THE HOUNDS. i6g 



1 8 inches. The music of this pack he describes as grand, and says that it 

 has never been so good since, as every cross he made to improve quality and 

 size lost note. Macfie's aim was to preserve tlie old R.R.B. hound blood, 

 which had been kept in the kennel so long, and was unbeaten in music and 

 hunting; to prd^luce one type of hound, and to breed to size i6 inches or 

 just under. His idea of a beagle was a hound with a good big long head, 

 long ears to reach to the end of nose and set on low ; stern not coarse, but 

 rather fine, when up, with a nice sweep and no curl ; legs and feet as good as 

 can be got, shoulders sloped ; level good back, ribs well sprung, loins strong, 

 and hocks well down. Our present Master, J. Gould Smyth, has not yet 

 finished the improvement of his pack, and the next few years will speak for 

 themselves. We have every confidence that he will keep his hounds as good 

 as ever, and show us right good soort. 



"Or wilt thou hunt? 

 Thy hounds shall make the welkin answer them, 

 And fetch shrill echoes from the hollow earth." 



Taming of the Shreiv, Induction, scene 2. 



The Master of hounds can hardly expect to have all his pack perfect 

 hounds ; but if he has a fair sprinkling of old steady hounds with good 

 noses, and the rest of his pack fairly level, he has good grounds for satisfac- 

 tion. It is important to have one or two hounds that can " carry a scent" 

 on roads and dry fallows, as in our country there are so many roads and 

 lanes that we can hardly ever have a run without crossing, and often running 

 for some distance along one or more roads. These hounds are useful, too, 

 when scent is bad from frost or dry east wind. In former days good road 

 hounds were more common than they are now, but the reason for this is 

 inscrutable ; it is probable that the special faculty is not hereditary. Eager- 

 ness and perseverance are good qualities in hounds, as these keep them at 

 their work in puzzling checks, where lazy hounds would throw up, and look 

 for guidance from their huntsman. Most masters are particular as to the 

 appearance and colour of their hounds. It has been well said, "a good 

 " hound cannot be of a bad colour." 



In judging beagles at shows, the points are as follow : — 



For the Head - - - - 20 points are full marks. 



„ Ears - - - - ID „ „ 



,, Neck and throat - - 5 jj m 



,, Shoulders - - - - 15 ,, ,, 



,, Back and loins - - - 10 „ ,, 



,, Hind quarters - - - lo ,, „ 



,, Legs and feet - - - 10 „ ,, 



,, Colour and coat - - 10 „ ,, 



,, Condition and symmetry - 10 ,, „ 



Total - - - 100 maximum. 



