1892-93-] The Dumfriesshire Otter-Hounds. 53 



most interesting and exciting in existence. The dogs em- 

 ployed in the sport are large, wiry-haired animals, strong 

 swimmers and divers, and capable of great fatigue. Large 

 sums are paid for them : a good pure-bred otter-hound can- 

 not be purchased for much under £25, and French sportsmen 

 think nothing of paying double that sum for them. 



One of the finest sights to be seen in the hunting-field is 

 the working of a good pack of otter-hounds. It is perfectly 

 marvellous how the dogs " feather " the line of an otter, in 

 and out of the water, often four or five hours after it has been 

 known to pass the ground hunted over. This is all the more 

 wonderful, because the human nose cannot detect any smell 

 either in the otter or in its excrements. Yet I have seen 

 them again and again take up the line either through brush- 

 wood, over stones and gravel, or far into a field of corn. The 

 baying of the hounds is very deep and musical, and it is ex- 

 tremely fascinating to a sportsman's ear to hear the pack in 

 full cry, accompanied by the cheery notes of the huntsman's 

 horn. When the otter has been bolted and hemmed in 

 within the bounds of a large and deep pool, the excitement 

 is intense, as the dogs swim and re-swim the river, diving 

 after the " varmint " as he rises to the surface for a second 

 or two to " vent " or breathe, only to disappear from view 

 altogether, diving, and showing himself next time probably 

 near the side of the pool. When swimming up the bottom 

 of the river in clear water, the otter presents certainly a 

 strange appearance. He resembles an animated log of wood, 

 of from three to four feet long, forcing its way through the 

 water. 



Like the fox, the otter dies mute, but he offers much greater 

 resistance than reynard. I have known three fox-terriers and 

 a hound or two tackle him all at once and he beat them off. 

 His powers of fighting in the water are very great. So long- 

 as he can keep to that element his methods of self-defence are 

 difficult to overcome, and I have known him keep an entire 

 pack of twenty hounds and four or five terriers busy for 

 upwards of three hours, and yet remain in the water, more or 

 less, and on the move. 



Otter-hunting possesses one great charm — viz., it is engaged 

 in during the most attractive portion of the year, from May 



