A Glossary of Technical Terms. I99 



Chain. — The air-bubbles rising from the Otter's fur 

 to the surface when he dives or swims under 

 water. Sometimes called Belling. 



Challenge. — The first hound to speak to a drag is 

 said to challenge. 



Check. — To hold hounds back from time to time 

 when they are pressing forward on a drag : 

 necessary to avoid passing over the Otter. 



Chop. — To kill an Otter or cubs when found, before 

 they have a chance to get away. 



Coke. — ^Same as Spraints and Wedging (q^-v.). 



Coloured. — Water which has been disturbed by 

 hounds and huntsman, or by a flood. 



Couch. — Same as Holt (q^v.). 



Couple. — (i) The unit by which a pack of hounds is 

 counted : thus, 15 couples = 30 hounds; (2) to 

 couple hounds together by means of a pair of 

 couples and collars. 



Cub. — The young of the Otter. 



Dog-Otter. — The male Otter. 



Double. — Where an Otter has run out into a 

 meadow and turned back towards the stream, 

 leaving a loop of scent, it is said to be a 

 "double." A '^ double drag" is where an 

 Otter has gone both up and down a stream. 



Down. — To " put an Otter down " is to drive him 

 out of his holt into the water. 



Down-water. — The cry used when it is found that 



