82 British Dogs. 



specimen which may, roughly speaking, be described as a miniature 

 bloodhound, being of precisely the same colour, and sharing many of 

 that noble dog's chief characteristics. The beautiful short legged 

 basset of France, the dachshund of Germany, and the peculiar Swedish 

 beagle, are but branches of the one family, which most truly exists in all 

 the symmetry of variety." 



The following description and points of Beagles are by H. A. Clark, 

 Esq., Master of the Cockermouth Beagles : 



" Head, like a foxhound, not quite so broad across forehead, with 

 sweet, intelligent countenance, the head long, and the nose should not 

 come to a sharp point. 



"Ears long, and set on low down, and carried close to head, not too 

 broad, and the thinner in the leather the better. 



" Neck and throat long and lean, but some of the heavier hounds are 

 very loose in throat and have a deep voice. 



" Shoulders long and strong, well clothed with muscle. 



" Chest deep and wide ; ribs also deep. 



" Back strong and wide, and especially wide across loins. Bitches are 

 generally better across loins than dogs, for their size. 



' ' Hind quarters, the stronger the better, wide and deep ; stern strong 

 at set on, and tapering, carried high, but not curled. 



" Legs straight, although for work they are no worse standing a little 

 over on the forelegs, strong of bone ; feet round, like a cat. 



" Colour, black, white, and tan ; black and white. I had a heavy dog 

 this colour, that was always first to find game, and always led. He was 

 well known among the Cumbrians, and they knew his voice, and said, 

 ' Dar, that's auld Duster ; we'll have a run noo.' Occasionally beagles 

 are the colour of bloodhounds. 



" The beagle should be hard in condition, with plenty of muscle. 



"The Cockermouth beagles hunt the hare often on Skiddaw and 

 in the lake district. Some capital runs are enjoyed about Buttermere, 

 where it is a grand sight to see the little hounds on the breast of a 

 mountain, when a sheet could cover them sometimes, and their cry 

 is melodious . It takes us all our time to keep up with them on a good 

 flat country. In the season 1878 and 1879 we killed eighty. We do not 

 mount our huntsman. In summer the dogs are sent out to farms, &c., 

 to walk, and are great pets with children." 



