8 A HUNTING CATECHISM 



instance of the latter it would sound equally 

 strange to hear a person talk of the " seat " of a 

 fox or the " kennel " of a rabbit ! and yet both 

 mean the same thing, and if the two sporting 

 terms were reversed would sound quite correct. 



Q. What are some of the correct terms for 

 hunting ? 



A. A stag " harbours." A fox makes a 

 " kennel," or " lair " ; a " kennel " or " lair " is 

 above ground but an " earth " is heloiv. A hare 

 has a *' form." 



A stag has a " tail." A buck has a " single." 

 A fox has a " brush." * A hound has a " stern." 

 A hare has a " scut." 



A fox when seen should be " tally-ho'd." A 

 hare found sitting in its form is " so-ho'd." 



A fox's head is a " mask." 



A fox's foot is a " pad." 



A fox " goes to ground." 



A "vixen" fox has a "litter of cubs." A "doe "- 

 hare has "leverets." A red-deer "hind" has 

 " calves." A fallow-" doe " has "fawns." 



When a fox leaves a covert he " breaks," or 

 " breaks away." 



When a beast of chase makes its way to a far- 

 off refuge, it makes a " point." 



If a fox or hare is turned aside from the "line" 

 it is following, it is " headed." A stag is 

 " blanched." 



A stag has " horns." A buck has " antlers." 



If a stag takes refuge in water he " soils." 



* This was anciently called "a bush"; from the same 

 origin arises, no doubt, "a bushy tail." It was also known by 

 the quaint appellation, " A holy-water sprinkle." See John 

 Guillams, "A Display of Heraldrie," p. 176, published 1038. 



