(1926) 2001 2nd edition. Coch-y-Bonddu Books. Machynlleth. Small format paperback. Pp157. B/w illustrations. New foreword by Brian Plummer. Fine copy.
Notes: This is Pierce O'Connor's detailed and useful account of all aspects of terrier work as practiced at the time of publication. Something of a revolution in its day, it has since become a classic. The book includes an extract (in French) from 'La Venerie de Jacques D. Fouilloux' on "Comme il faut dresser les petits chiens de terre, pour la chasse des renards et tessons". Chapters include, ancient and mediaeval earth dogs; the Tudor and Stuart period; terriers and terrier work of our own times with a description of all the modern sporting terriers; qualities which go to make a good working terrier; choice of breed; rearing and training young terriers; the fox; the badger; the otter; equipment for badger digging; notes on badger hunting; badger hunting at night; notes on otter hunting; weasel hunting; the ferret; rats and ratting; rabbiting; terrier trials; housing terriers; feeding; sickness and injuries. This edition has as a front cover the wonderful photograph of John Gaunt, rat-catcher to the Midland Railway Company in Derbyshire. It is a studio photograph of Gaunt sitting, with three rough-coated Jack Russell-type terriers, and holding three tame foxes and a cat, and is taken from "My Life As A Soldier And Sportsman" by J. Robson Scott.
