36 Varieties of the Dog, 



the latter colour, that was alv/ays first to find game, and 

 always led. He was well known among the Cumbrians, 

 and they knew his voice, and said : ' 'Dar, that's auld 

 Duster ; we'll have a run noo.' Occasionally beagles 

 are the colour of bloodhounds. The beagle should be 

 hard in condition, with plenty of muscle." These beagles 

 hunt the hare on Skiddaw, and in the Lake District, 

 capital runs being " enjoyed about Buttermere, where it 

 is a grand sight to see the little hounds on the breast of 

 a mountain, when a sheet could cover them sometimes, 

 and their cry is melodious. We do not mount our 

 huntsmen." The height of the dogs at the shoulder 

 varies from 14 in. to 15 in., and the weight from 25 lbs. 

 to 27 J lbs. Some having the harrier cross are higher. 

 The Royal Rock Pack, said to be pure beagles, stand 

 16 inches high. The rabbit beagle, so called, is pro- 

 bably a cross with beagle and the terrier. 



The Dachshund, or German Badger Terrier is not 

 a hound as some conclude. The terminal " hund," sig- 

 nifies a dog, notwithstanding many of his characteristics 

 are those of a hound ; indeed, it is said he comes of a 

 cross with the old English hound and the beagle, and, 

 according to Bewick, known as the Kibblehound. The 

 dog of the present day has a singularly long back, and 

 apparently ill-formed legs. Our friend Punch says he 

 is "sold by the yard." Many years ago, an engineer 

 seeing one of the early specimens, and viewing him only 

 in the light of mechanics, said thoughtfully, "his bearings 

 are too wide apart," and suggested taking "a piece out 

 of his middle and welding him together again." The 

 breed is self-coloured, excepting a stray " beauty spot " 

 on the breast or toes. Black and tan, or fallow red are 

 preferred, though good dogs have shades of red, and 

 smutty, or tawny markings. The Head is of the blood- 

 hound type, and the ears, long and pendulous, measure 

 13 or 14 inches across the head from tip to tip. The 

 Nose is square, and the muzzle about 8^ inches in girth. 

 The Eye, which is lustrous and mild in expression, has 

 the colour of the coat. The Teeth should be white, sound, 

 strong, and recurvate for grip ; a diseased and offensive 



