2IO ROYAL ROCK BEAGLE HUNT. 



him, by the excUision of previous winners. Since then most of the winners 

 at Peterborough were descended from either Bismarck or Monarch. Good 

 judges have affirmed that Monarch was the best beagle ever shown. 

 Mr. Vaughan Pryse, of Bwlclibychan, South Wales, said to Mr. Johnson — 

 " Never you expect to breed another hound like Monarch ; life is not long 

 "enough to do it in." This good hound is slill living, though 13 years old, 

 and remains one of the chief ornaments of Mr. Johnson's kennels, thougli 

 no longer one of the leaders on the line. A drawing of Monarch embellishes 

 the cover of this vohmie. 



The type of hounds Tom Johnson has aimed at, and has succeeded in 

 obtaining, is a level pack of about 14I2 inches, with good heads, long ears, 

 straight legs, with round cat feet, plenty of bone, and good propelling power. 



The illustration shows this pack at a kill. It is a snap-shot, with no 

 posing, and is exceedingly natural. The interest of this picture is increased 

 by the presence of no fewer than three ]\Iasters of Beagles ; there should 

 have been four, as A. Blain, the Master of the Clieshire, along with Mv. 

 Uvedale Corbett, were in the original plate, but were unfortunately cut 

 out in the mount from which this illustration was taken. Tom J(jhnson 

 is seen in the act of cutting off the pads from the hare held aloft by 

 Percy Roberts, of the Cheshire, behind whoiu is W . Blain, brother 

 to the Master of the Clieshire. ]\Irs. Johnson is 0:1 the extreme 

 riglit of the picture, with J. Gould Smyth (Master of the R.R B.), and 

 Mr. Humphreys (Mas'er of the A\'orcester), in front, ^[essrs. Alston and 

 Duncan being the other figures. 'J'he ])hotograi)h is good enough for 

 Mr. Johnson to identify some of the hounds. Monarch i.-^ llie white houuil 

 on Johnson's left hand, looking u[) at him ; Ruby with hi.s head over 

 Monarch's back ; Rattler's head appears over Ruby, and Clinker's over 

 Rattler; Chieftain is the stout hound in the furefront, near Duncan's stick : 

 and Blazer is between Johnson and Roberts, with his head up. 



The country hunted by the Malpas Beagles extends from near Broxton 

 to the River Dee near Farndon, and south to a few miles beyond Whit- 

 church. It is a splendid beagle country, consisting mainly of good large 

 pastures and meadows, with about sufficient arable land to afford jironer 

 lying ground for hares. 



]\Ir. Johnson is on good terms with all the local gentry and farmers, 

 who are often seen out with his hounds, and has no difficulty in finding 

 country for two or three days a week through the season. Near his own 

 house he can always find hares, and enjoys many a private run in exercising 

 the pack. It has been said of him, in explanation of the noted way in 

 whicli he lias his hounds in hand, that " they ought to know him well, as 

 " he lives with them." His young children, a boy and girl, now about ten 

 and eight years of age, are quite familiar with the hounds, knowing them all 



