The Beagle. 97 



other pack alluded to by the same authority, that of 

 Mr. John O'Connell, at Grenagh, Killarney, were 

 dispersed at the same time, which was during the 

 distressful period of the great famine, when many 

 of the Irish gentry, almost ruined, were com- 

 pelled, under the Encumbered Estates Act, to sell 

 their family domains at an enormous sacrifice. I 

 could name more than one instance where a valuable 

 estate was sold for five years purchase ! The late 

 Mr. O'Connell's hounds, were likewise black and tan. 

 A few couples of these hounds were taken by Mr. 

 Maurice O'Connell's nephew to Mr. John O'Connell, 

 who kept them at Lake View, increasing his pack to 

 about twenty couples. In 1868 he, however, handed 

 them over to Mr. Clement Ryan, of Emly, co. 

 Tipperary, who now preserves the only pack of 

 Kerry beagles in the kingdom not many years ago 

 they were the most popular hounds in the south of 

 Ireland. 



At Darrinane a pack was kept for many gene- 

 rations ; the late Mr. Buller, of Waterville, and Mr. 

 Chute, of Chute Hall, all in County Kerry, had 

 small lots of hounds. I have had kindly forwarded 

 to me a description of this hound as he ought to be, 

 and it was compiled by Mr. McNamara, of Killarney, 

 who has made a special study of the variety. 



"Head. Moderately long broad skull, oval from 



[VOL. I.] H 



