TRAINING THE TERRIER. 71 



THE TERRIER. 



TERRIERS are the necessary attendants of a Pack of Fox Hounds, for the 

 purpose of unearthing the Fox ; thence, from the latin word terra, the earth, they 

 are called terriers. They are also used to hunt the badger, indeed in all vermin 

 hunts ; for the infamous and cruel purposes of baiting, and in the blackguard 

 diversion of dog-Jighting. Their form and colours are well known ; black tan, 

 yellow and white ; some are entirely white, and there is upon the Continent, a 

 delicate milk white breed of terriers, if they may be so styled, or vermin curs, 

 which seem to hold the same affinity both of breed and qualification, with our ter- 

 riers, as the Italian with our Greyhounds. Terriers are distinguished as rough and 

 smooth, and vary considerably in size, from the size of the hound crosses probably, 

 which entered into the composition of their race. 



The Terrier has been long used in this Country as a sporting dog, and is to be 

 found in Buffons Synopsis. But we have not observed him described in Markham, 

 and Dr. Caius is not before us. In those Compilations called Sporting Dictionaries, 

 the terrier is said to be a kind of Greyhound, in our ideas a very strange descrip- 

 tion. The terrier is perhaps a crossed race, a variety from the dwarf hound or 

 spaniel, fox or fox dog and the vermin cur ; at least, such he appears to us, both 

 from his form and qualities. The rough terrier probably obtained his shaggy coat 

 from the cur ; but whence the latter was furnished with his we do not pretend to 

 know. The terrier, has of late years particularly, been crossed with the Bull-dog 

 to increase his fierceness and power in fighting. 



One, two, or three couple of Terriers are necessary to a Pack of Fox-hounds, more 

 especially in a deep and inclosed Country ; it is convenient also, that they be of the 

 two sizes, small and large. Terriers are entered and fleshed, at the usual time with 

 hounds, that is, nearly a year old. They are then taught to take the earth, by the 

 example of the old ones, which are earthed with fox or badger, having young. 

 The young terriers are then held to the mouth of the earth or den, in order that 

 their blood may be stimulated by hearing the old ones bay. The vixen or the badger 

 being drawn and secured, the old terriers are coupled, and the learners are clapped 

 to the earths, and encouraged to seize the remaining cubs, or badger pigs, and kill 

 them if they will. 



Another method, we trust long since obsolete, of training the terrier, savours 

 strongly of those abominations, in regard to trespassing on the feelings of animals, 

 perpetrated in all nations, amidst even the most devout religious professors, and 

 constant Church-goers. An old fox or badger was taken, and his nether jaw cut 



