Mr. Castor, of Philadelphia, one of the most accomplished sportsmen on paper, or in the field which it has been our good luck to know, makes the following observations.

" As before premised, the reader will please recollect that the views of the writer are confined to the States designated, and as he presumes difference of climate and other causes must have an effect on game as well as other animals, would respectfully request some of your many capable and intelligent northern and southern correspondents to favour us with their observations on this subject.

" The partridge with us is rarely an object of sport until October, though it sometimes happens that early broods will be found pretty well grown early in September; and on the other hand, we find many more scarcely fledged in the month of October. As a rule, however, by which all are to be governed, the first of the month may be properly considered as the earliest day of the season, and the last day of December its termination. The birds themselves would seem to regulate its end; for after that time they are rarely to be found except in woods and very thick coverts or cripples, affording but little opportunity to the dog, or amusement to the shooter.

" The woodcock is the earliest game bird we have, and about which there is more difference of opinion among sportsmen as to season than perhaps any other.. Sonde think the 20th of June the commencement, and I find the author of the American Shooter's Manual names the first day of July; both I think premature, and agree with several of my sporting friends whom I have consulted, that if shot at all in the summer, it would be better to postpone the sport until the middle of July; by that time the birds become better grown, and acquire more of the true game flavour. If, however, gentlemen could restrain their inclination for this sport until autumn, when the birds shall have taken to the woods, and when one will nearly outweigh two killed in June or July, they would find birds more abundant, and less fatiguing to get at. I should remark that the laws of New Jersey fix upon the first day of July to commence the season.

"The pheasant, as we call him here, - partridge of the Northern States, - may be shot on the first of September, but it would be better to make their season to correspond with the partridge or quail, as he is called there and elsewhere, inasmuch as it frequently happens that in hunting the pheasant early in the fall, you will come upon those birds in an unfit state for the bag, and nevertheless, sometimes be unable to resist the temptation of giving them a crack, thereby setting a bad example to young shooters, and furnishing the irregular sportsman with an excuse, in your example, to continue in the detestable practice.

"Rail-shooting ought not to commence before the middle of September, and for one excellent reason, viz.: they are entirely useless for any known purpose, being so wretchedly bare, that none but a connoisseur in bone eating, would think of troubling the cook with their miserable carcasses. Notwithstanding this fact, I am sorry to say, that some gentlemen of our city who are certainly well informed in all that pertains to genteel sporting, are terribly guilty of destroying these poor little birds by wholesale long before that period, for no other purpose that I can imagine, unless to have a convenient opportunity to examine minutely their anatomical structure, or to boast of the quantity of crime they may have committed.

"Grouse-shooting is regulated by the laws of New Jersey to commence on the first day of October, and to end with the last day of December; for the infraction of which considerable penalties are imposed. Nevertheless, as one of your correspondents, Mr. 'J. B. D.' of Philadelphia, a ten years grouse-shooter, tells you he has been in the habit of doing, many are shot by persons equally-reckless of the laws of the land and of sporting propriety with himself, even in the month of August, and, perhaps, if the truth were told, before that time. It is to me no great wonder that he found No. 5 or 6 shot (provided he ever saw a wild grouse), would answer his purpose at that season, with birds half fledged, half grown, and as tame as chickens. For my own part, I have found early in October, that No. 3 was quite light enough, and should not doubt but that lower numbers would be advantage-pusly used in November or December.* Independently has pat himself at issue with the author of the American Shooter's Manual, in relation to the proper shot to be used for grouse. I leave that for him to settle. I can only say, that so far as my own experience goes, which is limited, no shot less than No. 4 can of the violation of natural and statute, law, other considerations should prevent the gentleman-sportsman from shooting these birds out of season: In the first place, they furnish comparatively but little diversion, and by breaking and destroying the packs at that time, the sport is diminished when the proper season arrives. And secondly, you are deprived of the satisfaction of bringing home your game as a treat for your family and friends, in any other than a putrid state. And again, what can be more degrading to a true sportsman, or a gentleman, than to be obliged to be on the alert whilst out shooting, for fear of encountering an informer, and to sneak home at night with his.gun, dogs, game, and self, all concealed in a covered wagon, to prevent detection by the officers of the state, whose laws he has been violating?

* Mr. "J. B. D."

"Deer-shooting. There is a wide difference in the legal enactments of the States of Pennsylvania and New Jersey on the subject of this species of game; in the former, the first of August commences, and the last day of December terminates the season; whilst in the latter, the season does not begin until the first of October, and ends as in Pennsylvania. From my own experience, and the better opinion of others, the first of September would be the most proper time to commence this sport. The laws of New Jersey too much circumscribe this amusement, inasmuch as the rutting season commences in December, at which time the bucks are of little value; be used advantageously, even in September. And the most experienced all use lower numbers. Samuel A-----s, of Mount Holly, Who has killed more grouse than perhaps Mr. J. B. D., the author of the Manual, and myself, ever saw, uses No. 1, and single B. and by the laws of Pennsylvania the deer is permitted to be killed before the fawns are sufficiently grown,

"The importance of an established rale in relation to this matter cannot be doubted; and when there are no laws to regulate this practice, nothing but example can produce any effect We think that it behooves every real sportsman to refrain from doing any act which he would wish to be kept secret; and although there may be some speciousness in the excuse, that' if I don't kill the birds now others will;' still, two wrongs can- never make a right, and it is much better to refrain from the commission of an impropriety than to join others, whose only apology is the example you have set before them."