The Beagle. 105 



mostly used for beating the thick coverts when 

 rabbit shooting. Others vary from twelve to sixteen 

 inches, but when we reach the latter height, there is 

 a near approach to the harrier, and so to the fox- 

 hound ; the cross with the latter having been made 

 with the idea of improving the legs and feet of the 

 smaller hound, a change of blood that naturally has 

 a tendency to do away with type. 



The following is the scale of points I should give 



to the beagle : 



Value. 1 Value. 



General appearance 20 Head and ears 15 



Loins, back, and stern ... 20 Legs and feet 20 



Chest 10 Coat and colour 15 



5 5 



Grand Total 1OO. 



From what has been written it will be seen that 

 the beagle, in size and character, varies more than 

 any other of our hounds, and may be found in 

 height from about nine inches to sixteen inches. 

 In this scale I do not include the Kerry Beagle, 

 which runs to the size of a foxhound, and which, 

 instead of hunting the rabbit or the hare, finds 

 nobler game in the chase of the stag, which we are 

 told he does most successfully. 



The real and proper work of the beagle is to hunt 

 hares and even rabbits, and such charming little 



