Nataralist,

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 426, 14 July 1904, Page 7

Nataralist,

WILD BQAB HUNTING IN FRANCE : f^ OR . ra <*ny years now, the efforts of Jav&fC Frenchman *o accustom himAs® self to 'Le Sport' and graft on to his Gullio nature the love of outdoor pastime, so prevalent in his neighbour across. the channel, have been a perennial spring for comic writers and artists. Of late, however, they have found less occasion for carioature, and, even the most insular cf Brito-as is forced to confess that the French are making progress. But though he is less prone to making absurd mistakes on the field, the Frenchman still clißgs to the spectacular and ceremonial effects without which the particular sport he affected would have for him no savor, The Baron de Dorlodot, who hunts the wild boar in hia forest and estate, supplies a good ex ample of this prediction. The Australian fashion of going 'out after kangaroo* in no particular direction and with a pack of nondescript dogs would never do for the Baron. He prefers a more imposing entrance and exit. Consequently he has his forest laid out on a mathematical plan, eaeh section of it being bounded by good high roads and crossed diagonally by lanes. By this means the bear is marked down comparatively easily. The huntsman has merely to find his tracks crossing one of the roads, traverse the boundaries of the section to soo if tbe animal has left it, and if not, to ride tbioughthe lanes and thus narrow down the exact locality of the boar'e kennel. Having arrived at this he returns to the Baron and reports The Baron forthwith consults a map of the forest, and devises a plan of attack on the one poor boar which would do credit to a general of strategy. The forest is far too dense to ride througn, and the hounds are sent in to put him up. Huntsmen and hounds are stationed at all likely points along tha roads that the boars must cross, and as soon as he does so the dogs are slipped, When he has straightened out for his run through the forest,' with the whole pack after him, the riders converge to the road parallel to the lino taken by the game, and dash away down it, side by side with the unseen, but certainly not unheard, pack which is careering along in the brushwood, There is .'little or no jumping—just a gallop (or rather canter —for the boar is a slow goer)—along a good road until the boar is worn down and makes hiß last stand. Then the master goes in, despatches him with a short sword, and the run is over.

Bat, though the hunt is finished, the most important part of the proceedings—from a Frenchman's point of view—have still to follow. Indeed, from the description, the mild canter down the road is but a mere preliminary to the funeral ohsequies, which is a most ceremonial affair. The master sounds the death rally, to call stray riders and hounds together, and the boar's carcase is brought out into the highway, where it iB Bkinned and bebeaded. Meanwhile, the ladies, who have accompanied the cbaae in carriages, come on with wine and cold meats, and there ia general visiting and congratulation. When the pelt has been removed it is again spread over the carcase, and the funeral ceremony, which reads almoßt like a scene from a comic opera, begins. Twelve men in uniform, each carrying a horn which encircles hiß body, stand facing the carcase, six on one side and six on the other, at a distance o£ twenty to twentyfive feet apart, the carcase lying on the ground half-way between them, Oa the other two sides stand rows of spectators, thus forming a complete circle round the remains. The six men on each side play the first line of the death sosg, the other six play the next line, and soon alternately to the end. The boar is then given over to the pack, a strict line of conduct having to be observed in this as in all else, and while the dogs are fighting and snarling over the prise, the crowd sing the death Bong as it has been previously played. Sometimes the run, which seldom starts before midday, is over too laSe to indulge in all this fanciful business on the spot. Bat the Baron is not to be denied, and the body of the boar is carried all the way home, so that the obaequies may be fitly asd properly observed, to the illumination of bonfires and torches. As they kill about twice a week, from November to April, it is likely that towards the latter month the Baron's friends and retainers weary a littls of the ceremonial GIANT RAT AND CENTIPEDE. The largest rat in the world wbb exhibited at a meeting of the English logical Society recently. The total length of the formidable rodent was obtained in New Guinea, is about 28 inches, of which 12 belong to thetail. Apart from ifcs great eiz 5, ii; closely resembles the common English rat in its general appearance. It differs, however, in the peculiar length and shape of the the front teeth, and the black and yellow colore of the tail* The largest centipede in the world was also exhibited. Like the rati this creature is new to science. It was obtained in Venezuela. The largest centipede hitherto known is about 's£ inohes, but the new species attains a length of 11 inches.