132 Otters and Otter-Hunting. 



and if it then dives '' tally " quickly and loudly, 

 marking, if possible, which way it has gone. 



The object in ** tallying " is, in addition to letting 

 the huntsman and Field know that the Otter has 

 been *' gazed," to bring hounds to the spot where the 

 Otter was last seen. Therefore, if hounds are close 

 by when you get a view, a single shout loud enough 

 to attract their attention will suffice; but if they 

 are half a mile away you must " tally " loud and 

 long, and keep it up until hounds are with you or 

 another man's '' tally " has shown whither the Otter 

 has gone since you saw him. Of course if hounds 

 happen to be swimming or running their Otter almost 

 in view you need not *' tally " at all. Never 

 '' tally " if you have not seen the quarry for yourself, 

 no matter who asks you to do so. If two or more 

 of the Field see the Otter at the same time let the one 

 nearest to him do the " tallying." Not to " tally " 

 an Otter which you see, and no one else does, is to 

 ''crab" the hunt. It is a frequent solecism with 

 ladies who are nervous of attempting to cry aloud 

 and shout, but prefer to wait until someone else sees 

 the quarry and takes the duty off their hands and 

 lungs. Much valuable time is often wasted in this 

 way. 



Beyond watching the water, whether from the 

 banks or in a stickle, and '' tallying " whenever the 

 quarry is seen, the members of the Field have nothing 



