120 The Fox Terrier. 



have good legs and feet, good neck and shoulders, back 

 and loins, and above all possess a thoroughly hard texture 

 of coat and a thick skin. A stern too gaily carried is to be 

 avoided ; I have rarely found dogs with sterns so carried of 

 staunch courage ; and avoid a shallow-ribbed tucked-up 

 youngster. Having selected suitable-looking puppies fully 

 thirteen or fourteen months old, let them go into the fox- 

 hound kennels, June or July is the best time, the dogs with 

 the dog hounds, and the bitches with the lady pack. They 

 will now have daily exercise out with the hounds, and get 

 used to running with them in an orderly manner before 

 cubbing commences. The huntsman, too, will have several 

 opportunities of giving the terriers a turn in some earths or 

 drains that can be run through without mischief. During 

 the first season too much must not be expected in cases 

 where terriers run ; it takes time to accustom them to the 

 country, and to be well up when w r anted. Still I have 

 known many that have entered promptly, and bolted their 

 fox on the first opportunity, and also some that have been 

 of no practical service until their second season, when they 

 have turned out the very best. 



" As regards badger work, I prefer a two-year-old, and 

 merely take out a couple of novices when working old 

 hands. The former listen, and when the fun begins in 

 earnest, one of the right sort soon shows that he is desirous 

 of joining in the fray. If the earth be large enough then let 

 him in with a good leader. Our method generally is when 

 the terrier has got up to the badger, and you can hear he is 

 keeping him well engaged, to commence digging and let 

 down a shaft over the spot. I have often seen this done 

 to a nicety, and on clearing carefully the last portion of the 

 soil, found the heads of both badger and terrier in view jaw 



