68 
FISHING WITH THE GEEEN ELM CATEEPILLAE. 
[Nature and Art, August 1, 186*6. 
ground, or upon the rocky parts of it. Soon the 
huntsman discovered, on tire corner of a stone, a 
small fragment of bark which had been freshly 
rubbed off the clog. Then he called in his dog's 
and released a fresh couple, who went in briskly, 
sometimes catching the scent, and sometimes 
losing it for half an hour ; the excitement of the 
hunting-party continuing to increase. And now 
the dogs pursue breast-high, at a great pace, leaving 
the foot sportsmen in the distance. It is clear 
they are approaching their game. Gryllus and 
Diodorus alone are up with them, and catch a sight 
of the entrapped animal as he crosses a narrow 
valley between two woods. A rattling “ view 
hallo ” soon conveys the cheerful intelligence to 
the other members of the hunt, who push forward 
to the best of their power. The stag is nigh 
exhausted ; with panting breath, and eyes half out 
of his head, he is resolved to die bravely. So he 
awaits the attack of the dogs. Phyla made the 
first rush, but was rolled over by a well-directed 
thrust of the stag’s right antler, a deep wound 
in the chest pouring forth red blood. Gryllus and 
Diodorus had fastened their horses to separate trees, 
and proceeded, spear in hand, to give the animal 
his death-blow. With a high-aimed throw, one of 
the spears struck the animal near the top of the 
shoulder, and the three dogs rushing simultane- 
ously upon him at this juncture, the stag was 
quickly despatched. 
Portions of the hunted animal appeared in due 
time on the tables of the different banqueting-rooms 
of Xenophon’s house, late on the evening of the 
same day f and it is needless to remark that ample 
justice was done to them and the rest of the good 
things prepared. Philesia had sent to the towns of 
# The venison would be too fresh for an English palate, 
but would probably be tolerably tender, if hunted deer is 
like hunted hare. 
Scillus and Cyllene for cooks, who had been busy 
for the last three days making sweetmeats and 
other delicacies. Besides venison, there were young 
goats, lambs, sucking-pigs,* and fowls, supplied from 
the farm by the bailiff; as well as quantities of 
sausages, salad, leeks and onions. The fish had 
been brought from the lagoons on the coast of Elis. 
There were eels stewed in beef-, turbot, anchovies, 
and other dainties, prized by the Grecian palate. 
After all had satisfied themselves, the numerous 
tables were removed ; the floor, which was strewed 
with bones, bits of bread kneaded to a dough, t and 
the refuse of the plates, was swept ; and water was 
handed round to the guests for washing their 
hands. The dinner ended with the usual libation. 
The dessert consisted of figs, nuts, olives, salt 
mixed with spice, to improve the taste of the wine, 
cakes, and sweetmeats. The mixed wines, red and 
white, of varioirs kinds, were rendered deliciously 
cool by means of ice. In the midst of the 
symposium a man of Syracuse entered, and with 
him a girl who played admirably on the flute, and 
another rvlio performed the most astonishing feats. 
Among others she leaped head foremost over a 
hoop which had a number of swords fixed into it 
standing upright, and then sprang out of it, leaping 
clean over the pointed weapons. Of course, the 
party played at the cottabus, and with dice, as was 
usual at Greek wine parties. They also amused 
themselves by asking riddles. If a person made a 
wrong guess, the fine was to drink off a certain 
quantity of wine without taking breath ; if he 
guessed right, he was rewarded with a chaplet or 
with cakes. After such a manner did the party 
enjoy the evening after the hunt. 
* to SacaioraToi’ KpsaQ, as Plutarch says of the flesh of 
pig- 
f <xTopaydri\tn. The ancient Greeks used neither knife 
nor fork, but ate with their fingers, and had no dinner- 
napkins, they cleaned their fingers with bits of bread. 
FISHING WITH THE GREEN ELM CATERPILLAR. 
By W. B. Lord, Eoyal Artillery. 
T HEBE are few baits — excepting perhaps the live 
minnow — with which larger fish are to be 
taken, than with the elm caterpillar, which will 
be found in considerable numbers at this season 
amongst the short, spreading twigs surrounding the 
main stems of the elm trees in most localities. To 
capture them I have been in the habit of using an 
inverted umbrella, holding it by the ferule end 
with the left hand, whilst with a long stick held in 
the right hand I thrashed the branches thoroughly, 
receiving the falling caterpillars in the umbrella, 
which rvas held ready beneath, spread like a cup 
for their reception. The caterpillars are then 
easily separated from the bits of stick and leaf 
which accompany them in their fall, and are con- 
veniently kept for use in a flat tin box, with plenty 
of holes in it for air. A two-vard trace of fine, 
round, well-selected gut, “ round plait ” silk line, 
and a long, stiff, light rod, should be used for this 
kind of fishing. The hook from Nos. 8 to 10, 
Kirby trout pattern, rather short in the shank, 
and of stout Avire. A strong, sharp pocket-knife, 
and long-handled landing-net should be provided, 
as many of the haunts of the finest fish are at 
times so over-grown Avith bushes or water-plants, 
as to render it necessary that a hole should be 
stealthily cut, through which the rod Avith the gut 
trace wound spirally round it may be introduced. 
When fairly over the water about to be fished, and 
free from impediments, the bait may be dropped 
