before the setting in of winter; but the original building is all made at the same time, and is done entirely with the paws, which are also used in carrying both mud and stones. Wood is usually brought in the teeth, unless large logs are required, in which case they are floated down stream to the desired position. Beavers are popularly supposed to fell large forest-trees, but they never attempt one above two feet in circumference at the utmost; and this is sufficiently wonderful, especially considering the extraordinary neatness and celerity with which the work is done. It is a curious fact that they thus fell and prepare the wood for new huts early in the summer, though they do not use it till the autumn."

We have an idea the animals cut down the greater number of trees during spring and summer, in order to feast upon the succulent green bark, buds, and leaves, found at that time upon the topmost branches; then, rather than cut down new trees, they make use of those already lying upon the ground when they repair their "lodges" for the coming winter. Any persons can see for themselves how a beaver "house" or "lodge" is constructed by simply paying a visit to the Zoological Gardens in the Regent's Park, and easily by the use of their eyes discover how utterly fallacious are the marvellous stories we have been told us from our childhood about the "reasoning beaver," and at the same time they will discover how truthfully and yet simply Major R. King has given us the valuable results of his observations.

:

Nor is it of the beaver only Major King gives us much novel information he has thrown much new light upon the habits and general zoological relations of the animals inhabiting the somewhat cold regions of Canada. Let it not be supposed either that it is of animals alone, and how and where to hunt them, that Major King's book treats: he has the eye of an artist, a keen love for the picturesque, added to a free and happy pencil; his descriptive style is peculiarly racy and graphic, without any attempt at word-painting. We select the following (from a host of passages equally good), in which Major King describes prairie-hen shooting. We have ourselves wandered over these exquisite prairies in pursuit of the pinnated grouse or "prairie-fowl," and can bear testimony to the perfectly life-like and truthful picture the author has so ably drawn:

"As the mountain scenery of our Highlands forms so great a portion of the enjoy ment of grouse shooting, so does the majesty of these ocean-like plains add to the fascination of prairie-hen shooting. There is something supernaturally impressive in their vastness, everlasting silence, and solitude; and in no other situation, perhaps, does man feel more strikingly what an atom he is on the face of the earth, than when fairly launched on the prairie. With a glorious feeling, however, of unbounded freedom, he wanders on over the grassy surface, which, dotted with bright flowers and brighter butterflies, gently rolls in the undying breeze that ever fans the plain. Here and there is a clump of stunted trees, or a patch of brush-wood; but these can hardly

be said to break the uniformity of the surface, for they are completely lost in the immense space, and are rarely noticed at all till close at hand. Indeed, so utterly destitute of any land-mark is the face of the plain, that a person unused to move alone in these regions would quickly lose his way, and might wander on, with a hundred miles of prairie before him, in vain search for the point he had started from, each moment serving only to increase his distance from it, and every weary step leading him further away from human aid, fainting with fatigue, and parched with thirst."

We notice a great dearth of adventure in Major King's volume, although, to our taste, this gives a greater charm to the narrative: escapes from bears, red-skins, and prairie fires, usually constitute so large a proportion of sporting reminiscences, that it is quite refreshing now and then to find a work wherein the author either has not met with these sensation escapades, and scorns to invent them for the occasion-or, having met with narrow shaves for his life, is too modest and too wise to relate them. We could have made many more extracts. from this very enjoyable and instructive book, to the profit of our readers, if space permitted us to do so; but we must, instead, ask them to bear with us a little longer whilst we peep at the revelations of a third Nimrod, who takes us to the jungles of the eastern portion of the world. Capt. Newall, the author of this somewhat GordonCumming-like book of adventures, lacks the great desideratum we have been so strenuously advocating-viz., he cannot in any way lay claim to the rank of naturalist. The work, according to its preface, "is mainly a compilation of actual occurrences;" neither are they all of a personal nature; for many of the adventures recorded, he states that he is "indebted to the experiences of others;" hence its value to the general reader is very far below that of the two volumes we have previously considered. We cannot help looking with a certain amount of suspicion, too, upon several of the stories told to us. There is a manifest want of reality about the details, that begets a doubt as to the genuineness of the whole. To all such as desire to read about slaughtering tigers, bears, and such like formidable wild beasts, Capt. Newall's book is a field in which they may reap a harvest equal to their heart's desires. The author has, however, a bright perception for the beauties of scenery, and he describes what he sees with much force and vigour. He shall tell his own story :

"It was the excellent cover this afforded for tigers, which in the hot season delight in such cool retreats in the beds of rivers, that had induced the native shikarees, to select Mungaum as a favourable starting-point for the campaign. Nor was the expected presence of tigers the only attraction which existed for the sportsman. The

"The Eastern Hunters." By Captain T. Newall. Tinsley Brothers, 1866.

neighbouring hills were, as I have said, thickly wooded with low jungle; but in the numerous ravines--or, more correctly speaking, basin-like clefts-which seamed the rocky front of the first range, there grew every here and there fine forest-trees. Dispersed among these somewhat plentifully was the mowar-tree, on the sweet, fleshy, and flower-like fruit of which bears delight to feed. From this also is distilled a spirit, regarding which it may be briefly said that it is alike potent and detestable. The masses of overturned rock and caves, which girt in many places the precipitous sides of these jungle fastnesses, afforded secure retreat to those animals. They afforded shelter from the noon-day sun, whilst their chosen food was close at hand for nightly depredation. Water, too, was in the vicinity; so that it formed, altogether, a small terrestrial ursine paradise. Tigers also would not unfrequently lie in these secluded spots. The cattle of the villagers, it is true, often fell victims to a tigrish appetite for beef; but samber, neilghye, and cheetal-all of which abounded on the hills-formed, perhaps, the larger portion of their bill of fare."

We shall select one short extract more from Captain Newall's book. Our readers must judge for themselves as to the probability of its occurrence. We confess to being rather credulous in the matter ourselves; but then we have never indulged in the risky sport of hunting infuriated tigers, in seething hot jungles. It would appear from the Captain's narrative that a troop of monkeys were observed in, or very near to, the "ursine paradise" we have previously described in his own words, evidently in a terrible state of alarm, leaping from bough to bough, and chattering as only monkeys can chatter. Two friends, who figure as joint heroes with the Captain throughout the book, are present on this occasion. Monkeys, like sensible animals, hate the sight of tigers, and invariably kick up a row whenever they observe one prowling suspiciously about. None of the hunters could see the beast, although a native, it seemed, whispered into his master's ear, "Bagh" (tiger). Bass, to my ear, would have been more agreeable. They saw Bagh at last.

"Quickly, however, he " [that is Hawkes, one of the trio] "caught sight of an object moving in the shade, and as it passed across a more open space, saw it was a tiger, sneaking along with head and body low; its whole back, from the snout to the setting on of the tail, appeared to form one straight line. Hawkes rolled over the tiger, but did not mortally wound it. The beast reached the base of the rocky height, and making a desperate spring, managed to gain a hold with its fore-paws upon the top, but its flat and slippery face presented nothing on which to fix its hind-feet, or to give it purchase to assist in dragging itself bodily to the top."

At this critical juncture the attendant bolted with the third gun-a disagreeable habit in which Eastern helps are given to indulge.

"So the hunter clubbed his gun, and brought it down with force on the head of the tiger, as it rested snarling between its paws within a few feet of the striker. The beast winced, but did not let go its hold; indeed, appeared to redouble its efforts to effect a lodgment. The stock flew into splinters as it came into contact with the

hard skull of the tiger; but Hawkes continued to belabour him with the barrels. Despite the desperate blows, the beast maintained his position; and had he not been weakened by his wounds, would probably have made good his object. Suddenly it emitted a short, low roar, a quiver seemed to run through it, its jaws relaxed, its eyes lost their fire, its hold of the rock gave way, and it fell back, crashing among the boulders of rock and bushes, into the nullah below."

A careful perusal of Captain Newall's hunting exploits in the East will not be time wasted, if the reader cares for hunting followed as a pastime only. The author's manner is often racy and laughable; nevertheless, the book has many faults which the author will do well to amend, if it runs to a second edition. It needs a more concise arrangement of materials; the dialogue is particularly meagre, and there is a want of care in the management of various minor matters; there is no lack of capital material, but greater care and skill should have been expended in building it into a popular volume of adventures.

We hail it as a stride, rather than a step, in the right direction, that gentlemen who hunt and shoot in distant countries are beginning to devote a good deal of attention to the habits of the creatures they pursue, noting carefully the singular artifices they severally employ in order to preserve and protect themselves against their natural enemies, the systems they adopt for building their dwelling-places, storing winter-provisions, if they are gnawers, or how they capture their weaker neighbours, if they are flesh-feeders. All and every living thing is worthy of careful observation. Physiology and anatomy can be learned in a snug room; but the habits of the various denizens peopling the land and the water can only be acquired by those who devote themselves to the rough life of wanderers.

THE PERCY SUPPORTERS.

HE recent changes in the inheritance of the great title of Northumberland, involve an heraldic question of some interest, as to the supporters used by, or appropriate to, the head of that princely house.

The late duke, while Lord Prudhoe, bore the supporters of his brother the 3rd duke, differenced by a golden anchor on the dexter, and an azure crescent on the sinister lion. The present duke, as Earl of Beverley, had for supporters the Percy lion on the dexter, and the Poynings' unicorn on the sinister, as borne by the heads of the

family, with some exceptions, up to the commencement of the present century; but differenced on the shoulder with the ancient badge, the locket, found on the seal of Hotspur.

It may be questioned, now that the Percy barony, with its claims upon the title of Poynings, has been diverted into another family, whether it is desirable to retain any association with a peerage to which, in the opinion of some eminent authorities, the house of Northumberland have never been entitled. On the other hand, it may be urged that a supporter used by the 4th and 7th earls, and found upon the garterplate of Henry, 5th earl, in 1527, and Henry, 9th earl, in 1632, which was deemed, too, most appropriate to the heir in 1774, cannot reasonably be cavilled at, if retained by a family who inherited it from their ancestor, the 2nd duke, and have eighty years of precedent for using it, in preference to a supporter for which, as may be easily shown, there is the faintest possible claim of heraldic propriety.

The lion guardant or, collared componé of argent and azure (sometimes ermine and azure), appears first as a supporter to the arms of the 6th earl, in the decadence of true heraldic taste during the Tudor era. The collar componé has an evident reference to the house of Somerset, who used the componé bordure of argent and azure round the royal escutcheon, as a token of left-handed descent from the Plantagenet stem. The descent intended to be commemorated by the assumption of this supporter, was through the mother of the 6th earl, Catherine, daughter and co-heir of Sir Robert Spencer (by Eleanor his wife, daughter and at length co-heir of Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset) from John of Gaunt: a connection at that time. likely to be acceptable to the reigning house. It is not impossible that the marriage of the 7th earl with Anne, daughter of Henry Somerset, Earl of Worcester, may have tended to induce that earl to adopt occasionally the collared lion; but the unicorn was his recognised supporter; and thus it is legitimately found on the garterplate of Henry, 9th earl. Moreover, when the interregnum of FitzRoys and Seymours had passed away, and after the death of the heiress of the Barony of Percy (whose own arms were supported by the unicorn), the supporters considered by so eminent an authority as Beatson, the most appropriate to her son, Hugh, the 2nd duke, were on the dexter the lion azure, on the sinister the unicorn argent."

Beatson, MS., A.D. 1800. Advocates' Library, Edinburgh.