Scotch and Irish trout. Mr. Stewart says-" With regard to the size of worm for fishing, where the trout are well fed and wary, when the waters are clear, worms can hardly be used too small if they cover the hook. A worm from two to three inches long, and about the thickness of a hen's quill, is the largest size that should be used." I never yet hooked a trout in low clear water with such a worm. Two to three inches! With worms that size, I have killed salmon in the lowest and clearest water, but never trout. A great deal is said also in Mr. Stewart's work about having your worms well scoured. I would rather have the brandling out of the dunghill, with all their imperfections on their heads and bodies. Take your brandlings from the pit, and put them in a flannel bag, with well-washed moss (the moss damp), and in an hour they will get tough enough and cleansed sufficiently for fishing; the offensive odour I believe to be one of the greatest lures for the trout.

In fishing with the worm, the streams are the best places to fish ; allowing the worm to be taken by the current into the eddies, and then it can be coaxed by the action of the hand again into the stream; but if possible avoid raising the worm from the water in a likely spot: rather let the worm be drifted to the side of the stream or next the bank, when you can take it out, and again drop it in the upper part of the rapid. In a likely place you may fish two or three times and the last time succeed, notwithstanding the worm was previously let go past unheeded.

I must confess to be one of those anglers for trout who prefer in all seasons the worm to the fly. I have been always a worm-fisher; and I never yet met any of the disciples of the rod and line (except my brother) who could surpass me, when I practised the art (now nearly twenty years ago). But he could give me two dozen in the morning, and then count more heads and larger game at sunset than I could in my best day. I never shall forget one day's sport we had on the Funcheon. Circumstances make me recollect the year. It was 1828. -We both commenced fishing within a few fields of each other, on Mr. Fitzgibbon's land, about a mile below Lord Kingston's park. It was not long before I perceived he was killing three for my one. I tied up and went to him, and the manner in which we fished that day may perhaps amuse my readers. He walked down through the river, and fished at each side of him. I remained on the bank with the worms and baskets. As he hooked the trout he threw them on the bank to me: I took them off the hook, and baited it afresh with worms-and so on. It was not long before one trout basket was filled, then another followed suit. He then came out of the river, and we sat down to luncheon, more for the purpose of emptying the salmon bag, in which our luncheon was stowed, than for the purpose of satisfying any craving hunger. We then transferred the trout from both baskets into the bag, which they did not quite fill, and got a gorsoon to carry the bag for us. Again we went to work as before, he fishing, I playing second part; and it was not long before we again filled the baskets. We then ceased fishing, being actually tired of killing, and had to walk about four miles to our friend's house, where we filled a large kitchen-table with the results of my brother's single rod that day. We made some presents, and brought next day to Cork, by Bianconi's car, over twelve dozen fine trout. We are, thank God, both alive this day, and ere this article will

be in the hands of my readers, I hope to be with him in Cork, to talk again over our battles, and recount our former struggles with the finny tribe. My nephews are skilful adepts, and perfect masters of this department of their father's art.

The morning is the best time for worm-fishing. The dew at night causes the worms to come to the surface of the earth for the purpose of imbibing the moisture. Some come out of their holes and fall into the little streams that feed the river; hence the trout feed better on the worm early, from the natural food being at night thus supplied to them by nature. If there is a heavy summer shower the trout will take the worm well after it, and again before and a little after sunset.

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The sharp streams are the best places to meet a heavy trout; under a rock, at the side or tail of a stream, or under the bank where the stream runs in, are also favourite spots with them. In all cases let your worm fall above where you think the trout lie, and hit him the moment you feel him tug at the worm. If you find him a heavy trout, do not be too eager to land him; let him exhaust his strength in a couple of races, and you can do as you like with him after. Above all things do not show yourself on the river, keep as far as possible from the water; and even when you hook a trout, retreat from, instead of advancing to, the edge of the stream. steady hand and patience is indispensable to make a good worm-fisher. Slowly and pleasantly will the creel at the back get heavier as the temper and patience of the worm-fisher are preserved. You must not get impatient with bad sport on one stream: the next may pay toll for both. You must not fidget if you lose two or three, as will often occur in succession, when they are taking badly. By-and-bye you will be rewarded for your industry when they get better on the feed. A knowledge of the lodges and habits of the trout is only to be acquired by study and practice in worm-fishing; and this knowledge will ensure the certainty of your success. If you find the wind rise in the course of the day, take off your bait hook immediately, and put up the flies. Let who will say to the contrary, it is waste of time to attempt to worm-fish with a strong wind. In the heat of the day in July, the trout will not take the worm so freely as in the morning; but if the angler then will search under the stones in red ground, he will find the copperbacked beetle, which is a most destructive bait. It can be fished with the same hook as is used for the worm, without shot, and, by dropping it in the head of the stream, it will run down but a short distance before the largest trout there will soon be found to sacrifice himself to his voracity. But as this paper was only intended to treat on worm-fishing, I will postpone any remarks about other baits until a future opportunity.

Before I conclude, I would advise those who wish to read a most interesting and practical work on trout-fishing to procure Mr. Stewart's book. I have not the pleasure of knowing the gentleman, and I differ from him in many points, fishing up stream and the modus operandi of worm-fishing amongst others; but I must confess I always lay by his little volume after perusal with satisfaction, and am convinced he is what he decsribes himself" A practical angler."

*The Practical Angler." Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black. 1857.

PURSUIT OF A CIVET CAT:

A REMINISCENCE OF INDIA.

Whilst I was residing with a very particular friend, an indigo planter, at the obscure and jungly station of Jellasore, in the East Indies, I found full occupation for my "old Joe Manton.' My host observed to me, one morning, that he had noticed, upon several occasions, a strange, grotesque-looking animal, which it would seem had affected a particular spot in the contiguity of his dwellinghouse. The creature had taken up its quarters in a small field of ripe indigo, which afforded it both shelter and shade, and in which it lay concealed; but when suddenly routed from its ambuscade, it left behind it a strong musky effluvium, which proved quite overpowering.

Having been prompted one evening to beat over this field in quest of a hare, which I had perceived feeding near the place the evening previous, the four dogs which attended me (spaniels) came all at once upon some object that attracted their attention, and going off in "full tongue across a plot of uncultivated ground, they entered a thick yucca jungle, in which the animal came to a stop, and, having taken up a defensive position therein, began to keep at bay the pressing importunities of his aggressors. Interspersed among this yucca was a considerable quantity of a shrub called the prickly pear, the long, spiral, acicular thorns of which would deter any person to make an attempt to penetrate into so formidable a reserve of punient lancets; so I was obliged to cheer the dogs on, to unharbour the object they were intent upon. At length one of the assailants (Pompey), who had a dash of the Scotch terrier in him, a hardy, rough, "give-and-take "-and-" no-mistake-about-him" sort of a customer, succeeded in fastening upon the chase, and a running fight followed. I felt almost certain that it was a jackal the dogs had fallen upon-an animal that will defend itself with the most obstinate courage, and will punish its enemy in a very severe manner; but, to my great surprise, close to the spot where I was standing, leaped forth a beautiful civet cat, which fell before my fowlingpiece. It was a male, and was of an unusually large size, compared with those I have had occasion to witness in the different menageries exhibited in England; the spots and stripes on the skin were also more boldly defined than any I had previously seen. The olefacient properties of this cat would seem to denote its self-protecting properties: it will strangle the most deadly serpents with impunity; and birds and other animals, on which it preys, become paralyzed, as it were, with the overpowering odour of musk which it throws off, when occasion prompts it to go on predatory excursions. Few dogs or cats will, if they can avoid it, voluntarily come in contact with this viverra, but seem to hold it in abhorrence. natives very appositely term it bo billee (stinking cat), and pay no respect to it, preferring the drug derived from the musk deer of Thibet, to the rancid secretions of the civet cat. The skin of this animal, like all the bellicose samples of the viverra family, are capable of being

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turned to advantage; but the hair is shorter, and somewhat coarser than that observable in its congeners. I presented the specimen to my friend Mr. C, who caused the same to be skinned and stuffed, which he afterwards set up as a feature of curiosity in his Jellasorian collection of natural gatherings. D. G. June, 1857.

LITERATURE.

LIVES OF THE PRIME MINISTERS OF ENGLAND. By J. Houston Browne, Esq., LL.B. T. C. Newby.

The pictures the learned gentleman has drawn of the prime ministers up to the Rye House Plot show the hand of a master: the outlines are bold, the colouring vivid, the expression forcible, the likenesses strong, and the historical matter clear and minutely correct. The work is written with remarkable elegance and vigour, the style is uniformly animated, and we have no hesitation in declaring that it is the fullest, the best arranged, and the most eloquent volume which has yet been given to the world. It would be tedious to attend the biographer through all the different stages of the work; suffice it to say, they will prove a high intellectual treat to all who take an interest in our country from the Norman Conquest. The biography contains an abundance of information and amusement; and as their genuineness is undoubted, and the talents and experience of the writer are considerable, the historian may collect many new facts relative to the advisers of the Crown. The work is beautifully got up; the paper, type, and care bestowed on the volume are delightful contrasts to the wretched manner in which some of the cheap publications are now issued. Mr. Newby is daily rising in public estimation, and deservedly so; as, independent of a large quantity of light and agreeable reading, he produces standard works, such as the one under notice, that will take their place by the best books in our language.

A WILL AND A WAY. By the Hon. Henry Coke.
Hurst and Blackett.

A portion of the scene of this book is laid in Mexico, and the author has evidently studied the customs and habits of the country, and the leading features of its inhabitants; indeed, there is such an air of truthfulness throughout the work, that we should imagine the author had passed a considerable portion of his life in that sunny clime. The plot is original and interesting, the characters are ably drawn, the scenery is nicely delineated, the language forcible, the incidents original, and the whole work reflects infinite credit on the nobleman, who, unlike some of his caste, prefers roving adventures abroad to the listless lounging at some fashionable west-end club in London.

THE STAGE AND THE COMPANY. Skeet, King William Street. A work both entertaining and instructive. It combines the fancy and enthusiasm of a novel with the more sober delineation of characters and manners as daily observation and experience present them to us. The perusal of these volumes has afforded us very high gratification, and adds greatly to the fame of the accomplished authoress.

CLARA LEICEster. By Captain Beresford.

Hurst and Blackett.

The style of this novel is good, and the moral unexceptionable. The incidents are recommended by probability, and the interest is well preserved. We strongly recommend "Clara Leicester " to all classes of readers of works of fiction, as an amusing, agreeable work, far superior to the average productions of the day.

RECOLLECTIONS OF WEST-END LIFE. By Major Chambré.

Hurst and Blackett.

This is the production of a superior writer. The incidents are numerous and striking, and the interest is powerfully supported throughout. Major Chambré has evidently seen much of the world both at home and abroad: he has served in every part of the globe, he has lived with Beau Brummell, he has mixed in Parisian society, he has "treaded many a measure "in the sumptuous ball-rooms of London, and he has passed many an hour at Crockford's; nor has he been an unobservant member of society. His remarks are clever and truthful-now deeply learned, now ephemerally light. After various adventures in France, India, the Brazils, West Indies, and the Mediterranean, we are admitted to some fashionable recollections of West-end society, drawn with much skill, and most artistically coloured. The characters are very numerous, and cleverly delineated; and the the style and sentiments are admirable. George IV., Wellington, Brummell, and other worthies, are introduced; and we strongly recommend a perusal of these volumes to all who wish to combine instruction with amusement. The foreign travels are of the highest order; and the sayings and doings of the West-end celebrities worth a place by the side of Raikes' Journal.

"PAVED WITH GOLD." By Augustus Mayhew. Chapman and Hall, 193, Piccadilly.

The extreme truthfulness, the photographic likenesses of the charac ters introduced, the thorough insight into mankind, the vigorous lan guage, added to literary talent of the highest order, evinced throughout the above work, render it one of the most amusing and instructive ones that have come under our notice for a length of time. It is a book that ought to be read by all classes, for the moral is one that comes home to all; it destroys the fancied romance of wickedness, and shows crime in its own hideous light, without the false glare which too often is attached to it. The illustrations, by H. K. Brown, are thoroughly characteristic, and the volume is got up in a manner worthy the talent of the writer,