240 THE HORSE. 



feeling in the notable practitioners, which I appre- 

 hend may be of novel date, since in my day, I never 

 heard of such a tour; I allude to creeping, which 

 being interpreted from the Welsh, signifies driving a 

 horse a considerable length through brakes, thorns, 

 and briars; the impression of these upon the horse's 

 skin and flesh, aided by that of the spurs, no doubt 

 vigorously given, must leave the animal in a most 

 comfortable plight, and his skin in a rare state for the 

 subsequent application of the currycomb and brush, 

 more especially should he be high bred, and thin 

 skinned. These gentlemen creepers should ride the 

 old English thick hided hunter, of that party who 

 never stabled or dressed him, by such means furnish- 

 ing him with a coat impenetrable to wet and cold in 

 the field. 



SECTION XXXVI. 



The slang of the field has, in course, and confor- 

 mity, undergone its revolution. In former days we 

 rode after hounds, now we ride to them — we then 

 leaped, now we jump. We formerly leaped hedge, 

 ditch, and gate, now we jxxmip fence and timber. We 

 were proud of a good standing leaper, such a qualifi- 

 cation is now scarcely heard of, &Jiying jumper is the 

 mark, a good fencer, high and wide, and so forth. 

 With these various and peculiar slangs, I have al- 

 ready declared myself well satisfied ; not so with cer- 

 tain late fastidious and delicate, or cockney intro- 

 ductions, e. g. the tautology, entire horse (from the 

 French, cheval entier) — a huntress — a female poney, 



