'We will go to Enniskillen,

And we'll skin each Orange villain;
With their skin we'll make the linen,'

Says the 'Shaun vaun Vocht.'"

Who will not say that such a feeling between the same race, because their religions differ, is a lamen'able state of things in any country? Is not some step necessary to be taken by those in authority to do away with this gangrene, festering in the healthiest part of Her Majesty's dominions? It is useless to expect the influx of visitors to admire the magnificent scenery of the country, or the investment of capital to develope its resources, while it remains in its present unsettled and feverish state. And how beautiful is the "dear little island!" Those who have travelled the west coast, from the cliffs of Mohur to Ballyskelligs Bay, and has seen the fierce Atlantic rushing and heard it moaning along that iron-bound coast, will not easily forget the stern and solemn grandeur of the entire scene. And yet in and along that coast, natural gems of beauty are studded-scenery, the like of which cannot be found in any other of those islands which form what is called the "United Kingdom." Killarney is itself alone in the world. There is not another Killarney in the universe. Kilmallock to the student of archæology or ancient history presents a remarkable and most interesting feature, which would take all the talent of the members of the Archæological Society to describe, and would furnish food for essays innumerable. The beautiful bays of Lahinch, Kilkee, Dingle, Rossbeigh, Valentia-with the Abbey of Derrynane and its lovely little bay near-all are charming spots for the tourist to explore. The hospitality of the population, when not blurred by feverish, incipient insurrection, is proverbial. An Irishman, rich or poor, would share his last crust with the wayfarer. What a pity that its present unhappy state is such that Ireland's best friends are driven from its shores!

A CLEAR COURSE.

ENGRAVED BY HARRIS, FROM A PAINTING BY W. WILKINSON.

In these days, when people go out fishing for sweepstakes, and legs make books upon an All-England match, it is quite a pleasure to see a little pure sport, thoroughly free from the influence of filthy lucre." Here, Jim, we will have the dogs with us, as we may knock up a hare on the old Down;" and Harbinger and Heroine take, accordingly, a part in the procession. After a due inspection of the short-wools, shepherd thinks he knows where one is to be found in her form; and, as she takes a beautiful open line, it is fairly racing from end to end. The young horse jumps the rails like another Lottery; but the bitch has clearly the speed of her companion, and finishes with a brilliant kill, close on the edge of the plantations. It was a course worth seeing and riding to; but, bless us all! if it had only been for the Waterloo, the Master, with so much money on, would have scarcely dared to witness it, much less put his nag at the timber in the style he did. However, if we should drop on to another hare, we will lay you two sixpences to one that poor puss gets the worst of it!

SPORT IN THE FRITH OF TAY.

BY NORVAL.

No doubt the Tay looks very pretty at Perth, but it improves in size nobleness, and grandeur as you sail down the river; there is not fine scenery to be seen in the North of Scotland than between Perth an Dundee, and to see it properly you must sail up or down the river; ther you have views on both sides, which cannot be surpassed for quie beauty. There is no regular communication now between Perth and Dundee by water, but small steamers sail generally once or twice week during the summer months. Every mile of ground on both side is crowded with ancient lore. Newburgh, Abernethy, and Lindores-ali call up recollections of deeds done in the days of yore. On the north bank, stretching away to the Sidlaw hills, with Dunsinane looming in the distance, lies the Carse of Gowrie, one of the best pieces of farming land in Scotland, and a better piece of coursing ground is not to be found in the three kingdoms. Some of the sporting farmers and tradesmen in the neighbourhood started a coursing club a few years ago, which bids fair to be a success, and no doubt would be much more so if it was more liberally supported by the landed proprietors in Perthshire and Forfarshire. The club hold two meetings a year, spring and autumn; the last autumn meeting was well attended, and showed excellent sport; the hares were in splendid condition, in many cases too good for the dogs, running some to a standstill that looked good enough to win the Waterloo Cup.

All the river, from Perth to within a few miles of Dundee, is crowded with salmon fishers; every few hundred yards there is a fisherman's hut, with men, boats, and nets busy dragging the river. You would think it a moral impossibility that a single salmon could ever reach the fair city of Perth by water, and I suppose not many would if it were not for that blessed day of rest the Sabbath. The salmon fish

ing extends far below Dundee, out towards the sea; but as there is a great breadth of water, they have plenty of room to avoid the nets, which they have not after they reach the narrow part of the river. From Dundee out seawards the nets are worked on a different principle from the nets up the river, a principle in which the fisherman's proverbial patience is taxed to the utmost extent. The net is about thirty or forty yards in length, one end fixed on shore; and the fisherman stands in a boat anchored at the other end of the net, which is also connected to the shore by a rope; and whenever he sees a fish in the net, he gives the signal to the men on shore, and they haul in the rope end, which encloses the fish. It is a very uncertain way of fishing, as they can only fish when the tide suits, and only get a stray salmon now and then, that has been hugging the shore on its way up the river.

After passing Dundee the river widens into the Frith of Tay. The north bank as far as Broughty Ferry is finely studded with the beautiful villas of Dundee merchants, and certainly the taste displayed in building does great credit for the Dundodians. On the opposite bank stands the pretty village of Newport, and the beautifully wooded heights of Scott's Craig, leading on to the busy little village of Layport.

There is excellent deep-sea fishing in the frith. Although sea fishing is not so great sport as salmon or trout fishing, still it is a fine change, and a very healthy one, and good sport too, when the fish are large, and taking well. There are always plenty of small cod to be got, weighing from 2lbs. to 6lbs. ; also flukes, skate, gurnets, podles, &c.; and also good mackerel fishing in the season, which is better sport than the most of sea fishing.

There are a great many seals always to be seen about the sand banks, but they are not easily got at; after being fired at once or twice they get very shy, and skedaddle into the water before you get within shot. It then requires some knowledge of the animal to get near them. The best way is to dress yourself in old clothes, as near the colour of a seal as possible, then lie down on one of the banks close to the water, and imitate their cry. They are gifted with a great deal of curiosity, and any within hearing will probably come within twenty or thirty yards, to have a look at you. At that distance large shot will kill them, and there is more chance of hitting with it than with a ball. It is very little use shooting them in deep water, for although they are killed dead, it is almost impossible to get them, as they go to the bottom directly they are shot. They are very destructive amongst salmon, and often take up their quarters near the stake nets, and rob the fishermen of many a good fat salmon.

In the winter season wild-fowl shooting is practised to a good extent, and in some cases with great success, both between Perth and Dundee, and out seawards. Some enterprising individuals have mounted boats with big guns, and tried to make a trade of shooting wild-fowl; but in most cases it has turned out a wild goose chase, and a very uncertain way of making a living. However, there is no lack of sport to be had with the gun in the Frith of Tay at all seasons of the year, even now at this inclement season, when the most of sportsmen betake themselves to the fireside to drink whiskey toddy, and talk over many a brilliant day's sport, it is well worth while to deny oneself such luxury to have a day and half the night at the wild-fowl in the Frith of Tay. Shooting may be had all day along the sea-shore, and if you have a run of luck you may make a good bag. I cannot account for the way in which sea birds change their minds. Sometimes they sit like barn-door fowls, while at other times they are as wild as hawks. The mallard is in greatest request amongst sportsmen, being the most serviceable on the table, and also the most difficult to get at. This is sport which the short winter day does not bring to a close, as it can be prosecuted with more success than during the day, long after the shades of night have been falling; for if it is a clear moonlight night you can betake yourself to an inland loch on the mouth of a small river, where the wild-fowl generally congregate, and concealing yourself as much as possible. Where you can command a sheet of water you may have excellent sport; but in the winter season this requires a good strong northern constitution to stand it, backed up with a good drop of the real mountain dew; for often you have to sit for hours up to the knees amongst water waiting for a shot, on a cold December night; no enviable billet for any civilized mortal; dull and dreary it is-nothing but the moou and stars overhead, and the water beneath; no sound but the sullen roar of the distant ocean, or the faint echo of a sailor's song, prompted, no doubt, by the

first sight of the lights that are seen from his ain fire-side. Presently you hear the peculiar whiz of a mallard's wing passing within a few yards of your head, and down he settles on the water within fifteen yards a fine clear shot, which you are almost tempted to take; but this one is sure to act as a decoy to others, and as soon as a good many have settled on the water fire one barrel in the midst of them, and the other after they rise, and then look out sharply for wounded birds. A good retriever is almost indispensable in wild-fowl shooting; but it must be carefully trained, as the slightest movement on its part may spoil many a good shot.

Boating is also indulged in to a considerable extent in the Frith of Tay; but not nearly so much as it ought to be, considering the fine piece of water there is for such exercise. Newport used to be famed for its regattas; but the boating spirit died away, and the regattas were discontinued for a number of years. Last season, however, the racing was revived, and a regatta took place on the old course at Newport. All the races were well contested, and I have no doubt by a little energy the members of the club may make it flourish again. If the Dundonians make as good use of the water they have as the Oxonians do of what they have, they might soon have a crew that would show their opponents the stern of their boat in any water.

SINGULAR PROPERTIES IN TREES.

BY AUCEPS.

We find that in the barbarous ages wild sports constituted the whole and sole occupation of those countries in which the arts and sciences were quite unknown; and before the notion of agriculture smiled upon the efforts of human invention, the mast of the oak and the beech tree, with a supplementary addition of other wild hedge-fruits, proved the only spontaneous dietetic supplies which enabled man to subsist, and then only at such stated periods, when the natural productions of the vegetable kingdom were more immediately responded to by the summoning calls of the seasons.

Without going so far back as the opening era of Creation, or dwelling chronologically upon the origin of the arborescent picture of our once blessed Eden, we will, whilst treating upon the subject of trees in general, at once direct our attention to the period when the Ark was constructed by Noah, which we are instructed, from what we can gather from sacred history, was made of gopher wood. It is exceedingly difficult at this distant period of time, to surmise what description of timber this gopher wood might be. Some commentators consider the same to have been cedar, others the ceritosa or locust tree; but it is of little consequence of what wood the massive floating pile of timber was composed; it having lower, second, and third storeys pertaining to it, affords us a striking similarity in its construction to that observable in the modern type of our Great Eastern steamer.

Proceeding onward, we have occasion to observe that the next in