Hounds and Terriers. 39 



favour the good head, since it is with the latter that 

 the hound will have to work. 



Of stag-hound, fox-hound, Welsh hound, and 

 harrier drafts there is nothing for me to say. They 

 are probably cast from their proper kennels for 

 faults, age, or over-height; many of them are " gift 

 hounds," Masters of Otter-hounds being often 

 presented with them or buying them for next to 

 nothing. If a fox-hound really enters well to the 

 sport he may become invaluable, especially as a 

 marking-hound ; but the Badminton volume puts the 

 chances against his doing so at lo to i — a trait not 

 shared by the Otter-hound nor even by the Welsh 

 hound. There can be no doubt, however, that the 

 fox-hound kills an Otter better than any other. 



Those who have not hunted much with packs of 

 rough Otter-hounds are apt to take exception to 

 their full musical voices, which, to the sportsman 

 who has really studied them and learned to love 

 and understand them, mean so much added enjoy- 

 ment to the day's sport, and are not, as their 

 detractors say, mere '' babble." 



In forming a new pack the Master will have to 

 decide whether he will go in for the pure Otter- 

 hound solely, or for a mixed pack, or for one 

 composed wholly of fox-hounds. In his decision 

 he will probably be swayed by early prejudice in 

 one direction or another. 



