104 Modern Dogs. 



who purchased the pick of Mr. Dubourg's pack, and 

 others from the Epsom and Ewell Hunts, since 

 given up. 



In appearance the beagle is a diminutive harrier, 

 with equally long and pendulous ears, not so level in 

 back as a foxhound, but in other particulars much 

 like him. However, the best beagle colour is 

 certainly the " blue mottled," already mentioned, but 

 in addition the ordinary hound markings are good, 

 and black and tans, not of the Kerry size, are 

 repeatedly met with, and are quite admissible. The 

 smooth coated hounds are usually understood to be 

 most desirable, but the rough, or wired haired hounds 

 are admired by many persons, and in all respects are 

 equally as good as the others. In hunting, the 

 beagle is a merry, keen, hard worker, he can 

 make casts for himself, and possesses a peculiarly 

 bright, clear, and silvery voice. The smaller, or 

 rabbit beagles, are especially sweet in their cry, and 

 no doubt on this account obtained the name of 

 " singing beagles," by which title they were 

 known hundreds of years ago. In height there is 

 much variety, those used for rabbits varying from 

 nine inches, the standard of Mr. Crane's, at South- 

 over, up to say twelve inches, the height that Mr. 

 Nutt favours at Pulborough. 



The pack belonging to the latter is, however, 



