IN illustrating the fabulous story

of Daphne and Leucippus, we shall pass over that which relates the enamoured pursuits of Apollo, and of Daphne imploring the Gods for relief against his importunities, and changing her into a laurel. The immediate subject of this plate relates wholly to Daphne and Leueippus, and is as follows-"Some say that Daphne was admired by Leucippus, son of Enomaus, king of Pisa, who, to be in her com

Meeting Carlisle.. Wrexham.. Monmouth Perth

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Dumfries and Caledonian Hunt 9 Hh Holywell

THE character of animals depend much upon situation and circumstances. In the Portuguese Settlements in South America, Mr. Mawe informs us that " Tigers, ounces, and lious, are common. The former are heavy sluggish animals; their chief prey is the young cattle, which they find in such abundance that they rarely attack a man. Hence little danger is to be apprehended from them by any person travelling on horseback, unless when inadvertently approaching the haunt of a female with young. The ounce has the same character, and the lion. is considered less vicious than either."

The following curious account is extracted from the same interesting traveller." Among the many daring and active feats performed by the Peons, one of the most extraordinary of late years, was the capture of a tiger by a female of that tribe. She was a mulatto woman, brought up in the vicinity of Barriga Negra. She was accustomed at an early age to ride horses, and prided herself in doing offices that belonged to the stronger sex, such as catching cattle with the noose, killing them, &c. Her form was masculine, and she became so inured to men's work, that she was hired as Peon, and filled that office much to the satisfaction of her employers. She was noted for selecting spirited horses and riding them at full

a

speed. Que day, on her return from labour, as she was passing a rivulet, she observed a tiger at no great distance. Surprized that the animal did not steal away, as is generally the case when he sees a person mounted, she drew nearer, still keeping her borse's head from him, so as to be ready to gallop off if he made a spring. He was still inattentive and motionless. The woman observing this, and thinking that he ailed something, backed her horse until she came within 20 yards of him, loosening at the same time her noose from the saddle, which she threw most dexterously round his neck, and immediately galloped away with him to a considerable distance. Whether ill or not before, she knew he must now be dead; she therefore alighted and slayed him; and carried home the skin as a trophy. The animal was above the ordinary size, and not smaller than a calf of six weeks old. This exploit was long the talk of the neighbourhood, and I have heard the woman herself relate it."

Among the various means of defence which nature has given to animals, the following is not the least worthy of our admiration.In South America there is an animal of the opossum kind, about the size of a rabbit, called a zarilla, the skin of which is streaked black and white, and considered of some value. When attacked, it ejects a foetid liquor, which is of so pungent a nature, that if it falls upon any part of the dress of its pursuers, there is no possibility of getting rid of the stench, but by exposure to the weather for some months. The zurilla is very fond of eggs and poultry, and some. times enters a house in quest of its prey; the inhabitants immediately

hasten

hasten out, and leave their unwelcome visitant in quiet possession as long as he chooses to stay; well aware that the slightest attempt to drive him out, would expose them to the risk of an ejectment from the premises for ever.

REMARKABLE MATCHES NEAR

BRIGHTON.

A Race, singular for the great obstinacy with which it was contested, took place on the Downs Brighton, this month (we believe the 16th). It was between Mr. Bacon's horse Offa's Dyke, aged, and Mr. Allingham's Wilmington, four years old, heats, the New Course, for 50gs. about a mile and three quarters. The first heat, neck and neck all the way, was won by Wilmington, by about half a bead; and the second by Mr. Bacon's, by nearly a length, owing, it is supposed, to a dog's crossing the course, which, in coming in, somewhat checked the speed of the former horse. The third heat, both horses were put at starting to the top of their speed, and continued neck and neck all the way round, the whipping from the distance post being severe on both sides, but without procuring any advantage. This struggle terminated in a dead heat, and riders (professional jockies) and horses all appeared distressed. At the commencement the odds were five to four on the aged horse, though he carried 21lbs. extra; but on Wilmington's gaining the first heat, they changed to five to four in his favour; but after the dead heat, they took their former bias, and Offa's Dyke was again the favourite. After a lapse of about twenty minutes, the horses were a

fourth time started, refreshed, and eager for the trial, and neither whip nor spur was idle as propellants to the victory. Again a table cloth would have covered both all the way round. The generous animals, with singular speed, laboured with all their strength to exceed each other; but it was ineffectual-for, singular and interesting to relate, this struggle also terminated in the dead beat.

When pulled up and brought to the weighing stand, the aged horse, however, appeared in best condition, which induced Mr. Allingham to resign the contest.

At six o'clock in the morning of Saturday, the 23d instant, a bay blood mare, the property of an officer of the 10th hussars, started on the Lewes race course, to go sixty miles in four hours and a quarter, either rode or led, it is said, for a bet of 100 guineas. With a jockey upon the saddle, the noble animal performed the first forty miles in two hours and five minutes; after which she was put into the stable, rubbed down, &c. for fifteen mi

nutes.

When brought forward a second time, labouring under the distress of former exercise, she was sometimes rode, and sometimes led and driven, with a mounted attendant in the rear, who was brisk and forcible in the application of the whip, until eleven miles more of the ground had been passed over, with as much rapidity as the exbausted strength of the poor beast would permit, At this period, nine miles of the allotted task being wanting for its accomplishment, and three quarters of an hour only remaining to perform it in, the condition of the mare would not allow of further trial, and the struggle ceased.

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PEDESTRIANISM.

A Feat of pedestrianism was at tempted this month in the neighbourhood of the metropolis, which, from its magnitude, excited more curiosity and attracted more attention in the sporting world than any thing of the kind undertaken since the celebrated Barclay match, or the more remote achievements of the well-known Foster Powell.

On Monday, the 11th of September, George Wilson, a vender of pamphlets in the vicinity of Woolwich, Kent, started at a spot opposite the Hare and Billet public-house, on Blackheath, to perform fifty miles a day for twenty successive days, making in the whole one thousand miles within that period. The match was not to decide a stipulated bet between any parties, but seems to have been the spontaneous undertaking of the pedestrian, for reasons developed in the following hand-bill, which he issued during his performance:

"George Wilson, pedestrian, aged fifty years, proposes to perform the laborious task of walking one thousand miles in the space of twenty days, at the rate of fifty miles a day, a task, if accomplished, will never have been surpassed commenced on Monday, the 11th of September, 1815, on Blackheath, at six o'clock in the morning. In order that he may endeaYour to accomplish it, he wishes a subscription of one hundred pounds to be raised amongst the gentlemen of Woolwich and its vicinity, as a remuneration for so arduous au undertaking.-G. W. further proposes to such as may become subscribers, that should his endeayours prove unsuccessful, he shall

not be entitled to the subscription; but the subscribers will be at li

berty to divide it amongst themselves, or dispose of it in any other way best calculated to their incli nation.-G. W. further adds, that as there will be two Sundays during the performance of the task in question, be intends resting on each of those days, from ten till one o'clock in the forenoon, which will greatly enhance the difficulty of the undertaking.-G. W. begs to observe, that it shall be left to the subscribers to appoint a Committee for each day, to manage the busi ness, not exceeding five, as the affairs of each day may accrue."

In person, Wilson by no means had the appearance of a man ca pable of great muscular exertion ; he is about five feet six inches in height, and weighs apparently about eight stone; his shoulders rather broad, and arms rather disproportionately long; his legs and thighs awkwardly hung together, and in consequence his gait or pace is of a shuffling, sideling description. He is stated to be a native of Newcastle, and in his way of business as a newsman or itinerant stationer, had often performed forty miles a day, without much fatigue. He has performed several other walking matches, in one of which he did ninety-six miles in twenty-four hours.

On Monday, the 11th, as above stated, at six in the morning, Wilson commenced his arduous undertaking. His dress was a light white jacket, and nankeen trowsers and gaiters, with a large yellow straw hat of French manufacture. The Hare and Billet was the goal from whence he started; from the sign post in front, a circle of a mile was marked out; the ground was uneven, and part of it being a por

tion of heavy, dusty road, was very unfavourable. He performed his fifty miles on the first day at eight o'clock, without fatigue; and renewed his task at five o'clock Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday night he was very much distressed, and not a sanguine expectation existed in his favour. -It was, however, fortunate that Mr. Dyer, a gentleman residing on the Heath, happened to walk a few rounds with him, and be soon discovered that different treatment was indispensably necessary to accomplish even another day's walking; he accordingly took him to his own house, and kindly rendered him every thing that his situation required. He procured him light food, employed persons to rub his feet, &c. and on Wednesday morning Mr. Dyer started with him, and, as will appear in the sequel, assisted and patronised him to the end of the undertaking, with unabated perseverance. The match having now become known in the metropolis, persons were gradually attracted towards the scene of action; victualling booths were erected on the Heath, and by Saturday, such multitudes poured forth from the capital, that the Magistrates of Greenwich took the affair into consideration, and communicated to Wilson, as their order, "That it was the opinion of the Magistrates that George Wilson, who was walking for money upon Blackheath, could not be allowed to proceed on his walk on ANY part of the Sabbath-day."-In consequence of this mandatory order, Wilson was conveyed Sunday morning to the six-mile stone on the Dover road, and there proceeded on his task, then in full health and vigour. Thousands had flocked to the spot, so that at five in the evening the

road from Blackheath to the seventh mile stone was a complete chain of carriages, equestrians, and pedestrians of all descriptions. So great was the throng, that it was impossible to get admission to the hero who caused it, and he could make his way through them only by a lane about five feet broad, which was with difficulty forced for him.

On Monday (the 8th day) Wilson was extremely stiff, and apparently disheartened, a circumstance which may be attributed to the unfavourable ground, to which he bad been driven on Sunday. As the day advanced, however, his courage increased, and at half-past two next morning be completed his fiftieth mile, with apparent ease, doing the last two miles in eightand-twenty minutes. His task ac complished, he was carried to the house of Mr. John Dyer, on the heath, in a sedan chair, and received every necessary attention. He was attended by a nurse, and by a medical gentleman named Lucas, who examined his feet, and pronounced them, with the exception of a trifling excoriation, perfectly uninjured. Having bathed his feet in salt and water, and washed his person in a tepid bath, he retired to rest, and soon forgot his cares in a sound sleep, in which he continued till half-past seven; he then rose in high spirits, and prepared for the renewal of his arduous task.

Tuesday, he was most dreadfully incommoded by the crowd which pressed around him in prodigious numbers, and but too fre quently, in many cases from design, interrupted his path, by the dust which their trampling created. Wilson, notwithstanding, confident, observing, "If God spares my health, and barring all

was