468 



The BuOK of the IIok^e. 



belonged to it. They had an annual dinner, at which present and past M.F.H.'s exchanged 

 notes on kennel questions, and fought the hunting-battles o'er again. 



Disputes on questions of the unwritten law of fox-hunting, as to the limits of districts 

 and the right to covers, were referred to the arbitration of the " Fox-hunting committee of 

 Boodle's." But in 1880 the members had reason to find fault with rules the proprietor insisted 

 on imposing on the members. The hunting men retired in a body, and Boodle's seems likely 

 to lose all that made it distinguished. 



HUNTING TERMS. 



Hunting has its special vocabulary terms, a knowledge of which is essential for compre- 

 hending hunting conversation and reports. The proper pronunciation can only be acquired 

 from viva voce instruction. My list has been partly compiled from the work of a great 

 practical authority, Tom Smith — " Gentleman Smith," as he was called, to distinguish him 

 from the wealthy hard rider, Assheton Smith. Gentleman Smith had but a very moderate 

 private fortune, and was some fifty years ago what may be called a professional Master of 

 hounds. He hunted the Hursley pack as far back as 1828, and boasted that with his own 

 hounds, in that bad-scenting country, he had killed ninety foxes in ninety-one da}'s' hunting. 

 When he published the third edition of his "Diary of a Huntsman" in 1852, he was Master 

 of the " Pychely " (sic) Hounds.* 



Cover or Cotiert (spelt both ways). — Any wood, furze, 



goise, rushes, heath, or sedge that vvill hold a fox. 



Artificial covers are sometimes manufactured of 



bundles of faggots. 

 Cover Hoick. — The huntsman's cry to encourage hounds 



on " throwing off" to rush into cover. 

 Eloo in, Yoi over, Edawick, Eadawick, Yoi wind him, 



Yai rouse liitn, my boys, are similar encouragements, 



especially used in very large covers where the pack 



are out of sight. 

 Hoick, Hector, means Hark to Hector, a hound who may 



be depended on, and who has challenged, and may 



be continued with. 

 Have at him, old fellow. 

 Hoick together. Hoick. — To encour.Tge when several 



hounds are heard, and are getting together. 

 Taaleo. — When a fox is viewed in cover by the hunts- 

 man. 

 Tallv-o-back. — When the fox comes out and heads back 



again. 

 Tally-o-over. — When a fox has crossed a ride in a 



wood. 

 Ta-a-le-o. — When ore of the field sees a fox clear away, 



to call the attention of the huntsman. 

 Hooi (after Tally-ho, away). — A shout to call liouiuls, if at 



a distance, on viewing a fox. 



Gone away. — The huntsman's cry. 



Elope, forrard, away. — Ditto. 



Yo hote,yo liote, there. — Huntsman to make hounds hunt 



when at a check. 

 Forrard, forrard, hoick. — When some hounds have hit off 



the scent, to call on the rest. 

 Yo geote. — To call back hounds. 

 Hoick halloo. Hoick halloo. — When a halloo is heard from 



some one who has viewed the fox at a distance. 

 Burst. — The first part of a run, if quick. 

 Burst him. — A term used when a fox is killed without a 



chance of a check. 

 Burning Scejit. — When hounds run almost mute, owing 



to the goodness of the scent. 

 Breast-high. — When the scent is so hot that the hounds 



have no need to stoop their heads to the ground to 



catch it, but can go at a racing pace. 

 Carry a good Head. — When the scent is good and 



spread out, so that it extends wide enough for the 



whole pack to feel it, and run well together. More 



frequently the scent is only good on the line, for one 



hound to get it, so that the rest follow and depend 



upon him. Hence 

 Line Hu)iters. — Hounds that will not go a yard beyond 



the scent, and keep the pack right ; invaluable 



hounds. 



* I have liL-.ird tli.it Tom Smiili w.is tme of three broilKTS, all remarkable in their way : he for the sport he showed on 

 a very small hicome ami subscription ; ilie Rev. .Samuel Smith, author of the Lois Weedon system of growing good crops of 

 wheat year after year without manure ; and William Smith of Woolston, who was the first to produce a steam tackle that 

 could be profitably used by tenants of small farms with small fields. 



