HUNTING DIRECTORY. 237 



otter Hunting. 



The deer was shortly after roused, and the hounds 

 sHpped; Sir WiUiam following himself on a gallant steed 

 to cheer his dogs. The hind, however, reached the 

 middle of the brook, upon which the hunter threw him- 

 self from his horse in despau'. At this critical moment, 

 however, Hold stopped her in the brook; and Help, 

 coming up, turned her back, and killed her on Sir Wil- 

 liam's side. The king descended from the hill, embraced 

 Sir William, and bestowed on him the lands of Kirkton, 

 Laganhouse, Earncraig, &c. in free forestrie. Sir Wil- 

 liam, in acknowledgment of St. Katharine's intercession, 

 built the chapel of St. Katharine in the Hopes, the 

 chapel yard of which is still to be seen. The hill from 

 which Robert Bruce beheld this memorable chase is 

 still called the King's Hill; and the place where Sir 

 William hunted is called the Knight's Field." 



Otter hunting, like the pursuit of the stag, is, at 

 present, but little followed. Of all field amusements, 

 otter hunting is perhaps the least interesting. Fox 

 hounds, harriers, or indeed any kind of hounds, will 

 pursue the otter ; though the dog chiefly used for the 

 purpose has been produced by a cross between the 

 southern hound and the water spaniel. Those who 

 have never witnessed otter hunting, may form a tolerable 

 notion of the business by imaging to the mind a superior 

 duck hunt ; though Somervile has rendered it immortal 

 by the follov/ing beautiful lines : — 



•' The subtle spoiler of the beaver kind, 

 Far off perhaps, where ancient alders shade 

 The deep still pool ; within some hollow trunk. 

 Contrives his wii-ker couch : whence he surveys 

 P. J 



