123 i 
Second Ties. 
Lndolpll beat Satyr I Sorrel ran a byo 
Go-bye (after two no-goes, and killing three hares) beat Bluo 
Third Ties. 
Sorrel beat Ludolph | Go-bye ran n bye 
Decidin'/ Course. 
Sorrel beat Go-bye, and won the stakes. 
The Consolation Stakes of £1. 5s. each, for the beaten 
flogs, were divided, after several most interesting courses, 
between Lady Bess and Witch. 
Kilkenny Coursing Club.— T he club will meet for 
coursing at Ballyragget, on Tuesday, the 9th ; and at Clon- 
tubrid, near Fresh ford, on Wednesday, the 10th of January. 
At the coursing meeting lately held at Bum-ton, on the 
estate of Sir T. Biddulph, Bart., there was much admirable 
sport, thirteen hares being killed, in spite of the boisterous 
nature of the weather. There was a fair muster of dogs. 
Mr. Hayton, of Kilsby, brought five of his clippers; Mr. 
Blick brought a brace ; and those who kuow the dog will be 
pleased to learn that Old Steamer has rallied, and came out 
surprisingly both in his points and leaping; Mr. Hickius 
Topper shone as usual ; Mr. It. Cowley, of Kilsby, brought 
three; Mr. T. Lawrence brought a brace, one of which 
ran a melting course with Mr. Cowley's w. b., and killed her ; 
Beeswing ran a hare single-handed, and killed her. A splendid 
run took place with Mr. Hayton’s b. dog and Mr. Cowley’s, 
but their hare left them after a long run, seeking shelter in 
Birdingbury Spinney. The hares were not similar iu their 
movements here to some on the Birdingbury estate, aud this 
may account for so many falling before so small a force of 
the enemy. 
Disputed Stakes.— At the last County Court sittings, 
held iu the neighbourhood of Warrington, a case was tried, 
in which one Williamson, the plaintiff, agreed with a man 
named Battersby to course rabbits, each party to deposit £10 
with Wolly, the defendant iu the action. The terms of 
agreement were that the owner of the dog which killed six 
out of eleven rabbits should be the winner. On October 21, 
the coursing took place, and after six rabbits were killed 
plaintiff withdrew his dog, the arbitrator not dealing fairly, as 
he thought ; and he wanted to recover his £10. A copy of 
the rules, iu which both parties agreed that if either did not 
run his clog when the time was up he should lose, was put 
in, but objected to on the ground of its not boning a 2s. Cd. 
stamp. The Judge asked how the stakes could be recovered, 
when the 8th aud 9th Viet. o. 109, sec. 18, said, “all contracts 
or agreements, whether by parole or in writing, by way of 
wager, shall be null and void, aud no suit shall be brought 
in any court of law or equity for recovering auy sum of 
money or valuable thing alleged to be won upon auy wager, 
or which shall have been deposited in the hands of any per- 
son to abide the issue of any wager.” It was alleged that 
the present case came under the exceptions, as follows : 
— “But it is provided that the enactment shall not be 
deemed to apply to auy subscription or contribution, or 
agreement to subscribe or contribute for or towards any 
plate, prize, or sum of money to be awarded to the winuer 
of any lawful game or pastime or exercise.” The case of 
“ Carter v. Pybus” was quoted as iu point, and in this it 
was contended that coursing was an illegal sport. — Mr. Baron 
Martin did not think there was anything illegal in a coursing 
match with greyhounds, and granted a rule, iu order that 
arguments might be heard as to whether a party could re- 
cover his stake money on wishing to withdraw when two only 
out of three heats agreed upon bad been run. The Judge 
of the Couuty Court, in the present case, advised a nonsuit, 
with leave to enter a new trial, if the case quoted was in 
favour of the parties bringing it forward. 
SHOOTING. 
[It is designed under this title to invite Communication by our readers 
of whatever remarkable incidents may occur iu their shooting ex- 
periences.] — 
SHOOTING ADVENTURES. 
THE BLACK RABBIT. 
The events I am about to narrate occurred many years ago ; 
but they may serve to amuse some of your juvenile readers 
who are at home for the Christmas holidays, and may perhaps 
even win a smile from “ Percussion,” and others of riper 
years. I pledge my word that they are strictly and substan- 
tially true ; strictly true as far as relates to myself, and sub- 
stantially true in the other parts. The parish of N was 
not preserved in those days, and several sportsmen were in 
the habit of shooting over it. It was situate, of course, in a 
valley, with a brook running through it ; and on the west 
side of the village was sloping ground, terminating in rather 
high table land, part of which was old pasture ground, and 
called “Gravel Close.” The large field of sloping ground 
was sown in the year to which I am alluding, with barley and 
clover seeds; it had a trespass path across it, leading to 
Gravel Close, by which the gills of the village used to 
walk, in fine weather, at twelve o’clock, with their straw 
plait in their hands, to enjoy the pure air of Gravel Close. 
It might have been the middle of October, or perhaps later 
in the year, when a party of gentlemen were assembled at 
dinner at the house of Dr. D., iu the village of N . After 
the cloth had been removed, and conversation became gene- 
ral, one of the gentlemen said that he had met with a most 
extraordinary adventure in Gravel Close. His dog had 
made a point ; a black rabbit jumped out of a tuft of grass; 
he shot at it, aud rolled it over, but, to his unutterable sur- 
prise, as be stooped to pick it up, it jumped up and ran away, 
and he could not find it again. The story was scarcely 
finished when another gentleman declared most solemnly that 
he had met with the very same adventure in Gravel Close; 
ami again Dr. D. assured the company that he also had shot, 
as he supposed, a black rabbit in Gravel Close, which jumped 
up aud ran into the hedge, when he stooped to pick it up, 
aud he could not find it again. The story soon became pub- 
lic in the village and neighbourhood, and every one believed 
that Gravel Close was haunted by a certain nameless per- 
sonage, in the similitude of a black rabbit. 
Iu the preceding spi'ing. Captain M had come home 
from India, severely wounded. Sir Astley Cooper had sent 
him into the country for the benefit of his native air, and 
ordered him to lie on the sofa all day, and not to exert him- 
self more than was absolutely necessary. As the shooting 
season approached, however, ho purchased a setter from a 
neighbouring gamekeeper, and sallied forth on the 1st of 
September, with a crutch under one arm aud a walking-stick in 
the other hand, with me for his companion, carrying his gun 
and sometimes my own too. Gravel Close belonged to 
Captain M.'s father; we did not often cross it at the begin- 
ning of the seasou, but after the marvellous tale of the black 
rabbit became public, wo went sometimos to look for it. 
THE FIELD. 
Wo were never fortunate enough, however, to find it at home. 
At length the shooting season passed away — the black 
rabbit was 3eon no more, and the talc seemed to bo sleeping 
m oblivion. Captain M , in spite of Sir Astley Co tpcr'a 
injunctions to keep himself quiet, got stronger everyday; 
was able at length to cany his own gun and walk me off my 
legs, and fiually resolved to report himself fit for duty anil 
proceed to India again. Amongst other preparations for the 
voyage, ho purchased a new double-barrelled gnu in 
London ; aud, at my solicitation, was to come to our 
house, unci fire it into the water, to see how it threw its 
shot. The shortest road from liis father’s house to ours was 
through tho sloping barley (now clover) field already 
described. We h id almost reached tho bottom of the field, 
wheu I descried what I supposed to be an old shoe, almost 
bidden amongst the springing clover, and I suggested that it. 
would he an excellent test of the new gun, as, if it would 
send the shot through the tough and hardened leather, it 
would kill anything. Captain M., willing to indulge me, 
consented. I walked up to what I considered a fair dis- 
tance; and just before I fired, I said to Captain M., “Now, 
if that were the black rabbit, instead of au old shoe, I warrant 
it would never run away after 1 killed it.” The gun was 
discharged, and the black rabbit (for it was nothing else) 
sprang a yard from the ground, and fell again perfectly 
motionless. I gave a shout of triumph, ami ran to pick him 
up, but, just as I stooped, lie jumped up aud scampered to 
the hedge at the bottom of the field, which was only a few 
yards distant, before I had time to discharge the other barrel 
at him. However, after a little questing, we found him 
again, and 1 fired a second shot at him iu vain. I dare say 
this time my aim was unsteady, for I was only fourteen 
years of age, aud my feelings of surprise at what I had wit- 
nessed were, perhaps, not free from some degree of awe, at 
the possibility of something supernatural being connected 
with the black rabbit. We continued for a omo little time to 
look for him without success, and then proceeded to the 
trout stream to try the new gun upon the water. 
All this happened between half-past eleven iu the forenoon 
and twelve o'clock. At that time, the day being very fine, 
the girls of the village came out, as usual, for their walk in 
Gravel Close, and at. the top of the clover field they found tho 
black rabbit lying in the footpath, apparently quite dead. 
One of the girls picked it up, and put it into her apron, and, 
forthwith, they began quarrelling among themselves, about 
whom it belonged to — never dreaming, of course, that any 
one except themselves could have tho slightest claim to it. 
I believe it was finally settled that it should ho made into a 
pudding on the following day, and three or four of the older 
girls should have it for dinner. They finished their walk, 
aud were returning home, when, while the girl who had the 
rabbit in her apron was crossing the Btylc at the bottom of 
the field, it began to kick and struggle violently. She threw 
it down in a fright, exclaiming that it certainly was the d — 1, 
and it scampered up the footpath towards Gravel Close, and 
was never seen again. — I am, &c., Loading-rod. 
WATERPROOF PERCUSSION CAPS. 
To the Editor of the Times. 
Sir, — For the last twenty years I have had os much shoot- 
ing as most men, yet I never saw a copper cap perfectly 
waterproof until April last, when I called upon Messrs. Eley. 
and was shown their newly-invented copper caps, lined 
throughout with india-rubber. 
I tried them thoroughly in grouse-shooting during those 
very wet days in August, aud have continued to use them 
ever since, without hav ing a single miss-fire ; and if our brave 
fellows in the East will only take the trouble to see that the 
nipples of their rifles are screwed well home, aud these caps 
well pressed home also, they may depend upon their guns 
going off, even should they have been loaded for a week ; 
and, as they are not more expensive than other caps, I do 
hope you will use your powerful influence in impressing 
upon the Government the great advantage of rendering the 
rifles of their soldiers serviceable iu spite of the wettest 
weather. I am, Sir, your obliged, 
Green-park, Bath. T. C. Hooper. 
[In Tuf. Field of the. 16th Dec. is an account of a cap 
which is both waterproof and airproof; and which possesses 
many other advantages over the ordinary cap. — E d. Field.] 
Pigeon Shooting. — In the Old Cricket-ground at Ashley, 
yesterday week, two sweepstakes, for £3 and £4, were shot 
off, and were won, the first by Mr. Tilbrouk, gamekeeper to 
Colonel Hall, and the second by Mr. Wood. 
Wild Fowl Shooting. — In the neighbourhood of Whit- 
stable, sportsmen have become very numerous, and being 
principally oyster-dredgers have abundance of time to devote 
to the pursuit of their game, and among them are some of 
the best marksmen iu the county. The mode of shooting is 
peculiar to this place, and some notice of it may be interest- 
ing to many readers. A large aud heavy gun is placed in u 
singularly-constructed boat called a “ Pantoouey," about 
twelve feet long and thirteen inches deep, flat bottomed, 
stern and stem like, the gun being laid flush fore and aft ; 
the gunuer observes a kneeling position, and propels his 
vessel with great rapidity by means of a double-bladed 
paddle, the use of which requires great dexterity. On near- 
ing the birds he places himself at the bottom of the boat, 
which is only a few inches above the surface of 
the water, and is not to be seen until within range 
of his object. In this position he forces himself along 
by means of two smaller paddles, and upon the birds risiug 
he discharges the gun, by which as many as sixty birds 
have been known to have had their flight arrested. After 
picking up the dead, lie proceeds in pursuit of the wounded, 
which, being excellent swimmers aud divers, call into re- 
quisition the use of a small gun. Great skill is required in 
the conduct of this sport, otherwise considerable danger is 
incurred. Another class of fowlers have also a peculiar 
method which is frequently successful ; at the commence- 
ment of the season a tub is sunk, at tho ebb of the tide, 
sufficiently large to hide the sportsman, who there watches 
witli great patience for the wild fowl, curlews, and hawk 
birds ; at the two last of which the great-gunner disdains to 
fire. Many persons from tho surrounding country visit this 
place for the purpose of shooting wild fowl, but are almost 
’ always disappointed, from not using one or the other of 
these methods ; in fact they seldom obtain a single bird. 
Extraordinary Woodcock. — A gentleman lately shot on 
the grounds of J. Tuthill, Esq., at Southwold, a woodcock, 
weighing 13 ounces. The usual weight is about 10 ounces. 
Strktton Sugwas. — Kite’s Nest Pigeon Club. — The 
members of this celebrated club held their 32nd annual 
meeting last week, when u formidable muster of “Crack 
Shots” assembled. The sweepstakes were awarded to 
Me sirs. Lewis, Duggan, P. Stephens, and Thomason, and 
the “cup,'' after a spirited contest, fell to the lot of Mr. W. 
Webb, <>t High-street, Hereford. The dinner, under the able 
presidency of Mr. J. L. Stjphons, well agisted by Mr. 
Thomas (Old Weir) ns vice-president, passed off in the satis- 
factory style for which this comfortable “ nest" is so justly 
celebrated. J J 
Carelessness in usino the Gun. — A poor man named 
John Hawker last week lost his life by one of the very 
numerous gun accidents which wo almost daily hear of, anil 
against which people in general do not seem inclined to take 
the slightest precaution. He was drawing tho gun, loaded, 
through a hedge, with tho muzzle towards him, when it ex- 
ploded, aud tho contents wont through his ribs. He died 
next day. An inquest was hold by Mr. Best on Monday, 
when a verdict of “ Accidental death" was returned. 
Winter and Wildfowl in tiii; Lake District.— L ast 
week the weather was, for the time of the year, nuusually 
severe, aud the consequence was that wildfowl arrived on 
W indermore and other lakes in numerous flocks, affording 
good sport. There wo* scarcely a day that large (locks of 
wild geoso were not seeu winging their way westward. It is 
an “ old saying,” that when wildfowl arrive with us early, 
aud in great quantities, it bctoUcus a severe winter. If there 
be anything to be gathered from the flight of birds, os indi- 
cating the approach of a hard winter, we may make up our 
minds we have entered upon oue of storms and se- 
verity. The swallows aud martins left us before the com 
was well gathered in ; the woodcocks were not slow to take 
their place, and the latter have been very abundant this 
season iu the woods and high pastures of Furness fells. 
Ducks and widgeons have been very abundant iu our lakes 
and livers, considering the earliness of the season for such 
visitors ; whilst in our woods and hedges there may be seen 
the red wing, with a great variety of smaller birds, which we 
arc seldom aceustomod to bco at auy other time except during 
■overo weather. 
CH3CKE T. 
OUR GLANCE AT THE SEASON 1854. 
NO. V. 
In continuation of these glances, we next have to point 
out that the next public exhibition at Lord's was that on 
Monday, July 10, when a novel contest was produced by 
Mr. Dark, under the title of the “ United Eleven v. 
Fifteen Gentlemen of the Universities of Oxford and Cam- 
bridge.” The weather, however, in this instance, as in 
most of the first-class matches that were played up to the 
“ day of tears" (St. Swithin), was wet, and anything but 
that which those w ho play and those who look on desire. 
Damp, cold, and cheerless was the morning whereon that 
contest, which many anticipated would prove one of the 
most exciting of the Marylebone Club season, was com- 
menced ; and the consequence was that the proceedings were 
not witnessed by such a number of spectators ns one would 
have expected. A fine sunshiny morn, on the contrary, 
would have induced hundreds to visit Lord's upon this 
occasion ; whilst those who personally participated in the 
game would not merely have played with more satisfaction 
to themselves, but in many eases far better. To use an 
almost obsolete expression, “ the match was damped,” no 
fault attributable to those engaged iu it, seeing that it arose 
from a cause which none of them could control or prevent. 
A lurge amount of disappointment, therefore, resulted from 
the untoward circumstance. The Universities only scored 
64 and 57, or 121; and the United won the honours of 
the event by two wickets, scoring 17 and 75, or 122. The 
latter, as most people of the present day are when they 
chance tn meet it, were all abroad at the slow how ling. As we 
proceed with these notices the writer will have to say much 
upon this subject. In the two hands of the Universities 
there was but one double score in each — viz., that of Mr. 
Leake, 20, in the first, and that of Mr R. A. Clement, 28, in 
the second. The United showed n 10, through the instru- 
mentality of Lockycr (the Surrey wicket-keeper), in the 
first hands; and in the second Mr. Vernon headed the 
team with 16, and was followed by Lockyer with 14, 
and Wisden with the like number. There are not a few 
who regard these odd-numbered matches, not merely as a 
violation of the rules of the game, but as not being cricket. 
We have personally witnessed — everybody has seen by the 
enormous extension of the game during the last eight years 
— the advantages which have arisen from the introduction 
of this description of match by Clarke, the slow howler, in 
the country- This step has done more towards the sowing 
and the cultivation of the “seeds of cricket," if we may 
be permitted the expression, throughout the land than all 
the combined efforts of clubs. Already we partake of a 
small portion of the fruits in the discovery tliut, by prac- 
tice and emulation, several players, gentlemen as well as 
professionals, who had previously never been heard of be- 
yond the limits of their own little district, have been brought 
out in consequence of their linving been put into a “ twenty- 
two,” in opposition to the “ Eleven ;” and so had the chance 
of showing what they could do against players indivi- 
dually superior to themselves. But for these matches 
this result would never have been arrived at. In the 
early stage of these matches the game was scarcely known, 
or at least but little supported and played in many parts of 
England ; even still less was it carried on with any spirit 
in other portions of the United Kingdom. Since their 
introduction, there is scarcely a hamlet or village in this 
country which has not its cricket club, nor a town or city 
which has not several in whose practice and matches the 
noblemen and the more wealthy constantly participate with 
their less fortunate and more humble neighbours, and in 
that way a better opportunity is afforded to each class to 
gain a proper estimate the one of the other. Were it for 
these only, out of many other reasons, the writer would 
advocate the energetic support and continuance of these 
“ odd-numbered " contests. Well, the present was a 
novelty at Lord’s in the existing age, and sorry are we that 
its object was defeated by adverse weather, especially as it 
had been appointed expressly lor the middle of the season. 
Thursday, July 13, found Eleven Gentlenun from the 
County of Kent assembled at “ Lord's " for the purpose of 
contesting the honours- of the annual match with Eleven 
Gentlemen of England. The latter carried the day, 
winning by the large number of 136 runs, the fight having 
