THE DOG. 6l 



round as a sure finder when the pack were used 

 to drive rabbits in the gorse. 



Old Rattler (what a throng of memories the 

 name calls up !) was the recognised leader of the 

 others, and not unfrequently he would conduct 

 them on a private hunting expedition, in which 

 he served as sole huntsman and whip. Often on 

 a still night his sharp yapping bark, accompanied 

 by the clearer long-drawn music of the beagles, 

 might be heard among the hills, as they drove a 

 predatory fox from the farm-buildings, or strove 

 to run down one of the touo^h South Down hares. 

 It soon became evident that this pack had a 

 certain regular system of co-operation, and, like 

 the African wild dogs, well described by Dr 

 S. T. Pruen in his recent book, ' The Arab and 

 the African,' they made a practice of playing 

 into one another's hands, or rather mouths. Old 

 Rattler would generally trot on ahead, surveying 

 every likely tuft of grass or ling, and exhibiting that 

 inquisitiveness and passion for original research 

 which is so characteristic of the terrier. On arriv- 

 ing at a small outlying patch of furze he would 

 invariably proceed to the leeward side, so that as 

 the wind drew through the covert it would con- 

 vey a hint of whatever might be there concealed. 



