300 HUNTING. 



than the eye sees, are chopped by the terriers at ground before 

 they are able to quit their nurseries. So, the kilHng of baby 

 cubs must needs go on, though a grief and pain to all con- 

 cerned in their untimely destruction. 



With all packs of otter hounds the weekly continuance of 

 the sport, as well as the number annually killed, depends much 

 on the state of the rivers. When they are flooded, the hounds 

 would be far better on their benches than tainting the banks 

 and haunts of the wild animal at a time when they have no 

 chance of killing him ; but when low, the hounds have then 

 every advantage. Under the latter circumstances Mr. Geoffrey 

 Hill killed sixty-two otters in one season, the best he ever had. 



He began hunting the otter with his own pack in 1869,^ but 

 kept no record of his sport till 1870, from which date to the 

 year 1884, that is, in fifteen seasons, he has killed the large 

 number of 544 otters, thus averaging thirty-six a year and four 

 over. Yet, notwithstanding this heavy score, he says, 'Otters 

 are not decreasing in any way on my rivers ; they are better 

 preserved than they used to be, for people are beginning to find 

 out that they kill and keep down the coarse fish and eels 

 (which live upon the spawn and fry of the better sort). Besides, 

 otter hunting is more appreciated than in former days, and the 

 wild animal is now kept to show sport. Not that an occasional 

 otter does not fall a victim to the farm labourers and their dogs, 

 when, as he is wont to do, he travels up a small brook and is 

 caught before he can reach the safe drain for which he is 

 making. It is strange but true, that when a big river gets low and 

 there is no really strong holt upon it, he will quit that river and 

 go up the smallest stream, to gain if he can a more secure retreat.' 



iVlso, he is apt to go a-frogging even on the rills of a water 

 meadow ; but when indulging in that pastime and luxury (for 

 no Frenchman loves a frog better than he does), he is sure to 

 have a stronghold within easy reach. The bitch-otter, when 

 followed by her young, is especially given to frog hunting, and 



1 His elder brother, now Lord Hill, kept them for many years previously. 

 — Editor. 



