538 



THE CARNIVORES 



points are the same as those of foxhounds. A rough breed of Welsh harriers , 

 practically indistinguishable from the otterhound. Harners work more slowly 

 Lhounds, dwelling more on the scent and tending to cast backward rather than 



forward when they come to a check. 



This breed so closely resembles a large rough Welsh harrier that 

 Otterhound uires an ex pert to distinguish between the two ; such difference as 



there is existing in the nature of the coat and the form of the feet. Thus the feet 

 _ instead of hav- 



ing the neat 

 cat-like form of 

 those of the har- 

 riers, are broad 

 and splay ; while 

 the coat is fur- 

 nished with a 

 thick, woolly 

 under-fur of an 

 oily nature. 

 Probably owing 

 to having to con- 

 tend with such a 

 fierce animal as 

 the otter, the 

 otterhound is of a 

 savage and quar- 

 relsome disposi- 

 tion, and is very 



conflicts with its fellow-occupants of the kennel, 

 of England, Devonshire alone 

 summer of 1892 killed three 



THE OTTERHOUND 



apt to engage in internecine 



Otter hunting is a favorite sport in the 



possessing four packs, one of which 



in 



west 

 the 



otters in a single morning. In some cases foxhounds are employed for otter 

 hunting. 



This term is generally applied to any hound standing less than six- 

 teen inches in height, although the true pure-bred beagle is a distinct 

 breed, which may be regarded as a miniature of the old southern hound. In build 

 the ordinary beagle is rather short in the limbs and long in the body, with a rela- 

 tively wide and somewhat dome-shaped head and a short nose. The throat is like- 

 wise rather short and thick, and the older breeds used to have a tendency to a 

 dewlap. The ears are full and hang in folds. Beagles may vary in height from about 

 fifteen to ten or nine inches ; but from eleven to twelve inches is esteemed the best. 

 They are used in hunting both hares and rabbits. The beagle has a remarkably 

 musical note and an exquisite sense of scent, as well as great perseverance in follow- 

 ing a trail. From its small size, short legs, and rather heavy build, it is, however, 

 necessarily slow. In hunting, beagles follow all the windings of the hare, and for 

 the first part of the chase are far behind their quarry. Their perseverance is, how- 



