THE OTTERHOUND 



THE sport of otter-hunting dates back into the Middle Ages, 

 and it is still pursued with vigour in these Islands. The 

 pure -bred Otterhound is a noble specimen of the hound 

 tribe, and it is somewhat difficult to credit the belief that a 

 Terrier or Deerhound enters into his composition. Any- 

 how he is a hound all over. 



HIS WORK 



In spite of closely preserved streams the otter is still 

 fairly plentiful, and there are some one-and-twenty packs in 

 the United Kingdom, most of which cover a large tract of 

 country. Few are composed of pure -bred Otterhounds, 

 Foxhounds, cross-bred Foxhounds and Otterhounds, or Welsh 

 Foxhounds all being used. A Bloodhound cross has also 

 been resorted to. As a rule the otter-hunter must be an 

 early riser, as the place of meet may be a considerable 

 distance away, and he may rely upon getting plenty of 

 exercise in the course of the morning's hunting. The pack . 

 is always accompanied by several little terriers, whose duty 

 it is to dislodge the quarry when he has sought refuge in 

 his holt. 



HIS POINTS 



In general appearance the pure Otterhound has much 

 resemblance to the Bloodhound, saving that his coat is rough 

 and wiry, while his colour will be sandy or grizzled, or 

 black and tan. The head is somewhat broader, and of 

 course it goes without saying that body and legs must be of 

 the stoutest, with ample muscle and plentiful depth of chest, 

 in which heart and lungs have free play. 



