BLAINE'S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RURAI, SPORTS, * IN this edition of the

Rural Sports, Mr. Blaine exhibits the cha- racteristics of an Encyclopwdist, for he begins with the origin of everything—how primitive man took to field sports, (though with him it might more properly be called field business,)—how pass- ing beyond main strength and club law, he invented traps and implements of the missile kind, and next domesticated animals to aid in pursuing their fellows ; finally, how hunting and its conge- nerate arts spread through the world, over which Mr. Blaine con- ducts us. But unlike some encyclopedia writers, he has also his eye upon life as well as history, for he embraces the regulations of the Jockey Club of April last, a code whose enactment was ac- companied by the repeal of all previous rules and regulations, so that the whole system of jockey life should begin anew.

It is not, however, by chronological and geographical extent that Mr. Blaine distinguishes himself ; he ranges as freely over the whole subject of sport, introducing practice by philosophy and science. Thus his first particular theme is horse-racing ; but this is preceded by a disquisition on the "moral character" of field sports, and the benefit derived from them. Nor does he permit the student to enter upon the actual work of racing, till he has given hints on the "general importance of the study of zoology," and gone succinctly over its whole field. Further he adds directions on the "practice of taxidermy," so that the favourite animal, or the crack exploit, may be preserved as a subject for eye or tongue, till the dinner becomes dearly purchased by " the oft repeated tale and lingering jest."

Horse-racing itself is treated with an elaboration proportioned to the prelude. We have the natural history of the horse to begin with. Was lie originally of several species ? or one species, which time, climate, and other influences have so difhtrently varied ? Which was his native clime, if there was only one spe- cies ? what is r-ow the country best adapted to him ? Which is, or rather was the so to speak indigenous breed of Britain and by what means did we improve and vary it Lastly, we have the story of the English race-horse, and what he is, or rather the controversy touchino. "that same." Is the pedigree really East- tern and "no mistake" ? Or does not British blood run in his veins on the mother's side ? which last rather seems to be the case. And what is the proportion of taint? a point which would require a mathematical calculation, such as years ago, Mr. Glad- stone worked out on the Apostolical succession. For though the learned and laborious Germans have embarked in the con- troversy, they have only " by decision more embroiled the fray." " Previous to 1815 the German horse amateurs considered our thorough- bred horses to have on iginated from a continued series of intermixtures of the best English mares with eastern stallions. At length in 1815, Mr. I us- tinus, the director of the imperial stud at Vienna, advanced an opinion to the following effect, that the English thorough-bred horse had sprung from is conformable cross of the barb and Arabian ; and that, even if any other had intervened, it was of come other eastern horse. It followed, therefore, even originally our racer was of pure eastern extraction, both by the darn and sire's side; and that afterwards it had been propagated without any mixture, now and then only being refreshed and ameliorated with eastern stallions. A similar opinion was upheld by Count Veltheim, a ts-eil known equestrian, in his Il.ernarks on English Horse fireeding, published in Bruns- wick in 1820. A little time afterwards, however, another German work appeared on the same subject, from the pen of M. de Burgsdorft, landetall- meister in the Emperor of Russia's service, who gives it as his opinion that the thorough-bred horse (front which all the improvements of the English country breeds have proceeded) had been created thorough an eight-fold im- provement of the English country horse with eastern stallions.

The matter of blood dismissed, the Encyclopaedist enters upon bone,—structure, formation ; and gradually leads the reader on to breeding, training, breaking, management in sickness, and in health, from the stable to the course, winding-up by a chapter on " horse-racing as a spec," which many may think not the least

° An Encyclopedia of Rural Sports, or complete. Account, (Historical. Practical, and Descriptive,) of Hunting, Shooting, Fishing, Racing, tgc. By Delabere I'. Blaine, Esq. A new edition, revised and corrected. Published by Longinans and Co.

interesting section of the book. After horses and racing arc ex- hausted, W3 come to huntina.; and the terms of venery being dis- missed, we are treated to the zoiilogical characters, varieties, and diseases of the dog. Then we plunge into the art and mystery of fox-hunting, followed more briefly, as dealing with lesser matters, by deer and hare hunting, Coursing has a part to itself but not a long one ; the writer, who has done great deeds in " venation" cannot exactly say much in its favour, though an Encyclopaedic catholicity of mind induces him to put in a word faintly.

" Coursing, like other field sportings, has its advocates and its enemies; it also presents its bright and its cloudy sides. It is not, indeed, fit that we should all be enamoured of the same pursuit; but it is proper that we should not underrate the amusements followed by others. Many characters, eminent as well by their rank as by their wealth and attainments, are zealous in the practice of this branch of venation ; yet we should find some difficulty- in opening the eyes of many of those who as zealously pursue other ehasings, to the halo which brightens the feats of the long dogs. We may be asked what pleasure there can be for people marshalled in a line, at certain distances from each other, monotonously to walk or ride at a foot pace over a ploughed field, or across a wide heath, in a bleak November day, the eye anxiously directed hither and thither to catch the clod or the side- long furrow that half conceals poor puss, or to espy the tuft she has parted to make her form in. We confess the picture is gloomy, but the reality less so : for even here the exercise warms the body, while expectation and hope are at hand to cheer the mind ; nor have we any occasion to indulge in the worst side of the question, for it is not always that the weather is unpro- pitious, nor is it always that the sport is necessarily monotonous, and cer- tainly it need never be solitary. Troubles diminish as they are shared by numbers, and the pleasures of hope and expectation are increased by parti- cipation."

The next national practice to coursing, if not indeed before it,

is shooting. This branch of field sports is preluded by ex- plosive substances and fire-arms generally, with "Greek fire" for a key note. Then we have a treatise on "teaching the young idea how to shoot," followed by notices of various dogs, and the game-keeper. Next comes shooting itself, beginning with grouse, going through partridge, pheasant, woodcock, snipe, fenbir s, and wildfowl, the whole closing with pigeons and small birds. But all this is not all—

Still he talked, and still the wonder grew, That one small head could carry all he knew.

There are some hundred closely-printed pages on hawking, an "old, reviv'd, new" sport, with natural and national obstacles in the way of its exercise. There are nearly two hundred pages on fish, fishing, and localities where you may try to catch fish. " Cock-fighting," which, is something more than sport, has a chapter to itself. So has British Boxing, which is scarcely sport at all, as our Encyclopedist in a measure admits ; but with that philosophy, which as the reader has seen, animates his mind, he draws distinctions between boxing for gaiety (with the gloves on), or even to settle what the Americans call a " difficulty, and mere " milling " for money.

Fox said that Thurlow "must be an impostor ; no man ever was so wise as he looked." After this cursory account of the con- tents of Blaine's Rural Sports, the reader may ask how could Mr. Blaine acquire all he professes. Well, as the Spaniard. says, " Who knows ! " This, however, may be said, that he has had time to learn a good deal (and he, it may be said in parenthesis, might have learned some things more satisfactorily than he has done, for instance, alligator hunting). " Delabere P. Blaine, Esq.," is to modern men what Nestor was to the heroic race that fought at Ilium, if he be not beyond mortality. Sixty-six years ago, he was so famous in the world. of horses and horsemanship, that he assisted M. St. Bel to found the Veterinary College. When the Frenchman—who, by the by, had more show than substance—departed this life, and a successor was required, "some eyes were directed to ourselves." Various approved works on the art indicate his authority on horses, and the book bears internal evidence of a long experience of horsemen from the stable-boy to the peer. Something of the Mildeor temporis acti may be visible in this sketch of a great turfite, as well as of the " nothing like leather" principle. But what an idea it opens up ! What is a premier compared to a patron of horse-racing, in know- ledge of books, animals, men, jockies, and legs ! What a con- descension to sink from a turfite's fate,

To govern men and rule the state. "In our opinion, nothing will tend so much to prevent that total loss of

character with which racing is threatened, as that the influential supporters of it should simultaneously join in attempting the detection of fraud, and in the fearless and summary punishment of malpractices, whether perpetrated by prince or peasant. To enable them to do this effectively, it is essentially necessary that their own knowledge of racing in all its branches should be as extensive and as minute as that of the blacklegs themselves. Such know- ledge on their parts is the more necessary, when it is considered that the taint is apt in too many cases to extend to the operatives in their own stables. Every- one at all concerned in racing matters, but particularly the great owners of large racing establishments, should fully understand the laws and customs which regulate the practice of the sport, local as well as general. Roth the Racing Calendar and the Stud Book should be at the finger ends of the turfite. Cadwalleder himself should not be better informed on the lineal descent of his ancestors, than the racing amateur on that of every running horse of repute. His knowledge of horses generally, and of the race-horse particularly, should be critical ; indeed his eye should be familiarized to take in the points of the winning form at a glance : and they really are comprised in a few peculiarities of conformation. It is not in height, for the grey- hound of less than thirty inches, and the hare of twelve, can run as fast ; but it is in the perfect mechanism of all the parts as they relate to each other, and also as they constitute a whole, of numerous points and angles, that the winning form consists. He should perfectly understand the prin- eiples of training, as well as the practice ; his scientific knowledge of it being the more necessary to him, because it is only known dogmatically by the stable attendants. He should also be able to pry deeply into human tifi. Pere, as the only guard against fraud in those in his employ. No villain is always on his guard, and the first act of roguery almost necessarily bespeaks

a confederate, and of course an evil with extensive ramifications. In the breeding of stock, his judgment should be based on principles, and e

by critical observation. Here also he must in all important matters thindemd self present ; or at least if he net by proxy, let it be by some intelles,,—; friend, or his very breed may be misbegotten, or otherwise marred in the person of the sire or dam, so extensive and all pervading are the artso f); honourable fraternity of legs. * • * * The professed turfite should not ° well understand the training of horses, but should likewise accurately111' form himself of the result of all the trials asiiiiracahmssutaccaessedsthmearyetodi;stabit.e which he will be enabled to judge to what extent he can back the indivla tais07. his own stud, or otherwise hedge 01; as must avoid all fancies, and be very careful, as Darvill observes, he backs his fancy, or takes the odds, out of his own stable.' As the thaw e8 of performance approach,. he must be guided by circumstances how far itwi be prudent to unfold his opinions to his training groom, private jockey, - The best method of keeping them honest, is to act both liberally and kindle towards them. 'If they are allowed,' as Darvill says, to stand their naoaea to a certain extent in his (the master's) own book,' it may do much, and will further insure their future fidelity."

Here is a curious passage as regards the name of a fearful dis_ order—hydrophobia, and very important as regards its treatment, and other ways.

" That no disinclination to liquids exists, will be readily acknowledged by all who observe the disease with common attention; from the first to the last, no aversion to water is observed. We state this as a general fact; one or two instances in as many thousands may occur, of constitutional idiosyn. eracy, where liquids are refused ; but of the many hundred rabid dogs we have seen, not one has shown. any dislike to water. In the early stages, liquids of? all kinds are taken as usual, and some continue to take them so throughout the complaint : nor can we press too strongly on the recollection of persons engaged about dogs, that no manifest dread of water is either a pathognomonic or at all a usual symptom in mad don. Neither does any active spasm attend the efforts to swallow water; anehowever the paralysis of the parts may render the attempt ineffectual, the sight and contact oeca. sion no pain whatever ; but, on the contrary, the desire for drink is urgent, and unceasing attempts to take it mark a majority of rabid cases; it is true that paralysis of the parts prevents deglutition in some, while others drink freely throughout the disease ; but certainly there is not one in a thousand that does not seek water.

"Nevertheless, we regret to be forced to state, that even to the present time, not only these, but other prejudices prevail on this subject, which occasion unnecessary and lamentable dread in the minds of many. Should a dog, from any cause whatever, be prevented from swallowing food or water, his incapacity is attributed to madness, and his immediate destruc- tion is the least part of the evil; for if, unfortunately, any timid person may have been bitten by this dog, or have been licked only by it, years of dread and misery are the consequence. On the contrary, the ease with which rabid dogs can drink has engendered a fatal reliance on a fancied se- curity which does not exist, but, on the contrary, may lead to the most dis- astrous consequences. Such, indeed, has been the ignorance even of our medical men on this subject, that. we could produce instances of more than one physician who has unhesitatingly asserted, that if a diseased dog can drink his complaint is not madness. An eminent M.D., now no more, on being consulted on the propriety of using some prophylactic means, in con- sequence of three persons of the family of a well-known horse-dealer having been bitten by a dog under disease, satisfied himself with inquiring whether the animal could drink while under the complaint ? Being informed that he did so, freely, throughout the whole of its duration, he unhesitatingly de- clared that no precautionary means whatever were necessary, and that he would therefore prescribe none. Fortunately, the bitten parts of each of these persons were, notwithstanding, excised at our suggestion, and the re- sult proved the necessity of the operation ; for a horse and a dog, known both of them to have been bitten by the dog alluded to, in three weeks after- wards died rabid."

The book is portly, as may be imagined from the extent of its subjects. It looks very handsome in its hunting colours of green and scarlet ; while not less than six hundred wood-cuts enforce or illustrate the text.