288 tMe zoologist. 



followed in the neighbourhood of Rochdale. It is now about twenty-five 

 years since it was discontinued, and, though I was then too young to have 

 actually taken part in the hunt myself, I well remember seeing the hounds 

 at the time, and have often heard its glories described by the followers, 

 many of whom are still living. The hounds were quite distinct from the 

 modern harrier, but I have not sufficient knowledge to say of what breed 

 they were, though they seemed to approach the old-fashioned pied white 

 harrier type. They were about 18 in. or 20 in. in height, rather strongly 

 built, with rough hair, long ears, wonderful nose, and gifted with deep 

 mellow music. They did not possess much speed, nor was that considered 

 a necessary qualification. [They were probably otter hounds. — Ed.] 



" Spring was the time for hunting the Foumart, just after the close of 

 hare-hunting. The animals were caught in a trap, generally placed close 

 to a country well, and were turned out the night before it was intended to 

 hunt them. A dog Foumart would often show splendid sport, and I have 

 heard of more than one run of eight miles as the crow flies, which is much 

 farther than I ever knew a hare to go. On the other hand, the uncertainty 

 of hunting was never more shown than with the Foumart. Sometimes the 

 run ended at the first fence; at another time the hounds would run all 

 round a field, then across from side to side in a most tantalising manner. 

 I have been assured that on one occasion the late Mr. Entwistle, of Foxholes, 

 hunted one Foumart for a whole week, bringing the hounds to the same 

 spot the morning after where they had left off the evening before. The 

 followers were never mounted. Capt. Hopwood, of Hopwood Hall, was 

 wont to ride over from there to Newby, a distance of seven miles, and 

 then put up his horse and follow the chase afoot." 



Some additional facts of interest are contained in the following 

 letter, dated 12th May, 1883, which carries the sport into North 

 Wales, and shows how keenly it was pursued in the moorland 

 country of North-East Lancashire and the Lake district: — 



" Foulmart-hunting has for a length of time been carried on in a scratch 

 way in Westmoreland, Lancashire, and other counties. Capt. Hopwood, of 

 Hopwood, in Lancashire, achieved the greatest success in this branch of 

 sport, and became the possessor of a fine pack of foulmart-hounds, unequalled 

 for beauty, nose, and staunchness. It required great skill and time to 

 bring them to perfection and make the pack free from riot (such as fox, 

 otter, or sweetmart), and in this he thoroughly succeeded. None of his 

 pack would own any scent but that of the Foulmart. They were of the 

 same breed as the modern otter-hound, but superior in size and make to 

 any I have seen in the different packs now existing. Capt. Hopwood 

 chiefly hunted in the vale and moorland country of north-east Lancashire 

 and in the Lake country of Lancashire and Westmoreland. In Wales, in 



