68 HARE-HUNTING AND HARRIERS 



the fifty packs of foot-beagles now hunting in the 

 United Kingdom — chiefly in England — a very different 

 sort of animal from that which he describes. Much 

 more attention is, however, now paid to the breeding 

 and hunting of these little hounds than was the case 

 a hundred and sixty years ago. And yet even the 

 eighteenth-century beagle could kill a fox very hand- 

 somely. In 1822, at the sale of the furniture and 

 effects of the Earl of Aboyne, at Orton Hall, near 

 Peterborough, there was to be seen a large painted 

 board, which had once been decorated with a stuffed 

 fox's head. On this board was the following quaint 

 inscription : *' February i6th, 1756. This fox was hunted 

 by twenty-three couples and a half of beagles, the 

 highest measured no more than sixteen inches, and, 

 after a sharp run of three hours and upwards, killed 

 him. After this chase Mr. John Bevis' horse was obliged 

 to be blooded in the field, and with much difficulty 

 supported to Peterboro' by two men. 



' Oft have I run before the swiftest hound, 

 But this small cry gave me the mortal wound.' " 



This must have been a gallant little pack of beagles, 

 truly enough ; even the best of those of the present 

 day could show no finer a performance. 



Notwithstanding the fact that in many parts of 

 England, at least as late as, probably later than, the 

 middle of the eighteenth century, country gentlemen 

 still kept for hare-hunting the old cumbrous Southern 

 hound — but too often out at elbows, crooked-legged, 

 slack-loined, badly coupled, and splay-footed, yet 

 possessing always that wonderful nose of his and that 

 grand voice — other and more progressive sportsmen 

 were continually striving for a smarter, quicker, and 

 more up-to-date hound. Somervile's picture of a good 



