HORNS, HOLLOAS, DOG LANGUAGE 79 



of horn-blowing as it demands, or as it formerly 

 received. 



A weird blast is heard at intervals during the day ; 

 if quickly repeated it is supposed to mean the " chink " 

 or " double " of the horn that proclaims the flight of 

 the fox ; if, without any particular " linked sweetness " 

 it is "long drawn out" to a most melancholy and 

 funereal wail, we are then aware that the covert by 

 which we stand has been drawn blank. That is about 

 all we have to learn of the uses of the " merry horn," 

 except perhaps that two short, quick, high notes 

 convey to the whippers-in that all the hounds are 

 present and moving on. 



Nevertheless, we are treated by some huntsmen to 

 a wonderful amount of horn-blowing during the day : 

 these are full of queer noises and sounds, and seldom 

 lose a chance of conveying the instrument to their 

 lips. Others again are so sparing of its use that one 

 wonders why the horn is carried at all. For choice, 

 however, surely the silent huntsman is better than the 

 noisy one? He is certainly less irritating, and is, I 

 think, less likely to do harm. Everlasting horn- 

 blowing has doubtless an unpleasant effect on the 

 nerves of the listener and becomes a mere mechani- 

 cal habit on the part" of the performer, while it is 

 treated as such by the hounds themselves, who in time 

 pay no heed to the sounds. 



It has often amused me to watch the proceedings of 

 one of these perpetual musicians. The Master gives 

 the signal to move on from the meet ; out comes the 

 trumpet — Toot ! A cart comes along the road — " Get 

 over hounds." Toot! "Take first turn to the left 



