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"A RAT!"

ENGRAVED BY J. WESTLEY FROM A PAINTING BY G. ARMFIELD.

Three terriers to one unhappy bit of vermin is not exactly the ratio in which Jemmy Shaw, Esq., would conduct a rat match. His aim, rather, should be to lead on the promising tyro gradually from a single-handed combat to that grand day when he can despatch his cool hundred in six or seven minutes, every rat being duly delivered over the head of the exalted "swell" who is honoured with the office of timekeeper. We shall never forget the enjoyment with which a friend of ours felt five score of these agreeable animals being pitched within an inch or two of his ear, on their way to the pit.

Somehow or other the rat rarely has a warmer welcome than the trio of rough and ready seem so willing to give him. On the contrary, many are the fashions resorted to, in order to free a neighbourhood of his company. The gentleman we have already alluded to-Mr. Shawis reported to detail a plan, in the way of example, that we can only regret will not fit in to type. Enough be to say that under this management the victim selected and returned as a warning to his fellows becomes day by day "much more uncomfortabler," until his sympathising friends and relatives, unable any longer to witness his sufferings, retire from the scene.

Johnson, in his standard work, The Gamekeeper's Directory, gives another means to the same end, with the additional recommendation of being a little more suited to the foot-lights. He thus affirms and advises :

"Rats are very destructive to game of every kind, as well as to the spawn of fish. They increase very fast.

"During summer they reside principally in holes on the banks of rivers, ditches, and ponds; but as winter comes on they approach the human habitations, and very often take up their abode in barns, corn stacks, &c."

care.

"It is, however, in the fields, and at a distance from any human habitation, that the rat becomes the object of the gamekeeper's especial Rats are to a certain extent gregarious, and generally take up their abode near to a pond or rivulet. In such a situation the destruction of the whole colony may be insured in the following manner :Select a place some three or four feet deep, and steep-to the side, with an overhanging tree or bush; fix pegs of wood in the bank or side of the pond or brook, so as to support a common spring trap about two inches beneath the surface of the water; suspend, about six inches above the water, directly over the trap, a piece of herring, a bird, or indeed any animal substance: the rat will not fail to go to smell at it, and to do so must rest its hind legs upon the trap, and will thus be caught. However, as I have previously stated, if the trap be suffered to remain with its captured victim exposed to sight for any length of time, and as it is impossible that a gamekeeper can watch one particular

colony of rats, some plan is necessary to conceal the trap the moment it has done its office. This it is that renders a depth of water necessary; the rat in its struggles will throw the trap from off the pegs fixed to support it, and it will sink to the bottom. It need scarcely be said that a string, proportionate to the depth of water, must be attached to the trap and fastened to a peg fixed under the surface of the water, to enable the keeper to recover it. I have adopted this plan frequently, and always with complete success. I have recommended it to others, and never knew it fail. It is worthy the attention of the farmer, as well as the gamekeeper. It is less trouble than any other method that can be adopted for the destruction of this loathsome vermin. The traps may be visited and reset at convenience; and the drowned rats are not altogether without value, as they become the food of the pike or eel.”

STATE OF THE ODDS, &c.

SALE OF BLOOD STOCK.

The stallion Sweetmeat has changed owners at a high figure; but he will not be delivered until the close of the season. Lord Stradbroke has sold his stallion Coningsby, by Venison, to Mr. Hughes for 150 gs. Mr. W. Ewbank has purchased Broughton for 300 gs., as it is reported. Mr. George Drew has disposed of the following lot to Mr. T. Parr:Defiance, 3 yrs.; Citizen, by Freeman out of Sally Warfoot, 2 yrs. ; and Jonathan Martin, by Mr. Martin out of La Femme Sage, 2 yrs. Defiance's price is put at 1,500 gs. Mr. John Osborne has also sold a lot, consisting of Little Davie, Achyranthes, Rage, and a mare by the Doctor. Lord Londesborough has purchased Gold Dust, and the horse has left Newmarket for Malton. Mr. Gray has bought the steeplechaser Uncle Tom of Mr. Barton.

Captain Cunningham's Chatterbox, purchased of Lord Waterford for 1,000 gs., goes to the Stud, having broken down very badly. Confessor, a nag which the public have been watching for some time, as likely to do a good thing, has just been scratched for all his engagements; and a similar announcement has been made in reference to Gholab Singh. Mr. Simpson's two-year-old colt by Cowl, out of View Halloo's dam, died on the 18th.

Captain Douglas Lane has engaged W. Smith, of Newmarket, as his private trainer, and G. E. Sharpe as his jockey. Woolcot the trainer has left Stockbridge for the Druid's Head, Stonehenge, where he will continue to take in horses.

PRIZE FOR ENGLISH HORSES AT CHANTILLY.-The Emperor, Louis Napoleon, has presented the sum of 10,000 francs (£400) to be run for by horses of all countries, at the Chantilly Autumn Meeting, in October next. The prize will be added to a sweepstakes of £20 each, h. ft.; the second to receive £80 out of the stakes; three-year-olds to carry 91lbs., four, 103lbs., five, 109lbs., and six and upwards, 110lbs. English horses to carry 10lbs. extra; and winners, in England, of £600

to carry 17lbs. extra.

Continental bred horses that have never won a prize of the value of 7,000 francs (£280), to be allowed, three-year-olds, 7lbs., four and upwards, 10lbs. Distance, 3,200 metres (nearly two miles). Engagements to be made on or before the 1st of August.

ILL-LUCK IN BREEDING AND RACING.-We take the first of the two following statements from Bell's Life in London; the second from Cossack's prospectus as a stallion for the season :—

"Mr. Osbaldeston sent four mares to Touchstone, at Eaton, in 1852, and three in 1853. In 1852 Side Saddle's dam died with a colt in her, and a colt out of Muscovite's dam had its leg broken by the dam kicking it, or by some other mare, and it was obliged to be destroyed. In January, 1853, Muscovite's dam had a beautiful colt foal, and it died in a week after its birth, from the dam not allowing it to suck, and Mr. Nutting, the stud-groom, being unable to rear it by hand.

"He ran second for the Doncaster St. Leger. Only beat two lengths for the Cesarewitch, giving those before him a year and nearly 3st. Ran second for the Chester Cup; carried 9st. llb.; beat by a head, giving the winner 2st. 5lbs. Beat by a head for the Gold Vase, at Ascot; carried 9st. 7lbs., giving the winner 2st. 4lbs. Beat by a head for the Goodwood Cup, giving the winner (Nancy) 1st. 10lbs. Also ran second for the Brighton Stakes, giving the winner 2st."

Never, perhaps, were so many good throws so near coming off. Nothing reaches so near ruin as a good second."

66

We have to record the death, on the 20th of March, of Mr. H. Stebbing, the well-known trainer of Hambledon. He died of disease of the heart, from which he had been suffering for some time. There is no doubt, however, that his death was much accelerated by that of his wife, whom he survived only nine days, having been summoned from Doncaster race-course to her side. Mr. Stebbing was a man of high character and position as a trainer, and had at the time of his decease the support of a very strong party, including the Messrs. Morris and others, who may have some difficulty to find a successor. There are some nominations now void in consequence of his somewhat-unexpected decease; but not so many as might perhaps at first be imagined.

A decided run on Orestes for the Derby promises to end in his again filling the place of first favourite. His party are very confident; while the public have always had something of a leaning towards him. Another quondam premier, known as The Reiver, has also been gradually reviving, and we fancy will see a still shorter price. Cineas and Umbriel, too, are all the better since we last left them; the former, though, only really in force with those who profess to "understand" him. There are always plenty ready to put it on 66 agen." The rush on Honeywood has naturally in some degree subsided, but we can scarcely quote him as a worse favourite; the reaction, on the other hand, in favour of the two cracks we have mentioned, has in some degree impaired West Australian's position. With many, his place is yet considered side by side with Sittingbourne for "The Two Thousand." Pharos, with "The Doctor in the House," has not had much attention; but both Ethelbert and Ninnyhammer have all along been in demand. Another taste of Stevens' horse is looked forward to with some interest. So far Berks and Wilts threaten to do wonders, if they only once get into their play.

Contentment's prowess, however, is already disputed. Trifle goes clean away from him for the Chester Cup; Lampedo looks like reaching him for the Metropolitan; and Ethelbert already heads him in public esteem for the Newmarket Handicap. Yet still it is Berks and Wilts against all England. The betting on the Handicap races, we have still in the table, has, on the whole, been very flat; for the Chester Cup more especially confined; and even on the Metropolitan, now just due, but occasional. Northampton "on," with Doncaster and Warwick " past," may, in some degree, render account for this.

The 2,000 Gs. Stakes (run April 26): 7 to 2 each against West Australian and Sittingbourne. The Newmarket Handicap (run April 12): 5 to 1 each against Ethelbert, 3 yrs., 5st. 10lb., and Contentment, 3 yrs., 5st. 3lb.