80 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
the impress of an observant study, both of man and animals, a 
power of imparting the fruits of such study to others, and a thorough 
appreciation of all those little lights and shades in Nature, ap- 
parently unimportant in themselves, but which unite to give force 
and beauty to the picture of life. 
Our author takes us through many sports and some variety of 
country, beginning with one which we agree with him in thinking 
one of the most delightful—Fox-hunting. As we read, memories of 
the past come thick upon us. Again we see the wary old fox as 
he steals from the covert, the hounds quivering with excitement 
as they sweep on to the scent, and every nerve is braced as we 
follow our author o’er plough and pasture, clearing again, in fancy, 
the hurrying river, and crashing through the tangles of the bull- 
finch, too high to top. It is in scenes such as these that Mr. 
Rooper, like his fox, is most thoroughly “at home”; but his 
enthusiasm is not confined to the saddle. Ina short sketch he 
gives us a week in the Western Highlands, and though our com- 
pany there consists only of a holiday-making employé from a 
London warehouse, who, having purchased a ten-shilling gun- 
license, fancies himself every inch a sportsman, still we enjoy the 
week almost as much as the cockney hero. ‘The description of 
the Scotch laird and his gillie is capital, their Gaelic unimpeach- 
able, and over the whole is blown a scent of the “ muirs” that is 
really refreshing. 
From Scotland we travel to the Sister Isle for salmon and trout- 
fishing, returning rifle in hand to bring down the buck in our 
own southern counties, where we again fall in with our cockney 
friend disporting himself with the “ Harriers” at Brighton and the 
* Queen’s” in the Harrow Country. 
Most, if not all, of these stories were published many years ago 
under the title of ‘Tales and Sketches,’ but they come before us 
now with some additions, not the least noticeable of which are 
eight full-page illustrations, somewhat rough perhaps, but withal 
full of spirit. Indeed, the artists’ names (Georgina Bowers and 
J. Carlisle) sufficiently guarantee their excellence. 
