THE HOUNDS OF SPRING: THE HISTORY OF THE EASTERN COUNTIES OTTER HOUNDS. By Graham Downing.

1988 1st edition. 8vo (153 x 217mm). Ppxii,215. B/w photographs, illustrations, end-paper maps. Red titles to dark blue cloth, spine titled in red. Edition limited to 350 copies, signed and numbered by the author.

"Published by Graham Downing in association with HOUNDS Magazine." "From the end of otter hunting in 1977 I was always determined that, one day, the story of the Eastern Counties Otter Hounds would be written. In the comparatively few years with which I was associated with it, the ECOH gave me immeasureeable pleasure. Otter hunting opened my eyes to venery in its purest for, took me to wild and wonderful places that I would never have otherwise dreamed of visiting, and taught me much about the wildlife of our gentle East Anglian rivers - not least about the otter itself." Chapters include: Beginnings; The country; A new broom; The Maestro; Eastern Counties and capers; Tragedy and new beginnings; The travelling circus; A coypu and some new country; A maritime epic and five in a day; shadow on the waters; Interregnum; Roses, royalty and a swan avenged; Otters a-plenty; Norfolk days; A changing country; Dramatic drags and an emerald expedition; Lean years; Festival!; Old hands at Ducks Farm; Going home. Appendices are: ECOH records; List of subscribers.