68 DOMESTICATED HUNTING-DOGS. 



even more so than the harrier, but hunting in the same style, with 

 the same tendency to dwell on the scent. In size they may be 

 described as averaging about 12 or 14 inches. (See portrait.) 



The rowjh beagle is apparently a cross between the above little 

 hound and the rough terrier, though by many people he is supposed 

 to be a distinct breed, and as much so as the Welsh harrier, which 

 he resembles in all but size. His origin is, howevei', lost in ob- 

 scurity, and can only be conjectured. One chief reason why I have 

 sujjposed him to arise from the above cross is, that he has lost in great 

 measure the beagle tongue, and squeaks like the terrier, though 

 not quite so much as that dog. He has, however, the full ear of 

 the smooth beagle, or nearly as great a development of that organ, 

 but the nose is clothed with the stiff whisker of the rough terrier, 

 and the body generally has the same rough and wiry hair. It is 

 maintained by some people that he has obtained this from the 

 deerhound through the southern hound, but his dwarf size renders 

 it more probable that it is derived from the terrier, which breed, 

 however, very probably is descended from the deerhound, as indeed 

 I believe is the case with nearly all our hounds. The size of this 

 beagle varies greatly, the avei'age being perhaps about 14 inches. 



The dicarf or rabbit beagle is a very small and delicate little 

 hound, but with an excellent nose, and much faster than he looks. 

 Some sportsmen have carried their predilection for small dogs to 

 such an extent, as to use a pack of these beagles which might be 

 carried about in the shooting pockets of the men ; and in this way 

 have confined their duties to the hunting alone, so that they were 

 not tired in trailing along the road from the kennel to the hunting- 



