The Harrier. 83 



1825, the Kirkham, Lancashire, hounds were too fast 

 for the hares they hunted. These, however, were big 

 hounds, and not unlike the Penistone of to-day. 



There are masters of harriers whose pride is still 

 in the purity of their strains, though maybe, at some 

 time or other, a point or two has been stretched for 

 the infusion of new blood to maintain the size and 

 standard required. Quite recently, letters have 

 appeared in the Field on the matter, resulting from 

 certain awards at dog shows. In one case, Mr. 

 Allan Jefferys, Hythe, near Southampton, who owns 

 a pack of black and tan harriers, which originally 

 came from Sir Talbot Constable, complained that 

 he was beaten by half bred foxhounds. Possibly 

 this was so, but the winners were neater all round, 

 and smarter than the black and tans, and thus 

 more suitable for the show ring and the bench. 



I confess myself rather disappointed with Mr. 

 Jefferys' black and tans, as they were not so good 

 in either feet or ribs as I expected to find them. 

 Sir Talbot Constable began to breed such hounds 

 as these about thirty-five years ago, by crossing 

 beagles with St. Huberts, and then breeding in 

 and in. This being so, Mr. Jefferys' may well 

 find the puppies difficult to rear, as he says. they 

 are. He is endeavouring to perpetuate and harden 

 the strain by crossing with smooth coated Welsh 



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