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_.