450 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



and peculiarities of the shepherd's dog ; and on this 

 account, it is supposed to have been the stock whence 

 every other breed of the canine species originated. 

 Of this opinion, are BufFon and Goldsmith. 



Their distinguishing characteristics are long coarse 

 hair, a long nose and pricked ears ; and in a wild 

 state they are remarkably ferocious. The parriar dog 

 of India, the wild dogs of America and Africa, as well 

 as those used in the northern regions, all approach this 

 species. 



THE BEAGLE. 



This is the smallest breed of dogs used in the chase, 

 and is more generally employed in hare hunting ; al- 

 though, at the present day, they are scarcer than when 

 slow hunting was in vogue. These hounds are most 

 excellent in their scent of the hare, and are remark- 

 able for the musical melody of their tone. There are 

 two varieties of this dog, the rough beagle and the 

 smooth beagle. 



Mr. Beckford speaks strongly against the use of 

 bag foxes, and considers them as void of sport. 



" The scent of these," says he, " is different from 

 that of other foxes ; it is too good, and makes hounds 

 idle ; besides, in the manner in which they are generally 

 turned out, it makes hounds very wild. They seldom 

 fail to know what you are going about before you 

 begin, and if often used to hunt bag-foxes will be- 

 come riotous enough to run any thing. A fox that 

 has been confined long in a small place, and carried 

 out many miles, perhaps, in a sack, his own ordure 



