—are the elastic covering of the muscles, composed of an infinity of fibres, which, in their aggregate, form a substance of great strength, and appropriate contraction and elongation, for all the purposes of expansion and flexibility. The tendons in a horse most liable to injury and accident, are those passing down the shank-bone of the fore-legs, from nearly the back of the knee, to their seat of insertion at the fetlock joint, which are in general known by the name of the back sinews. These, and the accidents to which they are liable, have been so fully treated on under the heads of Lameness and Sprains, that enlarging here would only prove a repetition superfluous and unnecessary. A wounded or punctured tendon, by thorn, stub, stable-prong, or with any other instrument, is always attended with excruciating pain, and violent inflammation, producing the most dangerous symptoms. In such cases it has been too much the practice to have immediate recourse to turpentine, and other spirituous applications, which is only adding fuel to the FIRE, and rendering the remedy worse than the DISEASE. Warm, mild fomentations, emollient poultices, gentle digestives upon lint covered with tow, and recourse to the most judicious and experienced practitioner to be obtained, constitute the only sound basis upon which even hope of recovery can be entertained; as most cases of the kind, if serious and severe, have a very unfavourable termination; those few subjects who seem completely restored, being ever after incapable of any work of consequence, ranking only as invalids.
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.
TERRIER
.—The terrier may naturally be concluded to have derived his name from the avidity with which he takes the earth; particularly when in pursuit of his own game, which is vermin of every kind, without distinction. To the fox, badger, polecat, weasel, rat, and even the poor domestic cat, the terrier is a most implacable enemy. For the purposes of BADGER BAITING, they have, by the lower classes, been crossed, and bred in and in with the bull-dog, which has enlarged the produce of those crosses, and increased the natural ferocity, as a greater stimulus to that particular sport now so fashionable with the sons of the cleaver, since the practice of BULL-BAITING has been so happily upon the decline. The genuine and lesser breed of terrier is employed in a business, to which, by his size, his fortitude, persevering strength, and invincible ardour, he seems more peculiarly adapted, and may be most truly said "to labour cheerfully in his vocation." This is, in his subordinate attendance upon the chase, where, like distinguished personages in a procession, though last, he is not the least in consequence.
Terriers of even the best blood are now bred of all colours; red, black, (with tan faces, flanks, feet, and legs;) brindled sandy; some few, brown pied, white pied, and pure white; as well as one sort of each colour, rough and wire-haired; the others, soft and smooth; and, what is rather extraordinary, the latter not much deficient in courage with the former; but the rough breed must be acknowledged the most severe and invincible biter of the two. Since fox-hunting is so deservedly and universally popular in every county where it can be enjoyed, these faithful little animals have become so exceedingly fashionable, that few stables of the independent are seen without them. Four and five guineas is no great price for a handsome, well-bred terrier; and a very short time since, seven puppies were sold at the Running-horse livery-stables, in Piccadilly, for one-and-twenty guineas; and these, at this time, is as true a breed of the small sort as any in England.
With every established pack of fox-hounds there is seldom to be seen less than a brace of terriers; and, for the best of reasons, one is generally larger and stronger than the other; in a small earth, where one cannot enter, the other may. With the hounds, in endeavouring to find, as well as during the chase, their exertions are incessant and indefatigable; and although the fleet pack shall be carrying the scent breast high at the top of their speed, these instinctive devotees to the sport are seldom far behind them. When a fox is run to earth, it is the province of the terrier to follow, and lay at him; as, by the baying of one at the other, the ear will soon be informed, whether the fox lays deep, or near the surface; and those who are employed in digging him out, will be enabled and encouraged to proceed accordingly. In fidelity, sagacity, courage, as well as the most incredible endurance of fatigue and hunger, they are inferior to no one particular tribe of the canine species.