consort of Ulysses, a lady who would be a credit to modern consorts. All records are excellent as charts of reference: the list subjoined is little less than the peerage of our canine aristocracy. LIST OF HER MAJESTY'S STAG HOUNDS FOR 1845-6. Five years. Dams. . Flighty .Boundless ...Goneril CHALLENGER Duke of Rutland's Chanticleer.. Duke of Rutland's Gaudy .... Col. Wyndham's Ragman...... Col. Wyndham's Careful .Fairplay. Ornament ...Boundless TERMAGANT ....Talisman. TOMBOY ...... TROUNCER Four years. BARBARA.. FAVORITE .... ... .Ladybird ..Nancy ...Dairymaid .Duke of Grafton's Rufus ......Duke of Grafton's Barbara .. Mr. T. A. Smith's Frederick .. Mr. T. A. Smith's Bustle Mr. Drake's Foreman ........ VAGRANT........ Villager Three years. ........ AUDITOR. CONQUEROR DOUGLAS..... DARLING DESTINY FREDERICK .... .... Dorcas Mr. Foljambe's Silvia ....Goneril ......Tulip Mr. T. A. Smith's Admiral .... Mr. T. A. Smith's Syren Bridegroom.... . Mr. Foljambe's Basilisk.. Satellite Radical Mr. Foljambe's Songster ... • ....... ... .... Sprightly .Mr. Foljambe's Darling Croney .Dairymaid ......Mr. Foljambe's Dashaway ...Furious Helen Mr. Foljambe's Conqueror.... Mr. Foljambe's Joyful Mr. Foljambe's Royal ........ Mr. Foljambe's Dalliance REGAN........ ..Lord Fitzwilliam's Roman .... Lord Fitzwilliam's Milliner Mr. T. A. Smith's Solon ...... Mr. T. A. Smith's Columbine CHANTICLEER CARDINAL CHEERFUL Total... Luxury Landrail Playful Mr. T. A. Smith's Racket Mr. T. A. Smith's Costly Mr. T. A. Smith's Bounty .Barbara .42 couple .12 ditto ..54 ditto From the above distinguished company, two-and-twenty couples of the ladies and one couple of dog-puppies were selected for the meet at the Kennels, on the 16th of February last past. It will be seen this was a strong division; but it is Davis's custom to take large packs out when the field is likely to be comparatively small. The following Friday, for instance, they met at the Magpies, on what was once the Hounslow Road, when he contented himself with some sixteen couple of hounds. Our deer on this occasion was an untried hind, not more than a fortnight up, and consequently "short of work." They are not strong in the stag department just now, having been very unfortunate this year in killing. Still they have eleven or twelve brace in the paddocks at Swinley; and if they continue to enter such game animals as this hind, they will have no cause to fear being stopped from sport, because of any fault in their quarry. The affair having gone abroad that the uncarting would not take place on the heath, all the neighbouring sportsmen and one or two of the fair sex had taken the direction of "No Man's Heath," whither we went across country with the hounds. The hind had been turned out previous to our arrival, and before you could say Jack Robinson, the pack, turning short to the right and over the fence, were off like rockets, with a burning scent for Wingfield. Our line was not a straight one, first bearing for Hawthorn Hill, over the strong clay country towards the Thames, and then back and into the forest. The first five miles gave a burst that was far from a joke. The land rode terribly heavy, and the pace was first-rate-quite as good, they told me, as they had had it during the whole of the season. About this part of the run, our hind, in taking a flight of iron rails, struck them with one of her hind legs, and we thought she had broken it. This was not the case, but the accident drove her to sculk, and the hounds overran her very considerably, for I never lost sight of her from the moment she struck her leg, till the pack was brought back to within a field of where she was, which occupied very nearly half an hour. It was, however, a fortunate chance, as most probably it saved her life. The severity of the burst had quite pumped the wind out of her, and when she struck the rails, no doubt from being blown, she could not have lived before the hounds another ten minutes at the pace they had been going. They were accordingly drawn off, and young Bartlett was left with a couple of the hounds to secure her. This deer will be heard of again: she is a clipper, and from the chase she led us-as already said-was named Wildgoose. The paddock in which we lodged her was in the rear of St. Leonard's Cottage, the residence of Capt. Tattenham; the field numbered about three score. The noble master was not present; as it was Monday, the probability is, business brought him to Tattersall's. The men were well mounted; but not, as far as my experience went, on very valuable cattle. Davis rode a slapping-looking nag, and one that could go; but he was a screw. Some of the field rode unexceptionable animals; for instance, a cob that carried Captain Brabazon was one of a sort not to be seen every day. The London division is, however, the most im posing in the article of horse-flesh; the fields at the metropolitan meets are exhibitions of that costly material unequalled in the world. Next to them are those assembled by Baron Rothschild's hounds, of which I shall probably have something to say by and by. THE SEAL CAVERN. BY L. LLOYD, ESQ., AUTHOR of NORTHERN FIELD SPORTS." A few years since, when I was in Caithnesshire, I heard much said of excursions to the caverns thereabouts, which were frequently undertaken at that season of the year, to kill seals. These caverns are situated in the base of the nearly perpendicular rocky cliffs-in general, of some hundred feet in altitude with which, for the most part, that iron-bound coast is girded. The mouths of some are tolerably wide, while those of others are so narrow-being mere fissures in the rocks-as to be barely perceptible at a little distance, and will admit of even a small boat with difficulty. Though some few are approachable from the land when the tide is out, yet in general the sea, even at low water, is very many fathoms in depth at the entrance. They extend to various depths into the cliffs: some for 50 or 100 paces; others for 300 or 400, or more. The interior of many is on a confined scale, whilst others, again, are lofty and capacious, with fine vaulted roofs, and presenting altogether a magnificent appearance. At their extremities there is frequently a sloping beach, covered with shingle and detached pieces of rock; and it is here the seals have their haunts, and are often to be found in numbers. In such of the caverns as do not extend far into the cliff, partial rays of light find their way from seaward, for in few is it admitted from above; but in those of greater depth, almost Cimmerian darkness reigns even at mid-day. And though, at the time, the ocean itself be all but calm, a terrific roar, caused by the surf, is not unfrequently to be heard within them. At the period I speak of I was on a visit to the Hon. Benjamin Dunbar, at Latheron Wheel; and that gentleman, knowing my wish to take part in one of these sealing adventures, kindly ordered a competent boat's crew to hold themselves at my disposal. But we had to wait three or four weeks before a suitable day occurred for the purpose; for the sea must be smooth, and the wind from the land, or it would be almost certain death attempting to enter some of the caverns. At length, on the 8th of November, and on as fine a morning as was ever seen, I was summoned by the coxswain, at an early hour, to hold myself in readiness, the long wished for opportunity having arrived. We immediately set about making the requisite preparations, which consisted in providing ourselves with a very strong and long rope, to serve as cable; a large stone as a substitute for an anchor; candles and flambeaux; together with a pan of burning turf to ignite the latter when needful, and abundance of provision, whiskey, &c. We likewise equipped ourselves with heavy bludgeons for the work of destruction on which we were bound. It was near eleven o'clock, however, and within two hours of low water before all was in readiness, when, after bidding adieu to our friends, and receiving their good wishes for a prosperous issue to our enterprise, and our safe return, we put to sea. Our boat was a pretty large one, and, exclusively of myself, was manned by ten able hands. Soon after starting, and as we were coasting under the cliffs, we saw, at some little distance, a seal, apparently asleep on a shelving rock immediately near to the water's edge. But, as the place where he was lying was nearly unapproachable with the boat, and as we apprehended that if a landing were attempted he might be disturbed from his slumbers, and thus escape us, I directed the people to row me to within some thirty or forty paces of the animal, when, throwing myself into the sea, clothed as I was, I swam to the spot, and before he was aware of my approach, knocked him on the head with the bludgeon I had carried in my mouth for the purpose. But our After towing our prize on board the boat, we, without much difficulty, penetrated into one or two of the smaller caverns. success was indifferent, in consequence, probably, of their facility of access having so frequently induced the visits of seal slayers as to cause them to be in a great measure deserted by those animals. So far as I could learn, however, no one had entered them during the then season. In these caverns, as well as in most of the others we explored, we disturbed great numbers of wild pigeons, of the blue rock kind, which are so very abundant in Caithness; and also several varieties of water fowl, all of which probably bred in these very sequestered retreats. Subsequently we proceeded to the mouth of a cavern that, owing to the risk attendant on its exploration, had not, I was given to understand, been entered by a human being for many years; and here commenced our difficulties. At first my crew were not inclined to attempt penetrating into its interior. Indeed, owing to a slight swell in the sea, they seemed much to doubt the practicability of getting in; but, by dint of entreaty and the powerful charm of whiskey, they at last determined on making the venture. Soon after passing the entrance of this formidable cavern we lighted our flambeaux, &c., and continued rowing forward until the channel became so narrow that the people could no longer use their oars, which we therefore shipped, and cast anchor; when, keeping the boat's head to seaward by means of the cable, we allowed her to drift for the beach, towards which (owing to the confined channel causing a strong current to set into the interior) she was rapidly impelled by |