for he was
in the practice of strewing his meat around him, to induce fowls or
rats to come within his reach while he lay watching, as if asleep,
when he instantly pounced upon them, and always with success. He was
swift, and had a noble appearance when running."

[Illustration: OTTER HUNTING.]

THE OTTER TERRIER.

"How greedily
They snuff the fishy steam, that to each blade
Rank scenting clings! See! how the morning dews
They sweep, that from their feet besprinkling drop
Dispersed, and leave a track oblique behind.
Now on firm land they range, then in the flood
They plunge tumultuous; or through reedy pools
Rustling they work their way; no holt escapes
Their curious search. With quick sensation now
The fuming vapour stings; flutter their hearts,
And joy redoubled bursts from every mouth
In louder symphonies. Yon hollow trunk,
That with its hoary head incurv'd salutes
The passing wave, must be the tyrant's fort
And dread abode. How these impatient climb,
While others at the root incessant bay!--
They put him down."--SOMERVILLE.

The above is an animated and beautiful description of an otter hunt,
an old English sport fast falling into disuse, and the breed of the
real otter-hound is either extinct or very nearly so. In stating this,
I am aware that there are still many dogs which are called
otter-hounds; but it may be doubted whether they possess that peculiar
formation which belongs exclusively to the true breed. Few things in
nature are more curious and interesting than this formation, and it
shows forcibly how beautifully everything has been arranged for the
instincts and several habits of animals. The true otter-hound is
completely web-footed, even to the roots of its claws; thus enabling
it to swim with much greater facility and swiftness than other dogs.
But it has another extraordinary formation; the ear possesses a sort
of flap, which covering the aperture excludes the entrance of the
water, and thus the dog is enabled to dive after the otter without
that inconvenience which it would otherwise experience. The Earl of
Cadogan has, what his Lordship considers, the last of the breed of the
true otter-hound. It was a present from Sir Walter Scott. Lord Cadogan
offered one hundred pounds for another dog of the same breed, but of a
different sex; but I believe without being able to procure one with
thos