perform a journey of two hundred and sixty miles in three days and a half. If the leader is steady and docile, he is rendered very valuable, and often produces the sum of ten pounds when sold.

The deep snow over which these dogs have to pass, and the terrible storms they are compelled at times to encounter when their master cannot see the path, nor even keep his eyes open, and the animals scarcely ever missing their way, render them invaluable, where horses would be quite useless. In times when it is found impracticable to proceed, the dogs will lie around their master and keep him warm, at the same time defending him from all danger.

The Greenland-dog is something of the same species, approaching to the wolf; but are generally white with a black face; sometimes they are piebald..

THE FOX-HOUND.

THIS is a race of dogs to which great attention has been paid in the rearing during many years; and after a variety of crossing and re-crossing, it is supposed to have arrived at perfection. There are certain points essential to this breed; the legs should be very straight, the feet round, but not too large, the shoulders thrown back, the chest deep, the breast tolerably wide, the head small, the back broad, the neck thin, the tail thick and bushy, and a perfect symmetery in the whole body.

Fox-hunting for years has been the favourite amusement of this country; and this doubtless has tended to our surpassing our continental neighbours in the breed of both hunters and hounds.

This sport has been admirably described by Mr. Beckford, from whom we shall quote :

"The hour in the morning most favourable to the diversion is certainly an early one. The hounds should be at the cover at sun-rising.

Delightful scene!

Where all around is gay, men, horses, dogs;
And in each smiling countenance appears
Fresh blooming health, and universal joy.

Now let your huntsman throw in his hounds as quietly as he can, and let two whippers-in keep wide of him on either hand, so that a single hound may not escape them; let them be attentive to his halloo, and be ready to encourage or rate, as that directs: he will, of course, draw up the wind. Now, if you can keep your brother sportsmen in order, and put any discretion into them, you are in luck; they more frequently do harm than good: if it be possible, persuade those who wish to halloo the fox off, to stand quite under the cover side, and on no account to halloo him too soon; if they do, he most certainly will turn back again: could you entice them all into the cover, your sport would, in all probability, not be the worse for it.

"How well the hounds spread the cover! The huntsman you see is quite deserted, and his horse, which so lately had a crowd at his heels, has not now one attendant left. How steadily they draw! you hear not a single hound; yet none are idle. Is not this better than to be subject to continual disappointment from the eternal babbling of unsteady hounds?

See! how they range,
Dispers'd, how busily this way and that
They cross, examining, with curious nose,

Each likely haunt. Hark! on the drag I hear
Their doubtful notes, preluding to a cry,

More nobly full and swelled with every mouth.

"How musical their tongues! Now, as they get nearer to him, how the chorus fills! Hark! he is found. Now where are all your sorrows, and your cares, ye gloomy souls ? or where your pains and aches, ye complaining ones ?-one halloo has dispelled them all! What a crash they make! and echo seemingly takes pleasure to repeat the sound. The astonished traveller forsakes his road, lured by its melody; the listening ploughman now stops his plough; and every distant shepherd neglects his flock, and runs to see him break. What joy!-what eagerness in every face!

How happy art thou, man, when thou'rt no more
Thyself! when all the pangs that grind thy soul,
In rapture, and in sweet oblivion lost,

Yield a short interval and case from pain!

"Mark, how he runs the cover's utmost limits, yet dares not venture forth! the hounds are still too near. That check is lucky! now if our friends head him not, he will soon be off. Hark! they halloo-by Jove, he's gone!

Hark! what loud shouts

Re-echo through the groves! he breaks away,

Shrill horns proclaim his flight. Each straggling hound
Strains o'er the lawn to reach the distant pack.

'Tis triumph all, and joy!

Now huntsman get on with the head hounds! the whipper-in will bring on the others after you: keep an attentive eye on the leading hounds, that should the scent fail them, you may know at least how far they brought it.

"Mind Galloper how he leads them! It is difficult to distinguish which is first, they run in such style! yet he is the foremost hound. The goodness of his nose is not less excellent than his speed! How he carries the scent!-and when he loses it, see how eagerly he flings to recover it again! There-now he's at head again! See how they top the hedge!now, how they mount the hill!-Observe what a head they carry! and show me if you can, one shuffler or skirter amongst them all; are they not like a parcel of brave fellows, who, when they undertake a thing, determine to share its fatigues and its dangers equally amongst them?

Far o'er the rocky hills we range,
And dangerous our course; but in the brave
True courage never fails. In vain the stream
In foaming eddies whirls, in vain the ditch
Wide-gaping threatens death. The craggy steep,
Where the poor dizzy shepherd crawls with care,
And clings to every twig, gives us no pain;
But down we sweep, as stoops the falcon bold
To pounce his prey. Then up th' opponent hill,
By the swift motion slung, we mount aloft:
So ships in winter seas now sliding sink
Adown the steepy wave, then toss'd on high
Ride on the billows, and defy the storm.

It was then the fox I saw as we came down the hill: those crows directed me which way to look, and the sheep ran from him as he passed along. The hounds are now on the very spot, yet the sheep stop them not, for they dash beyond them. Now, see with what eagerness they cross the plain! Galloper no longer keeps his place,-Brusher takes it! see, how he flings for the scent, and how impetuously he runs! How eagerly he took the lead, and how he strives to keep it! Yet Victor comes up apace !-he reaches him!