224 DOGS 



but neither generally clever nor sociable. There is 

 no prettier sight than a level pack of foxhounds ; 

 no more exhilarating music than theirs when they 

 are flying hot-foot on a burning scent, waking the 

 echoes in the woodlands, and running so close that 

 a sheet might cover them. There are boys lucky 

 enough to hope one day to be masters of hounds, 

 and there can be no more honourable ambition for 

 an English county gentleman. Those favourites of 

 fortune, born with silver spoons in their mouths, 

 are few, but there are many who may become 

 masters of beagles, and better sport no boy need 

 desire. 



The beagle is really a foxhound in miniature, as 

 keen in the nose and as hot on the chase ; only 

 instead of getting together a costly pack, two or 

 three couples will be enough for amusement. The 

 beauty of the beagle is its diminutive size, and the 

 smaller they are the better, as you follow the chase 

 on foot, and the pace should never be too severe. 

 Fifteen inches at the shoulder is an outside height ; 

 twelve is better still, and it is seldom you get 

 them much lower. If the hare ran straight away, 

 like a tough old dog-fox, her pursuers would have 

 no chance with her ; but the nature of the hare is 

 to dodge and twist and turn. The little fellows 

 hunt her with the bloodthirsty perseverance of a 

 weasel after a rabbit — noses and eyes on the 

 ground, yelping ceaselessly. Nothing can be more 

 animating than the merry music ; you feel as if 

 there were quicksilver in your legs and springs 



