THE OTTER-HOUND 171 



the king's water dogs with which otters were hunted ; and James I., 

 an ardent sportsman, had for his Master of Otter-hounds John 

 Parry, to superintend the hunt, and provide for the king's diversion ; 

 and so on, from reign to reign, otter-hunting has, with varying 

 patronage and popularity, remained a British sport, there being 

 fifteen or sixteen packs at the present time, and these spread over 

 England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Some of them, like the 

 Carlisle, the Cheriton, and the Culm stock, are old-time packs. 



Otter-hunting has become a most popular sport within the last 

 few years, and the followers of a good pack are very numerous. 

 Instead, too, of employing quite a scratch pack for the purpose, 

 as was at one time not uncommon, we have either the Otter-hound 

 pure and simple (that is, the dog described and figured here), or 

 the same dog with a number of Foxhounds. According to Mr. E. 

 Buckley, whose name is well known in connection with the sport 

 of otter-hunting, one very often gets the best sport from hitting 

 off the " drag " (i.e. scent) left by the otter who has been travelling 

 the night before. He has had runs up to four miles, sometimes 

 finding in a "holt" (or "earth"), and sometimes without reward. 

 From the time when he is driven from his " wicker couch," 

 contrived "within some hollow trunk, where ancient alders shade 

 the deep, still pool," the mephitic otter gives his pursuers plenty 

 to do, and when it comes to close quarters, be it with Terrier 

 or with hound, makes, as opportunity offers, good use of his teeth. 

 Traced by his spraints and seal, and unharboured from his kennel 

 or couch, he finds hard work for men and dogs, as the latter 

 follow him up from holt to holt, and pool to pool, and the hunts- 

 men eagerly watch for his "vents," or "chain." 



In recent times otter-hunting has been modified to suit different 

 circumstances, and practices in vogue in one hunt are tabooed in 

 another. The spear is discontinued, and the practice of tailing the 

 otter that is, rushing in on him when worn and pressed, seizing 

 him by the tail, swinging him round in the presence of the hounds, 

 to excite them, and finally throwing him among them whilst 

 treated as an act of prowess in some otter-hunting districts, is 

 strictly forbidden in others. 



" Whoa-Whoop," a writer in the Field, thus interestingly describes 

 the pastime : 



" A pack of otter-hounds consists of from nine to fourteen couples, 

 and the variation of their appearance, some being smooth coated 

 and some rough, lends a peculiar contrast to the eye. Two, three, 

 or more Terriers are also employed for the purpose of driving the 

 otter from its holt, and of these rough-coated ones are preferred. 

 The staff is contained in a huntsman generally the Master 

 a couple of whips, and in many Hunts a 'follower,' as the field 



