The _Condor_, _Epervier_, _Faucon_, and _Vautour_ are examples of the first class, and combine the lightness of hull and the gun armament of the torpedo-catcher with the sea-going powers of the cruiser. They are twin-screw steel vessels, 216 feet long, 29 feet 2 inches in beam, 15 feet 5 inches in draught, and with 3200 indicated horse-power are expected to develop 17 knots. The armament consists of five torpedo-tubes, five 4-inch and six machine guns. In England the _Scout_, the prototype of this class, is a twin-screw torpedo-cruiser, 220 feet in length, 34 feet 3 inches in beam, and with 14 feet draught displaces 1450 tons. Like the _Condor_ she is subdivided into water-tight compartments and has a steel deck; on her trial she developed with forced draft 17.6 knots and 3350 horse-power. Her armament consists of eleven torpedo-tubes, four 5-inch rifles on central pivots, and eight Nordenfeldt guns. The _Fearless_ is a sister ship to the _Scout_. So highly was the class esteemed that eight others known as the _Archer_ class were laid down, and of these the _Cossack_, _Mohawk_, _Porpoise_, _Tartar_, _Archer_, and _Brisk_ have already undergone satisfactory steam trials, while the _Serpent_ and _Raccoon_ are approaching completion. All these vessels have a protective deck extending throughout their length, and carry a battery of six 6-inch guns on sponsons, two at each extremity, and two in the waist. On the final trials the _Archer_ developed under forced draft 17.8 knots and 4122 horse-power, the _Brisk_ 18 knots and 3954 horse-power, the _Cossack_ 18 knots and 4003 horse-power, the _Porpoise_ 17.5 knots and 3943 horse-power, and the _Tartar_ 17.28 knots and 3824 horse-power. They have a very low coal consumption, and a coal endurance which was estimated in the _Archer’s_ case to be sufficient for six days, or 2600 knots at full speed, or for 7000 miles at a 10-knot rate. Both the Russians and the Austrians have vessels of this type, and there is no doubt of the favor with which it is looked upon.