64 Otters and Otter-Hunting. 



As " pink " is associated with fox-hunting and 

 green with hare-hunting, so red and blue have 

 become the most popular colours for Otter-hunting 

 uniforms. Formerly a scarlet coat was the 

 favourite, and such is in England still worn by the 

 Culmstock, while many of the blue uniforms are 

 relieved by touches of red in collar, cap, waistcoat, 

 or stockings : the Crowhurst also started as red- 

 coats, but has now abandoned them for coats of a 

 cheerful blue, as did the Cheriton before it. Green 

 is worn by the followers of Mr. Courtenay Tracy 

 and Mr. Davies, and by members of the late King's 

 and Milton packs, grey being the distinctive colour 

 of the West Cumberland uniform, and dark brown 

 that of the Ynysfor. In Highland Scotland, where 

 it is sometimes necessary to have a hunt servant or 

 member of the staff a long way ahead of hounds — 

 especially in the neighbourhood of deer-forests or 

 large sheep farms — who must consequently be easily 

 distinguishable at a distance from shepherds and 

 keepers, a striking uniform is essential ; so we find 

 the Argyllshire sports a red coat, which can be 

 seen further than any other in daylight. 



Blaine mentions a green dress turned up with red, 

 worn with a fur cap with gold band, and long 

 waterproof thigh-boots with gold or red tassels, 

 as the correct form of Otter-hunting dress of a 

 remote past, and Bell quotes a description of Squire 



