THE BEAGLE HOUND. 283 



last in the chase and follow his quarry to the death." It is 

 needless to say that a short, or at least a strong loin, is of 

 far more importance in a Hound than in a bird dog, from 

 the nature of his calling, as stated above. 



Fully as important a point is the one of selecting a 

 Hound having good legs and feet. This is a very important 

 point in a bird dog, and much more so in a Hound. A Bea- 

 gle should be selected having well-arched toes, and the same 

 close together, with good hard pads underneath. A foot 

 afte? 1 the model of a cat's foot is to be preferred to what is 

 known as a " hare-foot," so called from its similarity to 

 the foot of a hare.- In noting a Beagle' s feet and legs, it 

 is also very important to get a good short and upright 

 pastern, as the same is much stronger and can stand much 

 more wear and tear than a long or sloping one; besides, the 

 latter is usually indicative of a hare-foot, or, more properly 

 speaking, a hare-foot, from its shape, causes the pastern to 

 slope and be comparatively long. 



In a Setter or Pointer a sloping pastern is desired, to 

 avoid the great strain upon it in suddenly stopping on a 

 point, and which strain on a straight pastern would cause 

 the same to knuckle over; but in a Hound the short, straight 

 pastern is greatly to be preferred, as far stronger and more 

 enduring; the Hound, from the nature of his work, not 

 needing to subject himself to such a strain as mentioned 

 regarding the bird dog. Next in importance I should con- 

 sider a good coat, which is coarse and of good length. 



This is a most important factor, as, from the nature of his 

 work, the Beagle is compelled to hunt almost entirely in 

 the thickest of underbrush, which, unless he be well-coated, 

 will tear his skin and flesh in a cruel manner; and though 

 he possess the grit and pluck which causes him to appar- 

 ently not mind it while keeping to his work, the poor 

 faithful servant suffers for days until he recovers, and in the 

 meantime is in no condition to hunt if it be desired of him. 



To show how thoroughly and comb -like the briers and 

 brush work through a Beagle' s coat in ordinary hunting, 

 one needs but to notice any Beagle, with a fair amount of 



