A CRACK THOROUGHBRED. SIRE.

Marvellous as is the show made by the stock or Hermit (says the Field) on the race-course and in the sale ring, breeders do not appear quite to rush for subscriptions to the horse at the 200 guineas to which his fee was raised at the commencement of the season, as it was announced at Doncaster would be the case. For the third year in succession Hermit oc. cupies the post of honor, and whereas he was closely hunted up in 1880 and in 1881, when the winnings of h]' s progeny were respectively 29,107 soys., and 27,888 soys., he was last season quite facile princeps witb a total of 44,G08 soys., which exceeds by the enormous sum of 25,886 soys. his nearest opponent Macaroni. This great total has been placed to Hermit's credit by thirty winners of 81 races, all ages being represented, from the five-year -old "Windsor and horse out of Sweetbriar to the two-year-olds, the best of whom Clairvaux, St. Blaize, and Torpedo are scarcely the sort of animals to justify the charging of such an exceptionally high fee, which will probably hare to be reduced, as in all previous cases when it has been charged. Of course Shotover is the chief contributor to Hermit's big account, her winnings amounting to £12,205 soys. Then come Tristan, 6641 soys. ; St. Marguerite, 3390 soys. ; Marden, 3170 soy. ; St. Blaize, 2160 soys. ; Martini, 2082 soys. ; and Retreat, 2060 boys. • -while Triar RubTq, Nellie Recluse, au Tb&baia each shovfß iowr figures to help swell the total. Great mark though Hermit has made on the turf, however, the sale of his yearlings at Newmarket during the July meeting is even more noticeable, the enormous average of 1235 guineas then being obtained for ten. This exceeded his average for the season, which, however* was the very handsome one of 980^ guineas, or an agregate of 15,690 guineas for sixteen yearlings. Of course Hermit shows up well in the list of foals with 26 to credit, this number only being exceeded by Uncas, thirty ; Rosicrucian, thirty-two ; and Pellegrino, twentyeight. Then we have Sterling, with twenty-four foals ; Blair Athol, twenty-five ; Beauclerc, twenty-three ; Pero Gomez, twenty-four ; Speculum, twentj-three ; Prince Charlie, twenty, Hampton, twenty-three ; Wild Oats, twenty-two ; Kisber, twenty-three ; Lowlander, eighteen ; Silvio, nineteen ; Cymbal, eighteen ; Sir Bevys, sixteen ; and Skylark, fifteen.