give the appearance of riding from it; in fact, every art must be practised that the sportsman can invent, and even should he be ever so skilful, he will often be outwitted by these ever watchful birds; practice and perseverance will, however, do wonders for him. From the number of half grown birds of this kind which I saw stalking about the plain full a month ago, they must be the earliest breeders of the feathered tribe. I have been thinking, Mr. Editor, by the account given by one of your subscribers (I think in No. 11), that we ought to have the best of snipe shooting at this moment, but as I have not seen one of these birds since the time he mentions for their MR. EDITOR, AN ANSWER TO "WITNESS." In your Magazine for February last you have inserted a letter signed "Witness," regarding the Arab horse "Signal," and giving you as much credit for wishing to expose deceit and error as has been bestowed upon you by "Witness," I request you to publish this answer to his letter. The horse "Signal" was sent to England without any particular character, excepting his performance at Madras, where he won all his races with considerable ease and as it was not known that "Signal" would make his appearance as a public character in England, no character for publication was sent with him. He was sent to a friend as being one of the best of his day and of his size; remarkable also for his shape, his great beauty, and of a temper at once the most 66 docile, gentle, and generous, and evidently of the highest blood. Signal" was named at Madras as "late Antelope." He was aged and measured by the gentlemen appointed for that purpose-five years in January, 1828; 13h. 03in. Antelope was beaten at Poonah for the first Maiden, as stated by Witness," but he won the second maiden at Poonah, on the 8th December, 1826; your expositor has omitted to mention this in his letter, and possibly did not " Witness" that performance. not probable, however, that he was ignorant of it, and as he asserts that the horse was not able, from unsoundness in one of his feet, to start again that meeting at Poonah, the "Witness" must not expect to be absolved from a charge of either deceit or error of omission in this instance. It is "Champion," and several of the best known horses in India, have been beaten at first, and unhappily many also have been lamed. 66 66 Antelope may have been lame at Poonah, but his subsequent subsequent performances at Madras afford a Signal" proof of his recovery; and he embarked for England, to use an old sporting term, as sound as a roach. Referring once more to his age and height, it will no doubt surprise your readers, if it should not carry conviction with it to the "Witness," to learn that in the latest accounts received from England of this remarkable horse, it is stated that he had grown up to the measurement of 14h. 13in.!! Up to what age it is possible for a horse to grow in height at the withers I am unable to determine, but it must be remembered that the height before quoted was the Madras racing measurement; "Signal" was particularly high behind when he ran at Madras, and that he has subsequently grown before, I have not the shadow of a doubt. I believe this fact has not been published in England, and certainly the omission of it cannot have been intended to mislead the public there. I have only to add, that with whatever motive "Witness may have published his letters, there is so much of insinuation, ill-nature, and injustice in his method of depreciating a good horse, as to render this exposé just and necessary. I remain, Mr. Editor, ON MEASURING RACE-COURSES. MR. EDITOR, In No. 13 I expected to have seen an answer to your correspondent's (Bo Peep) query contained in No. 12, with regard to the proper mode of measuring a race-course, but I am sorry to find that not one of your numerous correspondents has deigned to give it an answer; however, as I think it requires one, I will give him my opinion, such as it is. In the first place I will ask one question. Where does the horse run? on what part of the course ?-as near the inside as possible; very good, as near as possible, but not on the inner rim or mark. Now, a horse running as near the inside as he can will be about one yard from the inner rim or mark of the race-course; consequently, in my humble opinion, one yard from the inner edge is the proper place to measure a race-course. Thus much for Bo Peep, and I only wish he had a better respondent. I am sorry to inform you that the Mosstrooper's chestnut colt, "Rob the Ranter," by the "Giant" out of “Lauretta," died of inflammation in the bowels last month; he was a good honest colt, and must be a great loss to the Mosstrooper. He had very little training last year, when he ran against "Emerald" at Meerut; however, he managed to win the second and third heats, and in my opinion it would not have been brought to three heats had the boy obeyed his instructions in the first heat, which were to go off at score; a third heat over the Meerut course (which is 1 mile, and 61 yards, very heavy, and the last half mile up hill) in 3m. 11s.; for a three-yearold not bad going, I think, Mr. Editor?"Rob" was beaten by "Remembrancer" in 3m. 12s., the third day of the meeting, but the fact is, the boy could not ride him. Rob won the maiden countrybred Purse at Kurnaul, in a common canter, although he was amiss at the time. Perhaps some of your sporting correspondents can inform me whether it is at all a common thing for a goat or a cow to give milk for five years in succession, without being in heat; or for a mare to go 14 months with foal. I have now in my possession a goat which I purchased in the month of April, 1827; she was giving milk when I bought her, and has done ever since. I have likewise an Arab mare that was covered on the 26th Feb., and on the 2nd and 4th of March, 1830; this mare dropped a colt foal on the 4th SIR, May, 1831. S. Y. S. or 0. K. will, I hope, answer this and give me their opinion. I was disappointed at not finding anything from O. K. in the last number. I am sure any communications, however short, from S. Y. S. or O. K. will always be most acceptable to your readers. If either of them could find time to write a few lines and remarks on training, it would be very useful to griffs and young aspirants to turf fame, especially to your humble servant. I have the pleasure to enclose you a prospectus of our races for next year, when a good meeting is expected. Yours, Mr. Editor, FAIR PLAY. AHMEDABAD RACES. 66 I perceive in your last number "Observator," like Nimrod,' usurping a name great in the annals of English sporting. As this Eastern Observator, however, gives us a very indifferent spread regarding the Ahmedabad. Races, I think a few remarks may be hazarded on his paper, especially as it is unaccompanied by any official account of the running there. Observator might have been a little more communicative if he was really, as he insinuates, in the secrets of the Poonah stable. In my humble opinion, the winner of the Ladies' Purse scarcely received fair treatment at his hands, as Lunatic, a new comer, and a Deesa horse, certainly showed himself a good nag by his beating Goblin Grey (not the worst part of his performances); besides, when it is known that Captain H. recommended his friends and backed Goblin himself, upon a trial of 1m. 56s. or under, it is scarcely fair in Observator asserting that he was not in order; and moreover, if it be recollected that he was beaten in better time than has ever been booked (for the distance) on this side of India, unfair to his opponents. Minstrel likewise comes under the lash of Observator; nevertheless Observator saw him lead the Goblin for the first half mile under 56 se conds, and win the heat easy in 1m. 57s. or 58s., certainly cutting the work well out for Lunatic. Minstrel also ran well up for the Ahmedabad Plate, one and a half mile and a distance, in 3m. 22s. the second heat; so that I rather think, if Observator is the gentleman I take him for, he would find it difficult to play first fiddle to the "Minstrel Boy," with any horse in his stable. I strongly suspect that Turf and Observator are one and the same, and I cannot compliment either on the success of their imitations. What does Turf mean by a "good place under the Mala gaum?"as also "loose sand" being 66 too hard for running over?" His Deesa erection, or stand, I should judge from his description, is ugly enough to frighten the ladies as well as horses! I cannot lay my pen down without thanking "Witness," who has conferred a great benefit upon the whole sporting community by his exposé of the account published in the English Sporting Magazine of the Arab Signal, formerly Antelope. I trust, for the honour of the turf, some explanation of this cloudy affair will be given by those so deeply interested in the business; and I hope it will be most satisfactory, for I am too much attached to the turf to see with indifference any accusation tending to stain that which has hitherto been spotless. D.'s account of the fight between the Bear and the Major is amusing MR. EDITOR, TIGER HUNTING. Having drank a little too much tea last night, and being unable to sleep, I took your last number to bed with me, and was very much amused with Nimrod in the East's account of his last tigerhunting expedition; but as he seems to think that 25 tigers and 4 bears, in 22 days, with four elephants in the field, is unparalleled sport on this side of India, I beg to mention the sport of a friend of mine, who killed in Khandeish in the end of August and beginning of September (the worst months in the year), with only one elephant (Meudee Guj) and three barrels flint, thirteen royal tigers in 13 days, and shortly afterwards, within five miles of Dhoolia, four tigers in one day. I think this "out-Nimrods Nimrod." I am sorry to hear of poor Cundoo's death, who was, by all accounts, an excellent shikaree, and second only to Luchman, a Bheel Naique, I believe, of Dhoolia, who I have heard my friend say was unrivalled as a sportsman; and that he never had met his equal for courage or tracking; mentioning, as an instance of the latter, his having tracked the famous Oomrana Soundana tigress for a whole day, over hard and dry ground, in a most astonishing manner. I believe two gentlemen who were present at the hunt, and one of them at the death, are now in Khandeish, and can vouch for his great skill on that as well as on various other occasions. On one of these, whilst pursuing a tigress, being desired to get off the elephant to pick up a gun which a young hand had dropped in the charge, he objected, saying the tigress was close at hand, but being pressed by the youngster (it being his only weapon), he dismounted, and was in the act of lifting it from the ground, when the tigress charged him. He ran towards the elephant, but finding the tigress too speedy for him, although a twoounce ball was lodged in her side as she advanced, he turned, and as she sprung on him, threw himself down on his back, by which he avoided her; she, however, bit him dreadfully, broke his right arm in two places, and then left him. Old Luchman, after lying for a few minutes, much to my friend's astonishment and delight, rose up, and gathering up his puggaree with his left hand, said very coolly, "I told you she was there.' How true it is, Mr. Editor, that there is but one step between the sublime and the ridiculous; here, in Bombay, I feel quite excited by a rat hunt, and Nimrod talks of tiger-hunting being "tame work at times." I am sure our last tiger hunt at the Presidency kept us on the qui vive for a year at least, yea, even those who did not see it. I remain, Mr. Editor, Yours obediently, A PONGO AT THE PRESIDENCY. October 12th, 1831. ON THE TREATMENT OF HORSES. SIR, of a free, candid, and friendly discussion; such will advance a spirit of inquiry from many intelligent men, whose opportunities knowing diseases are by no means circumscribed from them. From Cavalry Officers we hope to gain something; and that they may be seconded in their laudable exertions by those of the veterinary profession, will be my anxious wish, as observations drawn from practical research are entitled to more than ordinary attention and confidence. How revolting it is to a feeling mind, when we reflect on the pain inflicted on that noble and generous animal (the horse) from an ignorance of the seat and nature of his disorder. Many, many of your readers must be aware of the cruelty practised on these faithful creatures; they have been frequently fired, blistered, and rowelled in the shoulder, when, in fact, the lameness existed in the foot. A similar treatment has been adopted to the hip and stifle joints when an incipient spavin has been the only cause of |