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ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN FIELD SPORTS. 
[Nature and Art, June 1, 1866. 
ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN FIELD SPORTS. 
I.— ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN FISHERMEN. 
By the Rev. W. Houghton, M.A., F.L.S. 
T HE love of the chase and capture of wild animals 
is, no doubt, inherent in man’s nature. Apart 
from the utility of many kinds, either as articles of 
food or as the means of supplying clothing, there 
is, probably, in all nations, however barbarous, an 
sesthetic appreciation of sport for its own sake. 
The native of Australia is doubtless highly gratified 
and pleased with himself when a successful throw 
of the boomerang has brought to the ground some 
swiftly-flying bird or jumping kangaroo ; the Dyak 
of Borneo feels a thrill of delight as the dart from 
his sumpitan, or blow-pipe, pierces some delicate 
dove or bright-coloured parroquet ; the Indians of 
the Amazon district of South America, who with 
wonderful dexterity pierce with hurled javelin 
the carapace of some unfortunate turtle as it 
swims submerged in the lake, are keenly alive to 
the sport, independently of the baser associations 
that attach themselves to the name of turtle. The 
reason of this is, that the successful employment of 
skill brings with it its own peculiar gratification. 
In the chase of savage animals there is an additional 
element of enjoyment ; for here not only skill is 
requisite, but courage and presence of mind ; and 
when the aid of the dog is needed, and his sagacity 
and wonderful powers of scent are exhibited, the 
pleasures of the chase become enhanced a hundred 
fold. Still, though one cannot doubt that the chase 
of Avild animals is attended with a degree of pleasure 
in the sport itself apart from that derived from 
the value of the prey captured, even amongst 
barbarous nations, yet probably a thorough ap- 
preciation of field sports is to be found only 
amongst civilized peojfle. One reason of this is, that 
they are better qualified to admire the successful 
adaptation of means to an end ; and secondly, because 
from their more prosperous condition they are not 
to any extent dependent upon the game they kill. 
Hence the sportsmen of the civilized world can 
afford to give the animal pursued some fair play or 
“ law,” supposing the nature of the prey is entitled 
to it. But, in the opinion of an uncivilized people, 
the idea of allowing the quarry the smallest chance 
of escape would be considered as the mark of the 
most consummate folly. To slip two couples of 
greyhounds upon a hare the instant she starts from 
her form, or designedly to let the dogs “ chop ” a 
fox in the cover, would deseiwedly be thought a 
sin of great magnitude in the eyes of an English 
sportsman. But fair play is no jewel in the ars 
venatoria of a rude nation. “Catch who catch can” 
is the motto by which they are guided. With 
regard to the Field Sports of the Ancient Greeks 
and Homans, there is abundant evidence to show 
that they were held in great esteem. From a 
knoAvledge of the character of these people, it is 
only natural to anticipate an attachment to the 
sports of the field. Devotedly fond as they were 
of all manly exercises, it was not likely that the 
pleasures of the chase should hold any but a pro- 
minent place in their pursuits. The names of 
Xenophon, Oppian, and Arrian amongst the 
Greeks, and those of Gratian and Nemesian 
amongst the Latins, are conspicuous as writers 
of treatises on the sports of the field. “ The 
invention of the art of hunting,” says Xenophon, 
“ is from the Gods, — for hunting , and dogs were 
the care of Apollo and Diana, who rewarded 
and honoured Chiron with a knowledge of them 
on account of his regard for justice. He having 
received the gilt was delighted with it, and 
had as disciples in this and other honourable 
pursuits, Cephalus, FEsculapius, Melanion, Nestor, 
Amphiaraus, Peleus, Telamon, Meleager, Theseus, 
Hippolytus, Palamedes, Ulysses, Menestheus, 
Diomede, Castor, Pollux, Machaon, Podalirius, 
Antilochus, FEneas, Achilles, each of whom in his 
own day received honour from the Gods.” After 
recording some of the merits of these heroes, 
Xenophon adds, “ these men became such as they 
Avere from the instruction derived from Chiron, — 
men whom the good still love, and the bad envy. 
If misfortunes befel any city or king in Greece, 
these men Avere the deliverers ; if any quarrel or 
Avar arose betAveen the Avhole of Greece and the 
barbarians, the Greeks secured the A 7 ictory by such 
men as these, and Greece became invincible. I 
advise the young therefore not to despise hunting, 
or any other training, for by such means men 
become good soldiers, and excel in other accom- 
plishments, by which they are necessarily led to 
think, speak, and act rightly.” Ancient philoso- 
phers and poets, such as Aristotle, Plato, Cicero, 
and Horace, acknoAvledge the utility of a training 
in the sports of the field ; the bard of V enusia 
admirably shows the connection between the hunt- 
ing field and the field of battle in the folloAving 
lines : — 
“ Romanis solemne viris opus, utile fain®, 
Vitseque, et membi'is ; prsesertim cum valeas, et 
Yel cursu superare canem, vel viribus aprum, 
Possis. Adde, virilia quod speciosius arma 
Non est qui tractet (scis quo clamore coron® 
Pr®lia sustineas campestria) denique s®vam 
Militiam puer, et Cantabrica bella tulisti.” # 
The ordinary field sports pursued by the ancients 
were hare hunting, deer and wild boar hunting, 
coursing, fowling, and fishing. On some of these 
sports I hope to speak on a future occasion : at 
present I would say a few Avords on Fishing. 
Fishing was principally carried on in the sea, 
though river and lake fishing Avere not unknown. 
* Epist. i. 18. 
