d they will seize upon a dog with the
utmost ferocity, and will shake it as a terrier does a rat. The jaws
of the otter are so constructed, that even when dead it is difficult
to separate them, as they adhere with the utmost tenacity. Otters are
frequently found on the banks of the Thames, and a large one was
caught in an eel-basket, near Windsor, but the hunting of them is
discontinued.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: GREYHOUNDS.]

THE GREYHOUND.

"Ah! gallant Snowball! what remains,
Up Fordon's banks, o'er Flixton's plains,
Of all thy strength--thy sinewy force,
Which rather flew than ran the course?
Ah! what remains? Save that thy breed
May to their father's fame succeed;
And when the prize appears in view,
May prove that they are Snowballs too."

The perfection to which the greyhound has been brought by persevering
care and attention to its breed, distinguishes it alike for beauty,
shape, and high spirit, while its habits are mild and gentle in the
extreme. These dogs were brought to this great perfection by the late
Lord Orford, Major Topham, and others. Snowball,--perhaps one of the
best greyhounds that ever ran,--won four cups, couples, and upwards
of thirty matches, at Malton, and upon the wolds of Yorkshire. In
fact, no dog had any chance with him except his own blood. In the
November Malton coursing-meeting in 1799, a Scotch greyhound was
produced, which had beat every opponent in Scotland. It was then
brought to England, and challenged any dog in the kingdom. The
challenge was accepted, and Snowball selected for the trial of speed;
after a course of two miles, the match (upon which considerable sums
were depending) was decided in his favour.

Another dog, which belonged to Sir Henry Bate Dudley, won seventy-four
successive matches, without having been once beaten.

Various have been the opinions upon the difference of speed between a
well-bred greyhound and a racehorse, if opposed to each other. Wishes
had been frequently indulged by the sporting world, that some
criterion could be adopted by which the superiority of speed could be
fairly ascertained, when the following circumstance accidentally took
place, and afforded some information upon what had been previously
considered a matter of great uncertainty. In the month of December,
some years ago, a match was to have been run over Doncaster
race-course for one hundred guineas; but one of the horses having be