The Sun.
London, England, 1837-06-15 00:00:00

PIGEON SHOOTING.

The termination of the great match for the tea service yes-
terday created considerable interest. The crack 21 yards men
ought now to be satisfied that they arc not field shots. It was
well enough for some of them during the first day at 25 yards,
but when the 35 yards of the second day, and 45 of yesterday,
were disputed, they were all abroad. The battle was in the
last stage amongst men who were considered unfit to cope with
those who ordinarily figure at the Red House in matches.
They were taught yesterday by sad experience that they had
" shaken hands" with themselves too soon, and were beaten by
one against whom any.of the clique would have bet 30 to 1 at
the commencement. 'The terms were 18 birds, three days'
shooting, at 25, 35, and 45 yards' rise. We have on the two
previous days detailed the particulars of this interesting match,
and it will be remembered that those who killed yesterday
marked three for one dead birds. The following is the total
marking :
Mr. Dufour
Mr. Fox 2ltMr. Brown
Mr. Toby
Mr. Groom
Mr. Ilorloek

Mr. Bellings l7 Mr. Sw•ane
Mr. Toombes

Mr. Gyngle
Mr. June

The best shot present throughout this match was Fox, but
he had very bad luck. Toombes killed some of his birds ad-
mirably. The wire cartridge was used by all the shots.

" Practice," says Captain Bonneville, " has given
such a quickness of eye to the experienced trapper in all that
relates to his pursuit, that he can detect the slightest sign of
a beaver, however wild ; and, although the lodge may be con-
cealed by close thickets and overhanging willows, he can gene-
rally at a single glance make an accurate gueis at the num-
ber of its inmates. He now goes to work to set his trap,
planting it upon the shore in some chosen place, two or three
inches below the surface of the water, and secures it by a
chain to a pole set deep in the mud. A small twig is then
stripped of its bark, and one end is dipped in the medicine,'
as the trappers term the peculiar bait which they employ.
This end of the stick rises about four inches above the surface
of the water, the other end is planted between the jaws of
the trap. The beaver, possessing an acute sense of smell, is
soon attracted by the odour of the bait. As he raises his
nose towards it, his foot is caught in the trap. In his fright
he throws a Somerset into the deep water. The trap being
fastened to the pole resists all his efforts to drag it to the
shore ; the chain by which it is fastened defies his teeth P • he
struggles for a time, and at length sinks to the bottom and is
drowned. Occasionally it happens that several members of a
beaver family are trapped in succession. The survivors then
become extremely shy, and can scarcely be ' brought to medi-
cine,' to use the trapper's phrase for ' taking the bait.' In
such cases the trapper gives up the use of the bait, and con-
ceals his traps in the usual paths and crossing places of the
household. The beaver being now completely •up to trap,'
approaches them cautiauslv, and springs them ingeniously with
a stick. At other times, be turns the traps bottom upwards
by the same means, and occasionally even drags them to the
barrier and conceals them in the mud. The trapper now
gives up the contest of ingenuity, and shouldering his traps
marches off, admitting that he is not yet' up to beaver."--Ad,
ventures of Captain Bonneville.

It gives us sincere satisfaction to observe, that our
citizens are taking up in good earnest the case of our distressed
countrymen in the manufacturing districts in the west. The
amount of distress is truly appalling—in Paisley alone there
being no fewer than 19,000 individuals in a state of total des-
titution. It will also be observed, that the joint Committees
of the magistrates and inhabitants Lave felt it necessary, from
the urgency of the claims upon them, to authorize collectors
to call upon the householders individually for their private sub-
scriptions ; thus also affording to those an opportunity of con-
tributing who may have been prevented from giving their col-
lections in the churches.--Caledonian Mercury.
There is in the possession of a gentleman i❑ this
neighbourhood a very extraordinary painting, the miniature
likeness of Queen Elizabeth, for which she sat to Hans Hol-
bein, and the only one she ever did sit for. It was among the
treasures of the late Johnes, of Hafod, and brought by him,
with other valuable pictures, to Langstone, in this county ;
after his death it was m the possession of his widow, who be-
queathed it by her will, as a valuable curiosity, to its present
possessor.-.-Exeter Paper.