Hounds and Terriers. 37 



we know him now, is undoubtedly the best animal 

 for the pursuit of the quarry from which he derives 

 his name. Formerly he was hardly used at all 

 in the South, the Devonshire folk, especially, 

 preferring the fox-hound ; but, to-day, there 

 are very few packs into which he has not been 

 introduced. 



The Dumfriesshire Hunt is deservedly famous for 

 possessing and breeding the finest specimens of this 

 hound, and a majority of Otter Hunts are indebted 

 to the Dumfriesshire for the blood they now possess. 

 Formerly it was difficult to raise the height of the 

 rough Otter-hound above twenty-two inches, which 

 meant that he had to swim in water where the 

 bigger fox-hound could walk. To-day, however, 

 the standard of height has been raised, and the 

 Dumfriesshire kennels contain hounds of twenty-six 

 inches and over : which is large enough for any 

 work. 



I do not propose here to go into the science of 

 hound-breeding. Many abler pens than mine have 

 said '' last words " at different times on this 

 subject, and what is left to be taught about it 

 cannot be learned from books. I shall merely 

 enumerate the points for which an Otter-hound should 

 be bred. 



The head should be grave and dignified, like that 

 of a bloodhound, but flatter and harder; the 



