Besides the _Grasshopper_ class mentioned in the text, and which includes the _Rattlesnake_, _Spider_, _Sandfly_, and _Sharpshooter_, there are two steel cruising torpedo gun-vessels, the _Curlew_ and _Landrail_, of 785 tons; these are fitted with a protective steel deck throughout their length, and have a battery of one 6-inch gun, three 5-inch pivots, a supply of machine guns, and four torpedo-tubes. They were intended to develop 14 knots and 1200 horse-power, but on trial the _Curlew_ attained 15.081 knots and 1452 horse-power. Owing to a faulty design these ships draw with their proposed weights two feet four inches more water than was expected. In addition to these ships the English have the composite gun-vessels _Buzzard_, _Swallow_, _Nymphe_, and _Daphné_ of 1040 tons; the _Icarus_ and _Acorn_, of the _Reindeer_ and _Melita_ type; the _Rattler_, _Wasp_, _Bramble_, _Lizard_, _Pigmy_, _Pheasant_, _Partridge_, _Plover_, _Pigeon_, and _Peacock_, all of 715 tons displacement, with an average speed of 13.5 knots and from 1000 to 1200 horse-power; and the two despatch and scout vessels _Alacrity_ and _Surprise_. The last named displace 1400 tons, and were designed for 3000 horse-power and 17 knots. Both exceeded these expectations, and the _Alacrity_ was lately assigned a battery of four 5-inch guns on sponsons, four 6-pounder rapid fire, and two five-barrelled Nordenfeldts. It must be stated, however, that, so far torpedo-boats are not as successful in practice as Admiral Aube would have had the naval world believe. “Swayed by the concurrent testimony of different officers who conducted or took part in the naval manœuvres of 1886, professional opinion appears to agree that torpedo-boats are very delicate instruments at best, and that a greater tonnage is imperative where service at sea is anticipated. A day or two in even moderate weather is sufficient to exhaust the stanchest crew on account of the excessive balloting about, and a prolonged voyage has been found to be fatally injurious to the adjustments of the Whitehead for horizontal accuracy. Furthermore, in such small, low craft a correct estimate of the distance, speed, or course of the enemy is most difficult, especially if the officer be in the conning-tower, looking through the narrow sight-slits; in anything of a sea-way, also, accurate pointing is out of the question.... In the course of the past year Schichau has yielded to Thornycroft the honor of producing the fastest vessel in the world, the owner now being the Spanish Admiralty in place of the Russian. This boat is the _Ariete_, with a speed of 26.18 knots.