HOUNDS. 



325 



the Middlesex packs of drag-hounds in the season of 1899- 

 1900, ran and took a stag which the Queen's had left out near 

 London. 



Decr-liounds should not be confused with either stag- 

 hounds or buck-hounds. They are merely large rough grey- 

 hounds which were formerly employed in Scotland for 

 coursing red deer ; a brace of them being slipped, as in 

 coursing hare. When I was in Kimberley, South Africa, in 



A /v'^ i^ 



Fig. 224. Old cut-and laid hedge, about 4 ft. 6 in. high. 



1892, that good sportsman, Mr. Fenn, was Master of a pack 

 which used to collectively course steinbok {Aiitilope tragulus) 

 over the veldt, and which were followed on horse-back. 



As a tendency to riot makes hounds unreliable, they should 

 be kept strictly to their respective quarries. Hares and deer 

 of all kinds, but not badgers, are riot to fox-hounds. Hares, 

 roe and fallow deer are riot to stag-hounds. Rabbits are the 

 chief riot of harriers. 



