The Sun.
London, England, 1827-05-05 00:00:00

CITY OF EDINBURG PROPOSED IM.-

PROVEMENTS.

Discussions upon the subject of extensive improve-
ments in the Metropolis Of Scotland, have for some
months occupied the public prints of that kingdom,
and the minds of the inhabitants of Edinburgh and
its neighbouring counties, whose interests are most
materially affected by the changes proposed. We
have just seen a most interesting and instructive
pamphlet, entitled " Remo ta for assessing the three
" Lothians with a share of the expence of the ge-
" neral improvement of the City of Edinburgh."
This little Esssy appears to be "founded upon
pas and calculations," explaining the nature of the
proposed improvements, suggesting. an equitable
mode of assessment for the completion, and tend-
ing, we humbly think, to conciliate discordant opi-
nions upon this important question to Scotland and
its Metroriolis. To them who take an interest in
the prosperity of Scotland, we would humbly re-
commend the perusal of this Essay.

FIELD SPOR,TS FOR MAY.

(From the Annals of S'pcZrtinY.)

" Then came faire May, the fayrest may,
on ground
Deckt all with dainties of a season's prychtf
And throwing flow'res out of her lap around:
Upon two brethren's shoulders she did ride,
The twinnes of Leda; which on either side
Supported her, like to their soveraine queene.
Lord ! bow all creatures taught, when her they spide,
And leapt and daunc't as they had ravisht beene !
Nor least of these the sportsman true was seen.

SPENCER.

For awhile we have no longer any observations to make
on the operations of the fowling-piece, the performances
of the greyhound, the harrier, or the fox-hound ; excepts
perhaps, merely to notice, as far as relates to the latter,
that it is the custom, in some parts of England, to kill a
May fox, a subject upon which our opinion has been already
and unhesitatingly recorded. If we lose some sports, how-
ever, we gain others ; the Angler will now plod his un-
weary way to the banks of his favourite stream, and the
Otter hunter whistle his hound; and grasp his spear; yet
,t is only in certain districts where this pastime can be
followed, in places, for instance, whey' there are powerful
streams and plenty of water, since, in small brooks otters
will rarely be found : and if, indeed, one of these animals
should take up his abode in such situations he becomee
alarmed on the slightest occasion, and very soon quite a
haunt which he is well aware can afford him very little Pa-
curity. Ott.;-hunting has, however, long been on the de.,
cline, though there are some few individuals still to Le found
who are passionately fond of the sport, and who follow
with all possible ardour; from its nature, too, it can only
be pursued in spring, or when the weather has become suf-
ficiently mild to enable the hounds to take the water : nor
is it of long continuance, inasmuch e.s the growing crops,
the spring and summer advancing, very naturally place a
bar to its prosecution, except in moor-laud and uncultivated
situations, where the diversion can be enjoyed throughout
the summer. We are told that the otter breeds during
the winter months ; but what proofs of this have ever been
furnished ? We confess our scepticism on the subject : for
it would almost appear contrary to the order of nature;
and it surely might be asked, how are the young, if brought
forth in winter, to be supplied with food, since it i: a well-
known fact that, during during a severe frost, these animals
are constrained to prowl on land for a very scanty sub-
sistence ? The possible truth of the matter is, that the as-
sertion has originated from the interested reports of those
who pursue the d iversicn, and who would not have it thought
that the hunting of this animal takes place at the period
when most other species of diversion is suspended, that is,
:luring the breeding season.
Otter-bunting may be followed through the summer on
many of the Welsh lakes and melts; also, in many parte
of Scotland, particularly in di; .dighlands ; in Devonshire,
also, about South Molton, &o. &c. Otters are very de-
structive to the finny tribes, and on this account their extir-
pation would be most welcome to the angler ; hence, they
requently fall victims to the foss ..ng-piece, and are indeed
unsparingly destroyed whenever they make their appearance
in streams and waters which afford amusement-to the fisher.
The heron which formerly stood so high in the list of
British field-sports) is equally destructive to fish, and of
course equally by Waltonians detested. This bird, it seems,
was not only a favourite of the sportsman, but was regarded
as one of the greatest dainties of the table : yet, though the
sportsmen of the old school have handed down the fact, -
they have neglected to state the manner in wkiell ' as
rendered so highly palatable. Nothing is more ; can, stringy,
and rancid than its tough and meagre flesh, which we think
not even the lamented Kitchener could render endurable.
The " Cooks' Oracle" would discard him. The heron and
the fox, however, stand parallel with each other : —in hawk-
ing, the former stood pre-eminent, as au object of sport ;
with hounds the latter, it is well known, affords the best
possible diversion ; yet the flesh of either we are inclined
to believe, can never again become a delicacy. Hawking,
like otter-hunting, has long been ou the decline; and, on
this account, the heron has become much scarcer. There
are few heronries at present to be found in England. It is
very difficult of approach, as if, indeed, conscious of the as-
siduity with which its life is sought; this is clearly the
case, from the circumstance that, where it experiences pro,
tection, it approaches human dwellings, like the rook, for
the purpose of breeding and rearing its young. Ir
breeding season the heron becomes gregarious, and a cc-e
munity is formed which continues to live together in the
greatest harmony; but, at the end of this period, the fea-
thered republic dissolves itself, and the members become
solitary for the rest of the year.
At this season the Ruff, the Reeve, the Dottrel, Bsc. are
to be met with in some of our marshes and fens, and afford
a meagre diversion to the shooter ; but it is the impulse of
love which induces these birds to become wanderers, and
we cannot bring ourselves to think well of their destruc-
tion at the very time they are engaged in the important
business of propagating their species. This disposition to
errantry, on the access of desire, seems general to what may
be called fen-birds. The wild goose was very scarce dur-
ing the last winter; yet, on the approach of spring, and
during the early part of the month of March in particular,
these birds appeared in considerable numbers on various
parts of the coast, and particularly on the north-west coast,
where, on the 13th of the month, a flock of geese passed
over our heads more numerous than any similar assemblage
which we have seen for the last five-and-thirty years.
Whence they had come we know not ; but this flock, as
well as several smaller flocks, which passed us in course of
the preceding ten days, were winging their way due north,
with all that clamour which usually attends their flight,
but which, however, is uniformly greater at spring than at
any other period when they appear amongst us.

Ducks showed themselves very frequently during the
same period, but chiefly in pairs, indeed, they are seldom
seen during spring in flocks or teams.
Game of all descriptions will now be little disturbed for
some emmoonnotih s
w:
lt ho increase
not
tonl of v
afford
rdegi:rtao
ttieecnti
odnu rin g
tot h the pre..
sent ne-
•g
hares, but even screen them from ohservatiou. A similar
remark will apply to the nestling of the pheasant and the
partridge. Young grouse will have generally broken the
shell, and many will be on the wing before the end of May.
May is the month in which young rooks present the !li-
selves on the outside of the nest, and thus form an object
for those who are fond of the diversion of rook-shooting.
From all the observations we have been able to make, we
have reason to believe that the period of hatching will be
about a week later than usual, on account of the unusually
severe weather that occurred on the approach of spring ;
therefore rook-shooting may, perhaps, be postponed, in a
great measure till the month of June.

If, however, the operations of the chase become suspend-
ed, the sportsman naturally enough looks to the turf for an
equivalent of amusement, for now the course offers its in-
tense attra,;,:.ms, and thus fills up the circle with the most
interesting variety. The Newmarket Craven, kat passed,
will he followed by Chester races, on the ith of this
(to say nothing of Lichfield, Warwick, and others which
occur prior to this period.) and will be succeeded by many
throughout the summer. Of the advantages arising from
the course, it may he, in the first place, remarked that by
this means, very considerable sums of money are put into
active circulation which would have silently slept, or at
least remained in comparative inaction ; secondly, but for
its interesting emulations we should never have beheld that
perfection of the noblest and most elegant quadruped in the
world which is exhibited in the English thorough-bred
horse. The native Arab, to which we are unquestionably
indebted for our racing blood, sinks into nothingness when
compared to the English courser. That racing .lay" go
on and prosper " is our ardent (and it is a patriotic) wish ;
and that it is in a state of prosperity at present is evident
from the uncommon entries which have taken place in all
parts of the kiagdom, and also from the establishment of
races wherenone before were in existence.

The Grand Cambrian Eisteddfod will take
place in London on the 24th inst.—Shrewsbury
Chronicle.