CHAPTER V. 



HOUNDS AND TERRIERS. 



Hounds used for Otter-hunting are of two sorts, 

 loosely described as ''rough" and ''smooth." 

 These may again be sub-divided, the rough into the 

 true Otter-hound and the rough Welsh hound, 

 either fox-hound or harrier, and the smooth into 

 ordinary stag-hounds, fox-hounds, and harriers. 

 Besides these, there are cross-bred or half-bred 

 hounds between the true Otter-hound and the stag- 

 or fox-hound. The latter, though they sometimes 

 run small, are more usually big, upstanding hounds, 

 with the rough coat of the Otter-hound and the cat- 

 feet of the stag- or fox-hound. Personally, I do 

 not care for them ; they have not the fine voice of 

 the former nor, I think, the endurance of the latter. 

 They are more given to riot, in my experience, and 

 certainly tire earlier in the day ; and on a blank 

 draw or a faint, catchy drag seem often disinclined 

 to work or try, though some Masters swear by them. 

 However he was originally bred — a subject upon 

 which authorities differ — the rough Otter-hound, as 



