spot, saw a heron take a fish from the water, and after carrying it to a bank insert its bill into the vent of the fish, beginning to suck its entrails: he drove away the bird, and on taking up the fish, found it to be a pike weighing a pound and upwards.

NABOB AND TIGER.

A NABOB once, for pleasure or for sport,
A tiger kept some distance from his court;

And as in parts where best such things are known,
"Tis wiser deem'd those brutes should live alone,
He therefore built, on some adjacent ground,
A mansion strong, and fenc'd with wall around;
Likewise so high, that it was thought, no doubt,
None could leap in, nor those within leap out ;
Yet true it was, (I've heard my author tell,
Who knew the story and the Nabob well;)
One fatal night, as, prowling round for prey,
A ROVING TIGER chanc'd to pass that way;
And by some token, or, as some suppose,
Soon found each other, by mere dint of nose;
The midnight hour, with frightful yellings rung,
And on the roof the vagrant hero sprung;
Quick thro' the same his desperate way he tore
With dreadful threat'nings and tremendous roar;
'Their active jaws soon foamed with streaming gore,
And bath'd around, with blood, the reeking floor:
Hard was the fight and (horrid to relate,)
The flesh they tore the savage monsters eat;
So fierce the war, that, saving teeth and nails,
Nothing was found next morning—but their tails.

WEIGHT FOR INCHES.

It may prove a matter of intelligence to those persons unconnected with the movements and terms of the Sporting World, to understand

hat the graduated scale for a match, when made for two or more horses to run and carry weight for inches, is thus: that horses measuring 14 hands are each to carry nine stone, above or below which height, they are to carry seven pounds more or less, for every inch they are higher or lower than the fourteen hands fixed as the criterion.

Example. A horse measuring 14 hands one inch and a half, (four inches making one hand) will carry nine stone, ten pounds, eight ounces: a horse measuring 13 hands two inches and a half, will carry only eight stone, three pounds, eight ounces; the former being one inch and a. half above the 14 hands, the other one inch and a half below it; the weight is therefore added or diminished by the eighth of every inch, higher or lower, weight in proportion.

These Plates were so exceedingly popular at one time, that very few country courses were without one of this description, and were better known by the name of Give-and-take Plates.

It is therefore seen, that a horse being 16 hands and a half high, will have to carry 13 stone, three pounds, eight ounces; while, in all probability, the knowing sportsman's horse will have to carry 10 stone seyen pounds only, making a difference in the weight of two stone, ten pounds, eight ounces. Superiority of speed will therefore be a great point in view before a match is made upon the above condition.

THE LATE DUKE OF HAMILTON.

The late Duke of Hamilton was generally conceived to be a sportsman of the first feather, and his fame on the turf is already so well known, that it would be useless any farther to be his commentator.

*

Nature had been particularly bountiful to his Grace; his form was manly, his preception quick, and to the strength of Antæus was added the eye of Dicobolus. He had the courage of the lion, and his humanity will be better shown in the following circumstance.

As the Duke was returning to town in his phaeton, his progress was impeded near the King of Bohemia's head, Turnham-green, by a vindictive coachman, who was lacerating a pair of fine young horses, in harness, and using to them language the most indecorous. "Fellow," said the Duke, "if I knew your master, I would presently give him notice of your cruelty." "If you'll get down," replied the savage, "I'll serve you in the like manner." The Duke passed · the infuriated fellow, and waited his coming at the Horse and Groom turnpike, where, having arrived, his Grace again reproved him for his conduct; and the other, not knowing with whom he had to cope, once more became still more abusive, when the Duke, giving his coat to his man, bid the coachman defend himself, which he instantly did, and, after a few rounds,

was so dreadfully punished as to lie on his back and cry for mercy. "You have it," said the Duke, "though you could show none to your horses, who, though they wanted the tongues to complain, have found a friend in the Duke of Hamilton." The fellow, in consequence of the drubbing, took to his bed, and being turned from his master's service, the Duke allowed his wife one guinea a week till his perfect recovery.

To the great grief of his friends, his Grace was cut off in the very bloom of his youth, and the world was deprived of one whose enlightened conduct ever went to show that man was not born for himself alone-his gates at all times open to the worthy, and his table spread with the hands of liberality.

If to his share some lighter crrors fell,

This truth let friendship to his mem`ry tell;
His heart was honest, to the good sincere,
And scorn'd the pomp of fools, tho' born a peer.
Nor place, nor pension, ever fill'd his thought,
He lov'd his country, as a Briton ought.
Against the wanderer never clos'd his doors,
But where he meri: found, dispens'd his stores.
Let those, the wealthy, of his high estate,
Pursue his virtues, and be truly great.

A better cricketer than the Duke of Hamilfon seldom stood before a wicket; the best bowlers found much difficulty to derange his stumps, and there was a mark in Lord's Old Ground, called the Duke's stroke; it was of an unusual length, measuring from the wicket to where the

ball first fell, 132 yards, a circumstance scarcely paralleled.

For manly exercise his Grace had few equals; he has frequently been known to get him, as he would call it, an appetite to his breakfast, to take a wherry at Westminster Bridge, and to give a waterman a guinea to pull against him to Chelsea Bridge, where, in addition, he would reward his opponent, should he arrive first, which was very seldom the case.

The pugilistic science was a great favourite with the Duke. The following circumstance was related to us by the late George Morland, the painter. The Duke coming to town early with Hooper, the tinman, in his way to Half Moon-street, stopped at the Rummer Tavern, Charing-cross, and entered where Mr. Morland was taking breakfast, who, leaping up at Mr. Hooper's appearance, good-naturedly put himself in a posture of defence. "Ah, are you good at that?" said the Duke, instantly stepping to his phaeton, and returning with the sparring gloves. "Here, Morland," said his Grace, "put them on, and we will have a turn together." In vain did the painter protest his inability to cope with the Duke. Spar he must, and after the Duke had beat him over the chairs and tables till Morland could no longer stand, his noble opponent seized him by the hand, good-naturedly took him in his carriage, and set Morland down at his own house, in the