HUNTING TERMS 87 



Open Bitches — Bitches to breed from, which are 



not spayed, are so called. 

 Open— Earths which are not stopped are said to 



be open. 

 Owning a Scent — When hounds throw their 



tongues on the scent. 

 Over It — When hounds have gone beyond the 



scent in chase, it is said they are over it. 

 Pad— The foot of a fox. 

 Padding a Fox — Is finding the print of a fox's 



foot. 

 Point to Point — The distance of a run on a map 



by a straight line. 

 Rack — For a track through a fence. ^ 

 Rabbit Earth, or Spout— 'V'NTiere a fox sometimes 



gets into when pressed ; meant to imply that 



it is not a regular fox-earth. 

 Riot — When hounds hunt anything besides fox ; 



the rate is " Ware riot." 

 Skirter — A hound which is generally wide of the 



pack. Also applied to men who are always 



wide of the hounds. 

 Stroke of a Fox — Is when hounds are drawing. 



It is evident from their manner that they feel 



the scent of a fox, although they do not own it. 

 Sinking — A fox is said to be sinking when he is 



nearly beaten. 



^ The more usual term is " Meusc." — Ed. 



