4^ Varieties of the Dog. 



When, however, the fields of horsemen increased in num- 

 bers from two or three score to two or three hundred — 

 when their riding became either a steeplechase between 

 those who went straight, or a flat race among the " ma- 

 cadamisers ;" — and when hounds were bred fast enough to 

 get away from all, the little terrier stood a poor chance of 

 escaping with life and limb, and his services were confined 

 to underground work, for which he is now kept handy to 

 the part of the country which is to be hunted, his absence 

 being supplied by the nearest rat or rabbit terrier that can 

 be obtained. In the cub-hunting he is specially service- 

 able, and, indeed, it is for this purpose that he is chiefly 

 kept by the huntsmen of our various packs ; for it is but 

 seldom that a regularly entered fox terrier attached to the 

 pack is at hand when a fox is run to ground during the 

 season. 



The fox terrier is a clever, strong little dog, possessing 

 great endurance and remarkable courage, and a nose 

 almost as sensitive as the harrier or beagle. He derives 

 his pluck from the bull-dog, like other useful vermin 

 killers, and is generally kept for the purpose of destroying 

 those vermin which prove more than a match for the 

 harrier or beagle. In his encounters with such, the fox 

 terrier is rendered more determined, and his natural 

 prowess is encouraged, as with superior ability he brings 

 his antagonist to a state of helplessness or destruction. 

 Hence he becomes the attendant and companion of the 

 ratcatcher, gamekeeper, or farmer, who make use of his 

 attainments in clearing the barns, stables, kennels, etc., 

 of rats and mice, and occasionally other vermin. In 

 former days it was the practice of adding a couple of fox 

 terriers to each pack of fox hounds, for the purpose of 

 bolting the fox when he takes refuge from his pursuers 

 in some accessible drain, or otherwise goes to ground. 

 The pluck and endurance of the fox terrier enables him 

 to follow steadily in the track, finally coming up to do 

 the required unearthing when other means are not avail- 

 able. In later years, hounds have been bred to greater 

 speed, and the terrier has been dispensed with, but re- 

 tained as a companion or guard, and for destroying ground 



