hounds a charming little 

 horse, by a thoroughbred out of a Connemara pony, and 

 that horse has often been in my mind as the type of the 

 improvement to be aimed at in the ponies of the congested 

 district, instead of the animal they are likely to produce by 

 the use of hackney stallions. Here, in Yorkshire, may be 

 seen any number of horses, by hackneys, that are utterly 

 unsaleable, and these too are bred from larger mares than 

 are available in Connemara. My experience has been a 

 varied one, and I have always found that the Arab and the 

 thoroughbred improve any breed they are mated with, but 

 that the hackney cross is a dangerous one to meddle with. 

 With the former stallions all the qualities desired in a 

 horse are obtainable, especially hardihood, stoutness, and 

 courage ; while the produce also possesses the length 

 requisite in a riding horse. With the hackney, a little 

 short animal is certain to be produced, and this shortness 

 continues for generations, and is most difficult to eradicate. 

 If he has not extravagant action — which is quite 



