The Terrier 403 



manner and custome of ferrets in searching for Connyes), creepe into the 

 grounde, and by that meanes make afrayde, nyppe, and bj^e the Fox and 

 the Badger in such sort, that eyther they teare them in pieces with theyr 

 teeth beyng in the bosome of the earth or else hayle and pull them per- 

 force out of their lurking angles, darke dongeons, and close caves, or at 

 the least through coceved feare drive them out of their hollow harbours, in 

 so much that they are compelled to prepare speedy flight, and being desirous 

 of the next (albeit not the safest) refuge, are otherwise taken and intrapped 

 with snares and nettes layde over holes to the same purpose. But these be 

 the least in that kind of Sagax." 



To say that they were small was hardly necessary, the guide to their 

 size being well established by the work they did. That description of the 

 terrier did duty for many long years, and as late as 1735 it was reproduced, 

 as it had been by nearly all the interim writers, in the "Sportsnian's Dic- 

 tionary," as follows: "Terrier, a kind of hound, used only, or chiefly for 

 hunting the fox or badger. So called because he creeps into the ground 

 as the ferrets do into the coney-burrows, and there nips and bites the fox 

 and badger, either by tearing them in pieces with his teeth, or else hailing 

 and puUing them by force out of their lurking holes; or at least driving them 

 out of their hollow harbours, to be taken by a net, or otherwise." 



There is another quotation which was handed down from one to 

 another of the old writers, and has proved a great stumbling block against 

 which recent writers have stubbed their toes. Jacques du Fouilloux wrote 

 a French book which he called "La Venerie," and in it he described fox 

 and badger hunting underground, as it was practised in France. We have 

 not seen this book in the original, or any French quotation or direct transla- 

 tion, but we do know that he was cribbed from right along the line. Tur- 

 berville's "Noble Art of Venerie or Hunting" is simply a translation. Dr. 

 Stevens compiled the "Maison Rustique," published in Paris in 1572, eleven 

 years after du Fouilloux published his book, and copied from the latter. 

 Stevens was apparently translated by Surflet, for he and Turberville do not 

 quite agree, but it is very plain that all have the one origin in Du Fouilloux. 



Stevens's French quotation begins as follows: "Deux sortes de Bassets 

 pour courier les regnards et tessons: Q Vant a la chasse des regnards et tessons, 

 elle se fait avec chiens de terre, autrement dits Bassets, lequel sont de deux 

 especes." 



The English version in its complete state, as given by Surflet, is this: 



