be effected by leaning over to inside backwards, on which edge the skater continues for another yard or two (thus forming a serpentine curved stalk); a turn is then made to outside forwards, another turn to inside backwards, and another to outside forwards, the junction of which forms the last shamrock: the figure being, in fact, two double threes, each of a different sort, altered to the form of a shamrock, and united by a serpentine curved line, the whole being done on one foot, and affording no less than eight changes. The United Roses contain more turns in the spiral form, commenced and finished at the centre; beyond this the principle of the figure is the same. CHAPTER XI. ALTERNATING MOVEMENTS. We shall now proceed to direct the reader's attention to a few little matters in connexion with our last lessons that require explanation. The question may arise, whether sufficient impetus can be maintained to alternate some of these kind of Q's, and make them self-sustaining? We can reply in the affirmative. It becomes quite possible on good ice, and with due attention to the impulse and momentum, as described in the General Practical Directions, to alternate even double Q's; whilst from a very gentle start, six or more single Q's can be linked in series on one foot, without any fresh aid from the other. The size of Q's may be left to the capabilities of the skater, the aim being to skate them large, even if in doing so they should become fewer in number. Can we make use of the cross impulse? Certainly, and at times it is most useful and convenient to make these well-known respective cross movements, either forwards or backwards, available; and this causes additional variety. We have selected from our own practice two more original and difficult movements, by which the skater may test his powers of alternating movement under the disturbing influences of a series of changes, which, without due care, will most assuredly bring him to a standstill. FIRST ALTERNATING MOVEMENT. Turn C as a start on the left, reverse Q D on the right, which leaves the skater on the outside forwards, on which he makes Turn C, which leaves him on the inside back of the same foot (the right), and from which he must obtain sufficient impulse to repeat the movement on the left, and again on the right continuously. SECOND ALTERNATING MOVEMENT. Turn C as a start on the left, Q D on right foot, which leaves the skater on the outside forwards, on which he makes Turn C, which leaves him on the inside back of the same foot (the right), and from which he must obtain sufficient impulse to repeat the movement on the left, and again on the right continuously. One of the writers * having laboured for many years at the resuscitation of the serpentine line, and the development of the Q's simple and complex, it was long his earnest desire to see some of them, * H. E. Vandervell. at any rate, introduced into combined skating, consisting, as they do, of beautiful ever-changing curves and turns, of pure feats of difficult and delicate balancing, carried out in a movement of comparatively long duration, requiring the greatest care, and the highest attainments of the skater; in fact, genuine high-class skating. Holding, as he does, with those who to elevate our art have wisely discountenanced and expunged from combined figure skating all mere tricks, he differed from those skaters who would wish to exclude these splendid movements, the ability to skate which, in concert with other skaters, is another step up the ladder of our art. The reader is now quite competent to form an opinion whether, beautiful as he must acknowledge our first and second series of figures to be, they contain all that ought to be done on skates. Happily the opposition with which the new figures contained in our third series were met, is fast passing away. Many rising skaters have learnt them, and have assisted in introducing them into our club figures. We might have done more, but for the want of ice; when we get that, our next want will be a more open sphere than the London parks afford. However, it is a great satisfaction to know that we have, according to the Field, done something to prevent the art of skating standing still, whilst all other arts and sciences have been advancing. The following are the new movements alluded Р |