ECCLEFE CHAN:

A CELEBRATED GREYHOUND.

ENGRAVED BY E. HACKER, FROM A PAINTING BY G. H. LAPORte.

Ecclefechan, the property of Mr. Samuel R. Gilbert, was pupped in 1849, and bred, as we believe, by the Earl of Eglinton, being by his Lordship's Tom Raeburn, out of his Snowdrop by Waterloo. Tom Raeburn was by Young Sport, by Dr. Brown's Old Sport, out of Gipsy by Dusty Miller. Snowdrop was own sister to Mr. Wauchope's Victory, by Waterloo, out of Velocity-thus combining the fastest and stoutest blood from two of the most renowned kennels of the North, and whose progeny are continually proving themselves first-class greyhounds.

Ecclefechan is a large, lengthy, blue-brindle dog, 27 inches high, rather wheely-backed, low and oblique shoulders, and long and lean in the neck. He is by no means a heavy dog, but what may be termed wiry and muscular, with the best possible legs and feet, still perfect, notwithstanding the immense work he did for four seasons. The lightness of his action, and the smooth and beautiful style of his gallop, may account for this. His last appearance in public was in November, 1853; since then he has been put to the stud, and the produce of five bitches only, put to him, won last season 67 public courses (see Thacker's Annual for 1855-6). Amongst these are the well-known Hansel, Andrew Clark, Darkie, Express, Wolverhampton, Britannia, &c., &c., who have proved themselves first greyhounds on the plains of Altcar, as well as at Lytham, and other places in the North, where hares are renowned for stoutness, and the ground unusually severe.

Mr. Gilbert purchased Ecclefechan of that famous courser and capital judge of greyhounds William Wilson, Esq., of Dumfries, in whose hands this dog won most of his laurels, and by whom he was invariably brought to the slips in first-rate condition."

Ecclefechan ran as a puppy in the season of 1850-1, and in January, 1851, won the Talbot All-aged Cup (24 dogs), at the Lytham Club Meeting. In March following he was third for the Colebrook Champion Open Cup, all-aged (26 dogs), at the Biggar Meeting, beaten by Wigan," the winner; in October, the same year he won the Douglas All-aged Cup (12 dogs), at the Biggar Club Meeting; in January, 1852, he won two courses in the Lytham Stakes, at Lytham, beaten by "Bonnie Scotland," which ran up. The same month he won the Lee Cup (24 dogs) at the Carlisle Meeting. In February he won the Lottery Stakes (16 dogs) at the Knipe Scar (Lowther) Meeting. In January, 1853, he won the Open Stakes (16 dogs) at the Angus and Mearns (Forfarshire) Meeting; and in March and April ran third to Cromwell, the winner for the Biggar Open Cup (64 dogs). Amongst other winners, he is sire of Hansel, that ran second for the Scottish Champion Cup (42 dogs) in February, 1856; of Gretna Green, who ran up with her sire for the Angus and Mearns Open Stakes in January, 1853, and won the Kilburn All-aged Cup (14 dogs), at the

Dalry Meeting, February, 1854; of Darkie, winner of the Nithsdale and Galloway St. Leger, October, 1855; and of Britannia, winner of the Oaks at the Caledonian Meeting, November, 1854 (51 entries, 28 starters), and divided the St. Leger Stakes at the same meeting with Jardine's "Imitator," winner of the Derby Stakes (38 starters); she ran second for the Waterloo Cup (24 dogs), in 1855, and third for the same cup in 1856. The above are only a few of the winners got by Ecclefechan, but sufficient to prove the goodness of his stock.

Ecclefechan is now located in the South, where, no doubt, he will be duly appreciate.l. He will serve bitches at 5gs. each, and may be seen by applying to William Richardson, Fairfield House, Chiddingfield, near Godalming, Surrey. Five splendid puppies by Ecclefechan, out of Repentance (own sister to Moore's Leander and Derwentwater), pupped 7th March, 1856, may be also seen there as a fair sample of his stock.

ENGRAVED BY J. H. ENGLEHEART, FROM A PAINTING BY J. F. HERRING, JUN.

"Lie still, my lord!" as the hard-riding curate said, when he cleared the great man of the county, and got a living in consequence.

"The Waterfall" illustrates an incident in real life-a couple of young gentlemen, who by their united efforts have contrived to bring each other to grief, and the gallant little Captain B. going manfully over them. The captain, like many small men, delighted, or delights still, in large horses, nothing under sixteen hands coming up to his character. He once bid for the Mammoth horse which was exhibited about the country, but declined him when he found the monster was no fencer; for the big ones with Captain B. were not bought to be looked at, but to go as well as the slapping bay does in our picture.

The anecdote, of course, might be very highly seasoned with the mutual compliments black horse and white horse are sure to shower on each other. Indeed, we have a very good brief before us from one of the actors in the scene-the " Now then, stupid!" and "You be blowed!" gradually warming up to something a little more personal and unparliamentary. It is satisfactory, however, to know that such disturbances in the field are in general soon settled. "Pray get out of the way, and let me get on!" does duty in these degenerate times for many a strong dose of slang, or for more profane objurgation.

It is pleasant to see the name of J. F. Herring long likely to be amongst us. Both senior and junior are once again in strong work. We may, perhaps, prize them both the more when we come to remember that poor Charley Herring, his father's especial favourite, has so lately and so prematurely been taken from us. Another son, Benjamin, has not shown much in public for the last few years; but the whole family is essentially a family of painters, and sporting themes the first they have each turned to, and the love they have dallied the longest over.

FRANK WELTO N.

A FANCY SKETCH.

BY CECIL.

(Continued from p. 267.)

Without having enjoyed so much sport as he had anticipated, Welton left Worcester with regret. There are many fascinations and attractions which are the more warmly appreciated by the addition of unbounded hospitality, unshackled by over-fastidious etiquette. But the time had arrived when he had determined upon proceeding to Cheltenham; and having once made his arrangements, it was not his custom, unless under urgent circumstances, to break through them. Fickleness was not his failing.

There is no place where the mysteries of the "noble science" can be studied with greater effect; albeit, that is not the motive which attracts the majority of sportsmen to that emporium of fashion. The celebrity of the Earl Fitzhardinge's establishment had for many years been extensively circulated; and there were two other packs of hounds frequently within reach, both affording an expansive field for observationthe Heythrop and the Vale of White Horse, at that time, as it now is, hunted by Lord Gifford. The month of January, nevertheless, is an uncertain period for foxhunting, and, to the itinerant sportsman, frequently beset with disappointments; yet this year it was an exception, as there was scarcely a day's frost sufficiently severe to stop hunting. The Plough Hotel afforded unexceptionable accommodation to our hero, and his horses were amply provided for at Humphrey's livery-stables.

Although the hour of eleven is the latest time usually appointed for meeting at the covert side, it seldom happened that the Earl Fitzhardinge's hounds threw off much before twelve; and as his lordship has hunted this country with princely liberality during a long series of years entirely at his own expense, it is but reasonable that his own convenience should be consulted. Another reason fully justifies a late hour for commencing operations. This country is abundantly stocked with foxes, and therefore, as soon as the hounds commence drawing, they are pretty certain to find. In countries not so well provided, an earlier hour becomes imperative. Under these circumstances, it has been a prevailing custom to await his lordship's departure from Cheltenham for the place of meeting, and then hasten after him with all convenient speed. It was in these days Lord Fitzhardinge's custom to hunt his own hounds, attended by Harry Ayris and two whippers-in; and it was truly interesting to observe the fondness of the hounds for their noble master. Before his lordship arrived at the place of meeting, they would break away from their attendants to meet him, and their joy appeared to be unbounded. Vyner relates an anecdote in Notitia Venatica of Mr.

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