HARE-HUNTING 249 



that, and every season they will get worse. A 

 first-rate pack of beagles may perhaps be running 

 at the top of their speed for a full hour, which 

 is not only a tremendous trial of their condition 

 and powers of endurance, but is also a great 

 strain on their shoulders and other parts of the 

 frame. The shoulders should be sloping and 

 the bodies should have a perfectly even balance. 

 Any defect in the formation of a hound's struc- 

 ture will entirely alter his gait and will nearly 

 double the exertion of every movement. The 

 evenly balanced hound glides over the ground 

 as smoothly as a swallow skims the air, and 

 with as little trouble to himself. 



Condition is of course the most important 

 thing with small beagles, and does not always 

 get the attention it deserves from young masters. 

 I must refer you to what I have already written 

 on the subject in the chapter dealing with the 

 foxhound, and remind you that if you wish your 

 beagles to run well, they must be fit. When 

 you see a hare get up in front of a small pack 

 of beagles and leave them behind at every stride, 

 the idea of them catching her seems absurd. 

 The only chance they have of succeeding is by 



