THE BOOK OF THE OTTER 



kept a pack from 1829 to 1871, we find an 

 illustration of the old Lancashire harrier or 

 foumart-hound. The picture shows a couple of 

 rough-haired hounds in full cry, which appear a 

 medium-sized, light-built, active type; more 

 suggestive of the rough Welsh foxhound than 

 the modern otterhound. Mr Lomax used these 

 foumart-hounds in crossing with his otterhounds. 

 In another illustration, showing some of the pack 

 in 1835, the type of hound appears to be lighter- 

 built and more active-looking than the big, 

 present-day rough otterhound. 



The tendency with English foxhounds has 

 been to breed them much bigger than was the 

 case in former years, and the same apparently 

 applies to the rough otterhound. Certainly a tall 

 hound can wade where a smaller hound is obliged 

 to swim, but a medium-sized, active type is less 

 clumsy, and more fitted for work on rocky streams 

 than the heavy hounds now seen in most packs. 

 From a purely working point of view, a pack 



composed of English, Welsh, and fell-foxhounds 



124 



