68 DOMESTICATED HUNTING-DOGS. 



jected, it happens that the breed has become unusually savage^ 

 and that they are constantly fighting in kennel. Indeed, instances 

 are common enough of more than half being destroyed in a sin- 

 gle night, in the bloody fight which has been commenced by 

 perhaps a single couple, but soon ending in a general scrimmage 

 No dog bites more savagely; and, unlike the bulldog, the hold is 

 not firmly retained, but the teeth are torn out with great force the 

 instant the hold is taken. The usual bight of the otterhound is 

 from 22 to* 25 inches in the dogs, the bitches being somewhat 

 lower. 



The points of the otterhound are like those of the bl Dodhound, 

 except as to the coat, which should be composed of hard and long 

 hah-, somewhat rough in its lying, and mixed with a short, woolly 

 under-coat, which serves to keep the body warm even when wet- 

 ted by long immersion. The color differs also, in not being 

 confined to black-and-tan or tan the former, however, being often 

 met with. 



THE TERRIER. 



The terrier, as used for hunting, is a strong, useful little dog, 

 with great endurance and courage, and with nearly as good a nosfc 

 as the beagle or harrier. From his superior courage, when crossed 

 with the bulldog, as most vermin-terriers are, he has generally 

 been kept for killing vermin whose bite would deter the spaniel 

 or the beagle, but would only render the terrier more determined 

 in his pursuit of them. Hence he is the constant attendant on the 

 rat-catcher, and is highly useful to the gamekeeper, as well as tc 

 the farmer who is annoyed with rats and mice. Formerly it wa 

 the custom to add a couple of terriers to every pack of foxhounds, 

 so as to be ready to aid in bolting the fox when he runs into a 

 drain, or goes to ground in any easily accessible earth ; the stout- 

 ness of the terrier enabling him, by steadi ] y following on the tracki 

 to reach the scene of operations before it would be possible to 

 obtain any other assistance. This aid, however, in consequence 



