192 THE BEAGLE. 



the beagle-hound retains. A proportion, or what 

 was termed a cry of these dogs, was anciently added 

 to a hunting pack, often on account of their musical 

 voice. They were most common in the north of 

 England, and hence known by the name of northern 

 hounds. There exists on the Continent a coarse- 

 haired buff-coloured hound of a mixed breed, 

 figured by Buffon under the name of chien courant 

 metis, apparently formed out of the French Braque 

 and the crisp-haired water-dog ; it is now uncom- 

 mon, probably neglected because of its want of 

 beauty, though formerly much esteemed in otter- 

 hunting, and in the chase where the country was 

 swampy and intersected by rivers. 



Both the rough and smooth races, even three 

 centuries past, were already greatly diversified by 

 different crossings. In Queen Elizabeth's reign, 

 the fanciers bred a race so small, that a complete 

 cry of them could be carried out to the field in a 

 pair of paniers. That Princess had little singing 

 beagles which could be placed in a man's glove ! At 

 present they are about twelve or fourteen inches at 

 the shoulders, stout and compact in make, with long 

 ears, and either marked with a bright streak or spot 

 of white about the neck, on a dark brown coat, or 

 white, with spots like the harrier, of black and 

 rufous. They are slow, but persevering, and are 

 sufficiently sure of killing their game. 



