ANCIENT OTTER-HOUNDS. 341 



the kingdom, and the breed were then much larger than those now to be found in the low 

 and marshy parts of the country, where they arc still in use for the purposes of the chase, 

 although it has been said ' that the breed, which has been gradually declining, and its size 

 studiously diminished, by a mixture of other kinds, in order to increase its speed, is now almost 

 extinct.' The assertion of the author, however, savours much more of speculative conjecture 

 than of experimental practice ; for the present writer hunted the winter of 1775 in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Manchester with each of the two packs supported by subscription in that town, 

 one of which was denominated the Southern Hound." 



Further on the same writer proceeds to remark that " the Southern (or old English Hound) 

 is most undoubtedly the original real-bred Harrier of this country, and more particularly in 

 those swampy parts where the chase is wished to be protracted without prolonging the 

 distance." 



In appearance the Southern Hound was a large majestic-looking dog, showing great 

 power, with a long barrel, round ribs, and deep chest. His ears were long, and his voice 

 very melodious, the prevailing colour being, as we have mentioned before, similar to that 

 of the modern Foxhound. 



That otter-hunting was conducted on very much the same principles in days gone 

 by as it is in the year 1880, the following extract from Turberville's " Arte de Venerie " 

 will clearly prove; and it is therefore only reasonable to surmise that although the hounds 

 now in use are altered in many respects from the breed used then, the Southern Hound had 

 begun to undergo that modification which has subsequently developed into the modern 

 Otter-hound. 



Turberville writes, in 1575 : 



" The otter is a beast well knowne ; shee feedeth on fishe and lyeth neare unto ryvers, 

 brookes, pooles, and fishe-ponds, or weares. Hir lying-in commonly is under the roots of trees, 

 and sometimes I have scene them lying in a hollowe tree, foure or five foote above the 

 grounde. - Even as a foxe, polcat, wildecat, or badgerd will destroye a warren, so will the 

 otter destroye all the fishe in your pondes, if she once have founde the waye to them. She 

 dyveth and hunteth under the water after a wonderfull manner, so that no fishe can escape hir 

 unlesse they be verie great and swift. A litter of otters will destroy you all the fishe in a 

 ryver in two myles length. There is great cunning in the hunting of them, as shall be saide 

 in the next chapter ; and also it is possible to take them under the water, and by the ryver's 

 side, both in traps and in snares, as you may take a hare with hare-pypes, or such like gynnes. 

 They byte sore and venomously, and defende themselves stoutly. I will not speake much 

 more of their nature, but onely that they are footed lyke a goose. I mcane they have a 

 webbe betweene theyr clawes, and have no heele, but onely a rounde ball under their scale of 

 their foote, and their tracke is called the marke of an otter, as we say the slot of an hart. An 

 otter abideth not much nor long in one place, but if she befrayed, or finde any fault (as they 

 are very perfectly of smelling and hearing) they will forsake their couche and shifte a mile or 

 two up or doune a river. The like will she do if she have once destroyed the store of fishe, 

 and finde no plentie of feeding. From a pond garden or good store of fish pondes she wil 

 not lightly be removed, as long as there is store of fish in them, for therein fishes are taken 

 with more ease than in the rivers or greater waters ; but inough of their natures. 



" When a huntesman would hunte the otter, he should first send foure servants or varlets 



