HUNTING TEEMS. 203 



jealous horsemen so surround a cover, that the fox is 

 driven into the teeth of the hounds, instead of being 

 allowed to break away and show sport. 



Mute. When the pace is great hounds are mute, they 

 have no breath to spare ; but a hound that is always 

 mute is as useless as a rich epicure who has capital 

 dinners and eats them alone. Hounds that do not 

 help each other are worthless. 



Noisy. To throw the tongue without scent is an oppo- 

 site and equal fault to muteness. 



Open. When a hound throws his tongue, or gives 

 tongue, he is said to open. 



Owning a scent. When hounds throw their tongues on 

 the scent. 



Pad. The foot of a fox. 



Riot. When the hounds hunt anything beside fox, the 

 word is " Ware Riot." 



Skirter. A hound which is wide of the pack, or a man 

 riding wide of the hounds, is called a skirter. 



Stroke of a fox. Is when hounds are drawing. It is 

 evident, from their manner, that they feel the scent of 

 a fox, slashing their stern significantly, although they 

 do not speak to it. 



Sinking. A fox nearly beaten is said to be sinking. 



Sinking the wind. Is going down wind, usually done 

 by knowing sportsmen to catch the cry of the hounds. 



Stained. When the scent is lost by cattle or sheep 

 having passed over the line. 



Stooping. Hounds stoop to the scent. 



Slack. Indifferent. A succession of bad days, or a slack 

 huntsman, will make hounds slack. 



Streaming. An expressive word applied to hounds in 

 full cry, or breast high and mute, " streaming away." 



Speaks. When a hound throws his tongue he is said to 



