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6st. 12fb.--The betting closed at 2 to 1 agst Minima (taken), 5 to 2 agst All-fours, 6 to 1 agst Egotist, and 10 to 1 agst Lord Exeter. Robinson rode the winner, which is one of the speediest three-year-olds at Newmarket: Condor was second, and Egotist a good third.

A Match for 100 sovs., New T. Y. C.-Mr. Thornhill's Merganser, 8st. 10ft. (Connelly), beat with the greatest possible ease Lord Exeter's Express, 7st. 10ft. (Natt).-Even betting.

Next came the July Stakes. In the morning the race had been scarcely mentioned owing to the doubt as to whether Crucifix would go, but when Lord George declared that she would run, several of the most knowing ones declared that "she would be safe to win ;" and the betting was like the handle of a pewter pot, "all on one side." Currency had a host of supporters previous to the declaration, but afterwards the "Currency Question" was not agitated. The following appeared at the post at the appointed time :—

Lord George Bentinck's b. f. Crucifix, by Pria. (J. Day, jun.)

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....... 3 ........ 4

Duke of Grafton's b. f. Currency, by St. Patrick (J. Day) ................ 2 Mr. Knight's c. by Buzzard out of Margaret (Chapple)....................... Lord Exeter's f. by Sultan out of Palais Royal (Robinson) The following also started but were not placed:-Lord Albemarle's Cambyses, by Camel (E. Edwards); Lord Orford's c. by Clearwell out of Petulance (S. Rogers); and Lord Exeter's Stamboul, by Reveller (S. Darling).

At the second attempt a beautiful start was made, nothing having anything like a pull in his or her favor. John Day rattled away with Currency after a few strides, and carried on the running at a most destructive pace to the plantations, where "young John" brought up Crucifix, and from this point the race was entirely between the two. It was evident, however, that Currency was at her best, while Crucifix was going easily, and upon good terms with her jockey. At a short distance from home she was let out, and won in a common canter by nearly three lengths; Currency second, at least that distance from the Margaret colt, and the rest beaten clean off-The betting finished at 2 to 1 upon Crucifix (laid as long as any one would take it), 9 to 2 agst Currency, 6 to 1 agst Stamboul, 7 to 1 agst Palais Royal filly, 9 to 1 agst Margaret colt (taken), 12 to 1 agst Cambyses, and 15 to 1 agst Lord Orford's colt.-After this race 2 to I was taken about Crucifix for the Chesterfield Stakes, and 3 to 1 rather freely about Sister to Cara for the same. A few bets were also made upon the Goodwood Stakes, for which Wee Willie, Morella, and I-am-not-aware were in high favor, and backed freely at odds varying from 10 to 14 to 1 each.

Wednesday.-As a matter of course this was a dreadfully slack day, a paltry Match and a Selling 10 Sovs. Sweepstakes being all the engagements on the card. It is true, there was some lively betting in the evening, and a few "additionals" for Thursday's racing. The day was tolerably fine.

A Match for 40 sovs., P. P.-T. Y. C.-Mr. Byng's Garryowen, two-years-old, 6st. 12fb., beat Mr. Thornhill's Egotist, three-years-old, 9st. 71b., by nearly a length easily.-Betting: 6 to 4 on Garryowen, who was rode by Pavis at two pounds above the weight. These two

were formerly stable companions, Garryowen having been purchased of Mr. Thornhill last season for a mere song.-He is engaged in the Rutland Stakes in the First October Meeting, but is not in the Derby.

A Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. cach, last half of Abingdon Mile, for two-year-olds the winner to be sold for 200 sovs. if demanded, &c.— was won, after a fine race, by Mr. Thornhill's Sister to Montezuma, beating Lord Tavistock's f. by Glencoe out of Lucy Kemble; Colonel Peel's f. by Velocipede out of Malibran; Mr. Stephenson's c. by Camel, dam by Sultan; Mr. Rayner's Ten-pound-note; and Mr. E. Bond's f. by Glencoe out of Moorhen.-Betting: 6 to 4 agst Ten-pound-note (taken), 3 to 1 agst Lucy Kemble filly (taken), and 5 to 1 agst any other. Connelly rode the winner. Lucy Kemble filly was second, and Bond's last. The winner was claimed, but I understood did not change hands. The average betting in the evening was as follows:

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Mr. Thornhill's four fillies were in great demand for the Oaks 1840: anything above 7 to 1 would have been taken to a heavy amount. Crucifix was also backed at 7 to 1 to near £400, and Lalla Rookh at 10 and 11 to 1 to about £150. Nothing done worth mentioning upon the Leger.

Thursday-The weather was delightfully fine, and the company far more numerous than what might have been expected. The sport also was first-rate, and the bettings, particularly on the Match and Chesterfield Stakes, quite heavy enough for the most exciting bettor. The racing commenced soon after twelve o'clock, and finished about half-past three, thus enabling many to get to town the same night.

The first race was for the Town Plate of Fifty Pounds, for threeyear-olds, last mile and a distance of the Beacon Course.-This race was most unexpectedly won by a filly of Lord Lynedoch's, by Reveller out of Mandane, rode by T. Stephenson in a very workmanlike manner, beating Mr. Wilson's Louisa and Mr. Greville's Rory O'More. Rory was a great favorite, and 2 to 1 was frequently betted upon him; 5 to 2 was offered against Louisa, and the winner's name was never heard." Rory made the running, was passed by the two fillies about a hundred yards from home, and defeated in a canter, Mandane filly being first by a head; Louisa second. The winner is half-sister to Jeffy, the winner of the Two-year-old Stakes in the Second Spring Meeting, the

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100 Sovs. Sweepstakes at Epsom, and the old 30 Sovs. Sweepstakes at Ascot. She is engaged in the Hopeful Stakes in the First October Meeting.

The Buxton Stakes of 100 sovs. was won by Lord Tavistock's King of the Peak, rode by Robinson, beating Duke of Grafton's Liffey, rode by John Day, in the commonest canter imaginable. A colt of Lord Lichfield's paid forfeit.

Match for 300 sovs., h. ft., Across the Flat.-Mr. Greville's Morella, 4 yrs, 8st. 8fb. (Flatman), and Mr. Thornhill's Merganser, 3 yrs, 8st. (Connelly), ran a dead heat. This was a regular sporting Match: each party was confident, and the betting very heavy; Morella, by the weight of money, just having the call at the finish at 11 to 10.-Morella went off at a great pace, Merganser in close attendance: they continued in this order till they reached the ropes, when the latter challenged, and seemed to be winning cleverly. Nat, however, when within a dozen yards from home, made a desperate effort, and drew the finish so fine that Mr. Clark pronounced it a dead heat. Mr. Thornhill made some observations after the decision, which proved him to be anything but satisfied with the result. The two are engaged in the Goodwood Stakes, Morella giving 6fb.

The Chesterfield Stakes drew ten to the post, Crucifix carrying nine pounds extra ! The betting had been very brisk in the morning, and at the close 7 to 4 was betted upon her; 3 to I was currently offered against Sister to Cara, and 6 to 1 agst Darkness: no others mentioned. A dozen false starts or more took place before they started, when they, to me and others, appeared to be all off. Iris, the Margaret colt, and Sister to Cara, about two hundred yards from the Chair, seemed to have the race to themselves: a little nearer home, Crucifix, who started badly, joined them, ran Iris so close home that the Judge gave it "Iris first by half a length;" Crucifix second.-It turned out to be a false start, owing to a restive brute, Merle, turning his head the wrong way when the word was given. This gave the betting gentry an opportunity to back, hedge, or shift their money as their judgment prompted.-The real race was run in a similar way to the false one; that is, after three or four false starts, the Margaret colt, Iris, and Crucifix had the affair to themselves at the top of the hill, Crucifix winning cleverly by two lengths; Iris second, Margaret colt third. The following started but were not placed: Stamboul, Hellespont, The Orphan, Darkness, Sister to Cara, and Trojana. Merle did not start in this race, Pavis having been rather severely injured by his running against a post. Last betting: 2 to 1 agst Crucifix (taken), 5 to 2 agst Iris, and 8 to 1 agst the Margaret colt. Crucifix was ridden by John Day, and is altogether one of the finest and best actioned two-year-olds I ever saw. Her engagements are very numerous, she being entered for most of the "good things" at Goodwood and the Newmarket October Meetings, as well as in the 2000gs., 1000gs., the Oaks and Leger of 1840. She was purchased, with her dam, for something like 55gs. at a draft sale of Lord Chesterfield's, and was got by Priam out of Octaviana by Octavian,

The last race of the Meeting was for a Handicap Stakes of 15 sovs. each, 10 ft., for three-year-olds and upwards, from the starting-post of B. M. to the end of the New T. Y. C., and had three subscribers, but only two came to the post, viz. Corban, 5 yrs, 7st. 10lb.; and Dash, 4 yrs, 8st. 7lb. Corban won without being headed, rode by Sam Mann. -Even betting, Dash for choice.

Lord Chesterfield's three years' Stewardship having expired, the Hon. Colonel Anson was appointed his successor.

The Garden Stakes for the Second October Meeting closed with three subscribers: Adrian, 5 yrs, 7 st.; I-am-not-aware, 4 yrs, 7 st.; and Flambeau, 3 yrs, 6st. 12fb.

White Hart, Newmarket, July 13, 1839.

MORE INSTANCES OF MIGRATORY BIRDS BREEDING

IN ENGLAND.

In the third volume of THE SPORTING MAGAZINE, Second Series, p. 107, as a proof of woodcocks breeding in England, the finding of young woodcocks in the county of Kent, and within twenty-one miles of London, was noticed. One was taken by a woodman in the employ of William Tonge, Esq., on Morant's Court Hill; and preserved specimens of three others are in the possession of Colonel Austen, of Kippington, taken in a wood on the same hill as the previous one.On the 10th inst. Mr. Waring, of Sundrish, accidentally flushed an old woodcock in the same vicinity while passing through the grounds at Squiries, the seat of the late John Ward, Esq. There is little doubt young ones may be found where this bird was flushed. Owing to the coldness and lateness of our Spring, which was very likely to have procrastinated their flight of migration, we take it as granted that there is a pair, which ultimately have fixed their abode in the delightful wilds of Homesdale.

We saw a large flight of Field-fares on the 3rd of May, feeding with seeming content amongst some recently broken turf, they having tarried in consequence of the cold. Our native thrushes began to breed two months previous to this last date, and young larks were found just hatched on the 26th of April. I believe we have not any account of Field-fares breeding in this Island, although the food they generally seek may be found through the summer months.

Many instances have been given of the woodcock breeding in Wales, and no doubt they would more frequently breed in the wild woods of Kent and Sussex, if they were not hunted and shot at as long as they can be found. Cocks are seldom good after February; they become scurfy, and are not fit for table. If all good Sportsmen would order their keepers not to shoot a woodcock in the month of March, 'tis likely the sport would be increased the following Autumn.

Sevenoaks, Ju'y 17, 1839.

S.

A PEEP INTO AYRSHIRE, AND INCIDENTAL NOTICES. BY OLD NORTH.

(Continued from our last Number, p. 263.)

THE AYRSHIRE FOX-HOUNDS-LORD KELBURNE'S-MR. RAMSAY'S, &c.

"ERRORS excepted" is a point pleaded and allowed in the strictest reckoning; and before I take leave of Dalmellington* I intend in some sort to avail myself of it. In the uppermost end of the village stands a perfect and curious Pictish remain, commonly called a wapentake, but, properly, weapon-take. It is a grassy mound or hillock in the exact and true shape of a cone, with the top frustrum cut off. It is about seventy feet in altitude, and twenty-five exactly in diameter on the top. The country in those days was divided in these weapon-takes, and it was around them the vassals were assembled and harangued, and had their arms delivered to them by their Chiefs. Hence wapentake, synonymous to tithing or hundred, and which still classifies many of the subdivisions of Yorkshire, &c. This mound is singularly perfect. Over on the other side the Muck-a small stream, but which in autumn abounds in sea trout-stands the bare and bluff crag of Ben Beoch, better known as the Foxes' Crag, being a strong-hold of the mountaineers. As it is found impossible to get at them by fair means, and it is surrounded by sheep-walks, they are made war upon in all ways. The cubs sometimes find their way into the Ayrshire coverts, and there were three this year so destined. It was to this rock-earth it cannot even in hunting parlance be termed that the Ayrshire had so severe and unusual a run last season. They found in a hanging on the bank of the Doon, ten or twelve miles below, and came best pace over a fine country, until, crossing the Doon someway below the village, they had the last three miles against the breast-work of this fastness to contend with. The fox made good this his single point, but it was a narrow shave. The hounds of course beat the horses, and the Doon had well nigh proved Doom to well-known Sportsman, but who by nerve and skill extricated himself and horse after a sound ducking. With the exception of one nag I shall allude to presently, they were all more or less in trouble, and the huntsman's horse fell a sacrifice in his necessary endeavor to kill his fox if possible. It was one of those afternoon-finds, after a long draw, which, whatever paradox it may seem to include, is at once lucky and unlucky.

I had now to make my way back to Kilmarnock, through Ayr, of which pleasant place I have little to remark on. It has a good racemeeting, and it will be there that the Sister to famed General Chassé will make her debut this autumn in a Sweepstakes. Racing men do not like their matters much talked about, and I do not pretend to know anything of this matter. I hope it will not be deemed going over the buckle in saying that public report speaks highly of her.-The Black Bull, at the Old Bridge End, is very pleasantly situated, and appears a very comfortable house.

* There is an excellent news and reading-room in this curious little place-London and other prints. It is well kept up by endowment and subscription. Coals are three shillings a ton: here we pay three-and-twenty.

VOL. XIX.-SECOND SERIES.--No. 112.

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