97 HUNTING. 



To my mind the Worcester Park ' Bertram ' and * Willing ' 

 are as nearly as possible the perfection of what beagles should 

 be. ' Bertram ' is ten years old, and has lost a little muscle 

 over the loins, but he is wonderful considering his age, and 

 has all the points of a true beagle. ' Willing ' is a really well- 

 made bitch, with the best of legs and feet, has a good head, 

 straight back, with rare loins and shoulders, and is all over the 

 sort of hound to hunt the hare in any kind of country. 



Some people, I know, consider that the beagle should be of 

 the same make and shape as the foxhound. There are, of course, 

 some points which should be the same in all hounds, but the 

 beagle has a type of its own, which should be most certainly 

 preserved. In all hounds the straighter they are in front the 

 better, but I think one may be too particular as to this in a 

 beagle. I have seen and have bred hounds almost straight, 

 but they are rare. Possibly, now that a stud-book is started, 

 and these little hounds will be more carefully bred, they may 

 gradually improve in their feet and legs. 



I have a great objection to beagles being long in their 

 backs, as they are invariably weak over the loins, which is the 

 greatest fault, except bad shoulders, a hound can possibly 

 have. 



I am also averse to the heavy, cobby hound, much preferring 

 the active sort that can drive a hare when there is a scent good 

 enough to enable them to do so. As to colour in beagles, like 

 other hounds, it matters little ; an old huntsman once told 

 me ' a good hound was never a bad colour.' What I like 

 best is a black and rich dark tan with a little white, or a blue 

 mottle. 



And now as to the points of these little hounds. The head 

 and neck of the beagle are quite typical, and as compared with 

 the foxhound the differences appear to be as follows : — 



The muzzle should be shorter, the jaws lighter, the skull 

 should show more rise from the muzzle between the eyes, the 

 dome of the head should be larger and broader, the neck should 

 be shorter and thicker, with possibly a very slight tendency to 



