88 HORNS, HOLLOAS, DOG LANGUAGE 



follows. Of a hunt in the southern part of Ireland, 

 the members of which are proverbial for their forward 

 riding and daring horsemanship, it is related that on 

 the fox breaking from a well-known gorse in view 

 of the whole field, each man exclaimed in what he 

 imagined to be a thrilling whisper, " Hush ! don't say 

 a word ! " but the volume of the whisperings was such 

 that the fox doubled back incontinently. 



How many good runs in Ireland have been spoiled 

 by the uncontrollable " Look at 'um out ! " from the 

 foot-people by the covertside, as soon as they view 

 the fox away. Irishmen, however, are hopeless where 

 shouting is concerned. They must " let a bawl " to 

 relieve pent-up excitement, I suppose, when occasion 

 offers ; but the experienced huntsman who knows the 

 ways of Erin's Isle treats all holloas from country folk 

 with caution, if, indeed, he does not disregard them 

 altogether. 



"An Irishman, when hounds are out, will holloa. 

 It may be to call his friends to see the hunt, or 

 simply to relieve his own excited feelings at the 

 sight of the chase or to draw the horsemen towards 

 him to see the ' lepping,' or to decoy them away from 

 the neighbourhood of his own seeds or wheat. Then 

 if the huntsman does go to the holloa, as likely as not 

 Pat will tell him which way the fox he sees 'every 

 Sunday morning ' usually travels ; or maybe, an 

 absolutely imaginary tale will be told with an excita- 

 bility and engaging appearance of truth which would 

 deceive any but the old stager who has been thus 

 caught too often." 



The above pronouncement, printed more than twelve 



