HUNTING TERMS 229 



Padding a Fox — Is finding the print of a fox's 



foot. 

 Point to Point — The distance of a run on a map 



by a straiglit hne. 

 Rack — For a track through a fence.^ 

 Rabbit Earth, or Spout — A^Hiere a fox sometimes 



gets into wlien pressed ; meant to imply that 



it is not a regular fox-earth. 

 Riot — When hounds hunt anything besides fox ; 



the rate is " Ware riot." 

 Skirter — A hound which is generally wide of the 



pack. Also applied to men who are always wide 



of the hounds. 

 Stroke of a Fox — Is when hounds are drawing. 



It is evident from their manner that they feel 



the scent of a fox, although they do not OAvn it. 

 Sinking — A fox is said to be sinking when he is 



nearly beaten. 

 Sinking the Wind — When men go down wind to 



hear the cry, it is called sinking the wind of 



the hounds. 

 Spayed — Bitch hounds which are not thought good 



enough to breed from are spayed, probably 



owing to their being lathy and thin ; if so, 



it improves them. 



^ The more usual term is " Meuse." — Ed. 



