CHAPTER X 

 HARRIERS AND BEAGLES 



THAT harehunting is far older than foxhunting 

 need hardly be said, nor that very many of 

 the existing packs of foxhounds began life as 

 harrier packs ; and although foxhounds have during the 

 last hundred years been the most numerous, and far 

 the most important of all the various breeds of hounds 

 in the United Kingdom, harriers and beagles have 

 fully maintained their popularity, and are still followed 

 by a host of enthusiasts in all parts of the country. As 

 a rule neither harriers nor beagles have what is known 

 as a ''country" of their own, a big majority of the 

 packs being located where there are foxhounds as well, 

 but this does not hold good everywhere, as many 

 harrier packs hunt where there are no foxhounds, on 

 land which is often unsuitable for foxhunting, or in a 

 district which has been given up by the nearest fox- 

 hound pack, on account of excessive building, too 

 much wire, or even because of its inaccessibility. To 

 give an example or two, in Lancashire and in parts of 

 the West Riding of Yorkshire there are at least a 

 dozen old-established harrier packs whose operations 

 are confined to wild, hilly districts which have known 

 no foxhounds for many a long year, and in many 

 places where there never was any established pack of 

 the latter. The Penistone Hunt in South-Western 

 Yorkshire may be quoted as one of those packs which 



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