TERMS in SPORTING
—are, in general, the same through every part of the kingdom; except some few provincial deviations in distant districts, remote from the centrical parts near the Metropolis. When going out with hounds in the morning, and reaching the place of meeting, we throw off (or cast off) the hounds; we rouse a deer, unkennel a fox, or start a hare. When a hound challenges who can be relied upon, he has taken scent of a deer, drag of a fox, or trail of a hare. If a hound quests (that is, gives tongue) without a cause, he is said to babble. After finding, if the scent lies well, and the hounds run together, the scent is said to be breast-high. When, during the chase, the hounds (in consequence of bad, dry, or stormy weather) are often at fault, and the huntsman is under the necessity of adverting to whatever advantages and assistance he can obtain, he has, perhaps, no other alternative, than to avail himself of the track of whatever GAME he has in pursuit; in either of which chases, he slots a deer, he foots a fox, or he pricks a hare.
It was formerly the custom to say a kennel of hounds; of beagles a pack: it is now more usual to call them indiscriminately a kennel of hounds, when in the kennel; but all are equally called a pack in the field. Of greyhounds, pointers, and spaniels, when speaking of numbers, it is right to say a brace, (for two;) a leash of greyhounds, a brace and half of pointers and spaniels, (for three;) and two brace of either, for four. When a deer, during the chase, gets into the water, he is then said to take soil: when so hard run, and so much distrest, that he turns round, and faces the hounds, he is then said to stand at bay. The head of the fox, when killed, is called the front, (in some parts, the scalp;) his feet, pads; and his tail, the brush; which is the distinguishing trait of honour for the day, that every fearless foxhunter rides for. When the game leaves covert, it is said to have gone away: when, in the heighth of the chase, the game makes a short turn to the right or left, and the hounds come to a fault, by having over-run the scent, the game is then said to have headed: if that is returned in a parallel line with the original chase, it is called a double; and if it is brought again directly into the old track, it is called running the soil.
Hounds at the commencement of a season, after so long a confinement and restraint, are inclined to chase every thing they see, or scent from a pig to a polecat, in all which cases they are said to run riot. Hounds draw for a fox; they try for a hare. When greyhounds are removed from one country to another, they travel with collars; hounds in couples. In shooting terms, we say, a brace of hares, a leash of pheasants, and two brace of partridges; a brace of snipes, a couple and half of woodcocks, and two couple of rabbits.