The Beagle. 139 



dwarf beagle, or whatever you like to call him — and 

 name him anything but a toy — has quite an increas- 

 ing number of admirers. At the most recent show of 

 the Kennel Club, held in October, 1896, there was 

 the best entry of beagles brought together of late, 

 still, at some of the Sussex shows held a few years 

 back we have seen capital gatherings. Now the 

 extra collection had been attracted at the instance 

 of the Beagle Club, who guaranteed a certain 

 proportion of the prizes. The tiny hounds, such 

 as were classed under 10 inches, shown by Mrs. 

 Chesshyre, of Walford, and by Mr. W. R. Crofton, 

 of Totton, Hampshire, were extremely dainty crea- 

 tures, well made, full of muscle as a rule, and 

 hardy enough to kill a rabbit or to beat the coverts, 

 for which most of them are used. Such have 

 neither pace nor strength to run down a hare, but 

 are merry hunters ; and so long as by inter-breeding 

 they are not allowed to degenerate into toys, with 

 crooked legs, huge round heads, weak faces, and 

 spindle shanks, our really old-fashioned and 

 charming little "royal beagle" may continue to have 

 an increased number of admirers. 



At one of the Kennel Club shows, held over 

 twenty years ago at Alexandra Park, Muswell Hill, 

 Mr. G. H. Nutt showed a lovely pack, and treated 

 his many friends with a taste of their quality. The 



