THE BEAGLE. 361 



very delicate constitution in kennel. He is origi- 

 nally supposed to be the produce of the old Eng- 

 lish blood-hound, by a cross of some kind of grey- 

 hound, such as the Highland deer-greyhound, 

 approximating his own form. At all events, it is 

 certain that the former, the blood-hound, was the 

 dog: fii'st made use of in huntino: deer in Eno:land : 

 and it is probable that, as the taste for following 

 hounds on horseback increased, a turn of speed was 

 given to the original breed by a cross with a speedier 

 sort. We may add, the old paintings of English 

 stag-hunting favour this hypothesis. 



The ] Beagle. — This variety of the dog is now 

 nearly extinct, and for the same cause as the stag- 

 hound. Time is at present considered as too pre- 

 cious to afford an hour at least, and perhaps two, 

 to the hunting down one hare, which is now accom- 

 plished in a more off-hand manner, in twenty mi- 

 nutes. To an admirer of nature, however, and of 

 the endowments given to inferior animals, the busy, 

 intelligent, and highly-gifted beagle certainly affords 

 a treat. His form, also, when not out at his elbows, 

 is handsome in the extreme, and his perseverance 

 in chase is exceeded by none. But he has one of 

 the greatest faults that hounds can possess ; he is 

 noisy, and dwells upon the scent, whilst his game 

 is flying the country before him. In fact, his only 

 use or value now is (independently of being looked 

 at and admired, for he is a perfect animal of his 

 kind,) to accompany a brace of greyhounds when a 

 hare is wanted, and not ready at liand. There is, 

 2h 



