This docile and beautiful species of the canine family is rarely found of genuine blood in our country, and -where found, is kept more as a pet and parlour-companion for the lady, than as one of usefulness to the master of the house. We are persuaded that for pheasant and woodcock shooting, they deserve to be brought into more general use and esteem. The genuine sort is, or was, some years since, to be found at Carrollton Hall, descended from a stock given by the Duke of Wellington to Lady Wellesley, the accomplished granddaughter of Carroll of Carrollton. Mr. Key worth, of Washington, D. C, has the breed also, in its purity.

" This name is generally applied to the springer, or small land spaniel, as the term setter .is to the large land spaniel. There is a great variety of this beautiful little animal, all of which, however, are remarkable for their cheerful activity. They are not calculated for an extensive range, and are, therefore, very rarely used except for beating covers, in the pursuit of the pheasant or woodcock, and they give notice of their approach to the object by a sort of whimper, which increases to a bark as the game springs. They are affectionate and docile, and easily broken or trained: in fact, their whole system of education consists of nothing more than merely to keep them tolerably close to the sportsman; since, if they are suffered to ramble out of gun-shot, the game rises at too great a distance, the object is thus defeated which they were intended to promote, and a mortification, much better felt than can be described, must inevitably ensue. Their beauty and affectionate disposition will always excite attention; but they are/after all, perhaps better calculated for coursing than the fowling-piece, as they may be usefully employed in driving a hare from a copse or thicket, while a pointer, or particularly a setter, will answer all the purposes of pheasant or woodcock shooting. However, if sporting on a grand scale, and the utmost pinnacle of perfection, are the objects to be attained, let dogs be kept for the moors or grouse alone, others for the partridge, and the pheasant and woodcock consigned to the small land spaniel or springer.

"See how with emulative xeal they strive! Thread the loose sedge, and through the thicket drive! No babbling voice the bosom falsely warms, Or swells the panting heart with vain alarms. Till all at once their choral tongues proclaim The secret refuge of the lurking game. Swift is their course, no lengthened warnings now Space to collect the scatter'd thoughts allow; No wary pointer shows with cautious eyes, Where from bis russet couch the bird shall rise: Perhaps light running o'er the mossy ground, His devious steps your sanguine hopes confound; Or, by the tangled branches hid from sight, Sudden he tries his unexpected flight Soon, as the ready dogs their quarry spring, And swift he spreads bis variegated wing, Ceas'd is their cry; with silent look they wait Till the loud gun decides the event of fate;

Nor, if the ■bote are thrown with erring aim. And proudly soars away the unwounded fame, Will the staunch train pursue him as he flies With useless speed, and unavailing cries. No open view along the encumber'd field. To the cool aim will time and distance yield; But the nice circumstance will oft demand, The quickest eyesight and the readiest hand; Swift as he rises from the thorny brake, With instant glanee the fleeting mark to take, And with prompt arm the transient moment seize, 'Mid the dim gloom of intervening trees. His gaudy plumage, when the male displays In bright luxuriance to the solar rays, Arrest with hasty shot his whirring speed, And see unblam'd the shining victim bleed; But when the hen to thy discerning view, Her sober pinion spreads of duskier hue, The attendant keeper's prudent warning hear, And spare the offspring of the future year.