88 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



many more packs than formerly in all, twenty-one for the 

 United Kingdom. 



The sport of otter-hunting is decidedly increasing, as there 

 have been several hunts started within the last six years. 

 There can well be many more, as, according to the opinion of 

 that excellent authority, the late Rev. " Otter " Davies, as 

 he was always called, there are otters on every river ; but, 

 owing to the nocturnal and mysterious habits of the animals, 

 their whereabouts or existence is seldom known, or even 

 suspected. Hunting them is a very beautiful sport, and the 

 question arises as to whether the pure Otterhounds should not 

 be more generally used than they are at present. It is often 

 asserted that their continued exposure to water has caused a 

 good deal of rheumatism in the breed, that they show age 

 sooner than others, and that the puppies are difficult to rear. 

 There are, however, many advantages in having a pure breed, 

 and there is much to say for the perfect work of the Otterhound. 

 The scent of the otter is possibly the sweetest of all trails left 

 by animals. One cannot understand how it is that an animal 

 swimming two or three feet from the bottom of a river-bed and 

 the same from the surface should leave a clean line of burning 

 scent that may remain for twelve or eighteen hours. The 

 supposition must be that the scent from the animal at first 

 descends and is then always rising. At any rate, the oldest 

 Foxhound or Harrier that has never touched otter is at once 

 in ravishing excitement on it, and all dogs will hunt it. The 

 terrier is never keener than when he hits on such a line. 



The Foxhound, so wonderful in his forward dash, may have 

 too much of it for otter hunting. The otter is so wary. His 

 holt can very well be passed, his delicious scent may be over- 

 run ; but the pure-bred Otterhound is equal to all occasions. 

 He is terribly certain on the trail when he finds it. Nothing 

 can throw him off it, and when his deep note swells into a 

 sort of savage howl, as he lifts his head towards the roots of 

 some old pollard, there is a meaning in it no mistake has been 

 made. In every part of a run it is the same ; the otter dodges 



