138 Modern Dogs. 



plished and as steady as Lord Portsmouth's hounds. 

 The Southover beagles are as small as it is possible 

 to breed them (in sufficient numbers to form a pack) 

 without losing symmetry, nose, intelligence, and 

 strength." 



The above was written more than forty years ago, 

 and Mr. Crane died in 1894. ^e kept his favourite 

 little hounds right up to the time he died, and, so far 

 as can be made out, was one of the very few men of 

 late years who had anything like a substantial pack 

 of hounds which did not go over, say, 10 inches in 

 height. He had produced his in conjunction with 

 Mr R. Snow, Chudleigh, and in the end both owners 

 must have bred a little too much in and in. During 

 a correspondence with Mr. Crane, some two years 

 or so before his decease, he told me he had 

 latterly lost a great many hounds from distemper 

 and other causes, and towards the end his inimit- 

 able and diminutive pack had dwindled away, until 

 not more than three or four couples were left, 

 and those of no great merit. Seven couples of 

 old and young hounds died almost at the same 

 time, so it can easily be seen their replacement 

 was impossible. 



Had Mr. Crane lived a few years longer, perhaps 

 he would have been able to obtain some new blood, 

 for just now our little rabbit beagle, pocket beagle, 



