LITERATURE. SOME ACCOUNT OF ENGLISH DEER PARKS, WITH NOTES ON THE MANAGEMENT OF DEER. By Evelyn Phillip Shirley, Esq., M.A., F.S.A., some time Knight of the Shire for the Counties of Monaghan and Warwick. The author of this volume is well known for his antiquarian researches, and a genealogical work entitled "The Noble and Gentle Men of England," and the present book will equally be a standard authority upon the subjects he so ably treats of. As the result of the inquiries, Mr. Evelyn Shirley has, with indefatigable pains and trouble, made it appear that there are at this time 334 parks in the different counties of England stocked with deer, 31 of which contain red deer. With respect to their age or antiquity, it appears that there are parks whose origin is lost in the obscurity of early Norman times, down to the date of yesterday; but if Lord Abergavenny's park at Eridge, in Sussex, may be identified with the Reredfelle of Domesday, there can be no doubt, he says, that it may lay claim to this enviable distinction; Woodstock, in Oxfordshire, having, we may remark, been deemed the oldest in England, until Sir Henry Ellis proved the contrary in his "Introduction to Domesday," both Stow in his "Annals" and Sir William Dugdale in his "History of Warwickshire" having been misled into this generally received opinion. With regard to extent, parks vary from an area of more than 2,000 acres to a couple of roods, the Royal Park of Windsor containing 2,600; Lord Egerton of Tatton's, at Tatton, in Cheshire, 2,500; Blenheim (in Oxfordshire), Richmond Park (in Surrey), Eastwall (in Kent), Grimsthorpe (in Lincolnshire), and Knowesley (in Lancashire), nearly approaching it in size; the park or paddock in the College of St. Mary Magdalen, in the University of Oxford, containing 11 acres, with a herd of 40 fallow deer. The three hundred and thirty-four parks are thus apportioned to the following counties: The number of parks traced to Domesday are 29. Mr. Evelyn Shirley commences with a sketch of the history of deer parks from the Conquest to the beginning of the sixteenth century, and then proceeds to their history from the beginning of the sixteenth century to the present time, in successive chapters, enumerating in each county those which are on record only and those actually existent, concluding with the management of deer and deer parks. We unhesitatingly assert that no country gentleman's library can be complete lacking Mr. Evelyn Shirley's "Deer Parks." The book contains several illustrations; some from quaint and curious originals, others representing interesting or well-known spots and places. These views comprise the Great Elm Tree in the park at Eatington, Warwickshire, 20 feet in circumference from the ground; the ancient Pale Bank, or Deer Leap, at Hursley, in the county of Southampton; Queen Elizabeth's Oak at Huntingfield, in Suffolk; the Keeper's Lodge in the Great Park, at Staunton-Harold, Leicestershire; Chartley Park, Staffordshire; the Deer Leap at Wolseley Park, in Staffordshire, on the borders of Cannock Chase; and the view from Wharncliffe Chase. A subject-piece, "Fallow Deer led by the Power of Music," is admirably rendered, and it only remains for us to say that the volume, independently of its valuable contents and clear wood-engravings, is put before the public most appropriately in regard to paper, type, and binding. We shall on a future occasion revert to this work. NORWAY ITS PEOPLE, PRODUCTS, AND INSTITUTIONS. By the Rev. John Bowden, Rector of Rokeby, Yorkshire; late British Consular Chaplain at Christiania. London: Chapman and Hall, Piccadilly. This unpretending octavo, which from its portability and print we found a pleasant railway companion, is replete with information and entertainment, the 250 pages embracing every topic calculated to amuse and interest its reader; while practical hints given to those meditating a trip to Norway cannot fail to be eminently useful. The mere tourist will be apprised by a variety of details of the habits and customs of the people he is going to visit, and forewarned, if desiring to be accounted a civilized being, as to what he should or should not do in obedience to the laws of propriety and etiquette, some of which are rather peculiar; for woe-betide his reputation as a polished gentleman were he to be guilty of stopping a friend in the street to talk with him, for the victim of this gaucherie would, we are told, be nervous and uneasy until quit of him. Refraining from any attempt at a chat, he ought only to raise his hat, bow, and pass on. Shaking hands too is not a practice. After luncheon or any other repast he must go up to the lady of the house and say, "Tak for mad" ("Thanks for the meal"), when she will gravely reply "Vel bekommet" ("Great good may it do you"); and certainly gravity is befitting the kindly wish in some of those instances of a feed. Nor, again, can he ask for a chair at a dinner party, for guests invariably stand during the whole of the affair, speeches inclusive. The breach of an observance may perhaps be pardoned a stranger; but keenly sensitive respecting their primitive usages, the Norwegians resent as a serious offence whatever may seem a reflection upon them. The sportsman, who is not likely to linger long at the capital or other chief towns to need tutoring to social duties, will gain by a few suggestions offered him in relation to his favourite pursuits, and find his desire to participate in them increased by what he finds briefly mentioned. The slight allusions we find to sport have arisen probably from the apparent fact that Mr. Bowden was not accustomed to handle rod or gun. The traveller should not proceed to Norway earlier than June, nor start later than August, the former month being the best if the North Cape be intended. There are no public conveyances. A carriole and harness will have to be purchased, which, on the termination of the journeyings, the vendor will be ready to buy back at a reasonable sum, wear and tear considered. The carriole is a nautilus-shaped vehicle, carrying but a single person, and, although springless, not disagreeable in motion, by reason of the long shafts. Horses at certain stations are provided by small farmers in the neighbourhoods under contract with Government, there being a fixed tariff rendering imposture difficult. A post-boy accompanies the horses, standing behind the carriole, a small gratuity for drink-money being given him at each stage. Every posting station has a dag-bok, or day-book, kept, and any complaint can be entered therein. Horses, the full-sized quadrupeds we mean, are seldom met with in Norway, except in the principal towns. Ponies are employed; hardy, amazingly sure-footed little animals, that never stumble or tumble down the steep hilly roads they rattle over. The Norwegian is merciful to his beast, we are told, fond and proud of it, having many expressions of endearment for it, and calling it his "beauty," his "little maid," his "treasure," the sagacious creature recognizing its master's voice and obeying no other; so that his shedding tears of rage, if he sees it ill-used by the traveller who hires it, may actually be witnessed, though we regret there is no intimation given of the worthy man's resentment, the "dag bok" possibly having its leaf open in terrorem to register the traveller's version. Kindness to dumb creatures is a praiseworthy characteristic of the people. The winters being very long and the snow remaining for months on the ground, the birds suffer greatly, numbers perishing during the inclemency of the weather with hunger; and so when a fresh fall of snow occurs, a sheaf of corn is fixed on a high pole in the open air, and the birds fly towards it to feed on the grain. The traveller, when setting out on his journey from a town, is recommended to put plenty of Norwegian coin in his pockets, as the people in country localities have a convenient way of never possessing change. He will meet with simplicity and honesty, if not a courteous demeanour, hospitality as we gather being a national feature. Gudbrandsdalen is pronounced the best general locality for sport; capercailzie, black-cock, willow grouse (hjerpe), white grouse (eype), woodcock, and plenty of hares being abundant. The Norwegian fields abound with wild reindeer, but they are very difficult to get at. The station at Jekkin, in the Dovrefjeld, is mentioned as about the best for an English sportsman to try his luck, Mr. Bowden observing that, "If unsuccessful in killing any reindeer the healthy exercise and grand scenery will amply recompense him for all his labour," though the disappointed sportsman, however great his admiration may be of nature's sublimity in the picturesque, may be disposed to query the compensation promised. The animals met with in Norway, besides the reindeer, are wolves, the elk, a lynx occasionally, hares, rabbits, and foxes, the last never being treated otherwise than as vermin, and got rid of accordingly. The hare, common everywhere, is the lepus variabilis, not the brown. hare of England, nor is the ordinary rabbit a native. Pheasants are unknown, partridges rare, snipes and water-fowl abundant, every species of the latter being strictly preserved from the 1st of April to July 1st. The elk may be killed in August, September, and October, though, notwithstanding the game-laws, elk-venison is now and then to be seen on sale in Christiania in November. Reindeer may be killed throughout the year, excepting the months of April, May, June, and July; the same as to hares, saving June, July, and August. Partridges can only be shot during the months of September, October, and November. All the rivers in Norway are good salmon rivers, Mr. Bowden naming the chief of these for sport, the Namsen having the greatest celebrity amongst them. Trout are found in nearly all the rivers and lakes, and char in the river Kemi, near Hammerfest, which rise to the fly. There are also sea-trout. Guns, ammunition, and fishing tackle should be taken from England, as also some screws, nails, leather straps, a few pieces of stout cord, a hammer, a pair of pincers, and a small medicine chest. As little baggage as possible should be contrived; still enough to provide against bitter cold and oppressive heat-the one often in close proximity to the other during a day's wandering. The sportsman who intends to fish the Namsen and rivers in the north of Norway is advised to go from Hull by steamer to Bergen; the ordinary traveller from Hull to Christiania. Further particulars as to routes and transit follow. Mr. Bowden's descriptive powers are considerable; for whether seeking to convey an adequate idea of the magnificent scenery of Norway, or ordinary things he saw during his sojourn, he is equally happy, rendering with terseness, though brevity, the great majority of the innumerable subjects and topics entered into, and leaving nothing untouched upon that general readers may fairly look for and expect in a volume of such limited dimensions, with the excepted omission of the "Upper ten"-hundred, who are a very exclusive body in this democratic country. The habits and doings of the higher grades of society are so much the same, however, in all European lands, that they may be imagined to correspond pretty closely to other Court circles. One prominent feeling, nevertheless, absorbing, exuberant, a ruling passion, permeates every class of Norsemen pride and love of country; their patriotism being so intense that, blinding them to every defect, travellers as they are to foreign parts, they will return from Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and Great Britain, convinced in their own minds that none other is comparable to it. Finland, or Norwegian Lapland, to which Mr. Bowden devotes a couple of chapters, would claim more than casual reference, had we space to command; but the absence of any sporting specialities to note is in that respect fortunate. BLOOD STOCK. SALES OF BLOOD By Messrs. Tattersall, at York, in the Race week CAPTAIN ARCHDALL'S YEARLINGS. Spanker, ch c, by Woolwich, out of Kilbride, by Iago (Mr. Godding) Camerata, ch yearling f, by Camorino, dam by Young Barefoot (Mr. Ten Broeck) Lancer, be, by Carbineer, out of Ballerina, by Voltigeur (Mr. R. Williams) Bay filly by Thormanby, out of Taragona by Orlando (Mr. J. Day, jun.) Weathercock, brown horse, 5 years, by Weatherbit out of Qui Vive (Lord Combermere) 55 MR. G. S. THOMPSON'S YEARLING. The Aztec, bc, by King of Hearts, dam Sea Nymph by Newminster (Mr. Sharpen) MR. H. ROBINSON'S YEARLING, Brown colt by Nottingham, dam Witchcraft by Weatherbit (Mr. W. Day) ALL BY HUBERT. Mortimer, bc, out of Mocking Bird by Magpie (Mr. J. Wood) Vansittart, bc, by Y Melbourne, out of The Folly by Ashgill (Mr. Fobert)... MR. T. DAWSON'S YEARLINGS. Needle Gun, br c, by Defender, dam Colleen Bawn by Mickey Free (Mr. Ashworth) 325 25 88 3 Birthday, ch yearling c, by Ben Webster, out of Ladylike by Newminster (Mr. Godding) 153 MR. H. DARLEY'S YEARLINGS. Badsworth, br c, by Carnival, out of Beresina by Hetman Platoff (Mr. Jennings) MARES AND FOALS. Vatty by Vatican, dam Birdtrap by Birdcatcher; with a colt foal by Dollar, and served by Lord Clifden (Mr. Viner) Maid of Clifton by Touchstone, dam Barba by Lanercost; with a colt foal by Dollar, and served by Macaroni (Mr. Broomsgrove) Foal by Kettledrum, out of Lovebird (Mr. Waugh) Little Hannah by Lanercost, dam by Phoenix; with a filly by Marquis, and served by Dundee (Mr. Brigham) Stuff and Nonsense by Libel, out of Mangosteen; with a filly by Skirmisher, and served by Marquis (Mr. Broomsgrove) 30 |