534 



CARNIVORES. 



Otterbound. 



■while in some cases a small breed of foxhounds is employed in hare-hunting. 

 Owino- to the aVjsence of the practice of " cropping," harriers may be distinguished 

 from foxhounds by their larger and pointed ears : and they generally have longer 

 and narrower heads, with a deeper hollow under the somewhat fuller eye. The 

 height generally varies from 1(3 to a little below 20 inches. The colours and 

 general points are the same as those of foxhounds. A rough breed of Welsh 

 harriers is practically indistinguishable from the otterhound. Harriei-s work more 

 slowlv than foxhounds, dwelling more on the scent and tending to cast backwards 

 rather than forwards when they come to a check. 



This breed so closely resembles a lai-ge rough Welsh harrier that 

 it requires an expert to distinguish between the two ; such diflference 

 as there is existing in the nature of the coat and the form of the feet. Thus the 



feet, instead of 

 having the neat 

 cat-like form of 

 those of the har- 

 riers, are bi'oad 

 and splay; while 

 the coat is fur- 

 nished with a 

 thick w o o 1 1 A' 

 under-fur of an 

 oily nature. 

 Probably owing 

 to having to con- 

 tend with such a 

 fierce animal as 

 the otter, the 

 otterhound is of a 

 savage and quar- 

 relsome disposi- 

 tion, and is verj^ 

 apt to engage in internecine conflicts with its fellow -occupants of the kennel. Otter- 

 hunting is a favourite sport in the West of England, Devonshire alone possessing 

 four jjacks, one of which in the summer of 1892 killed three otters in a single 

 In some cases foxhounds are employed for otter-hunting. 



This term is generally applied to any hound standing less than 

 16 inches in height, although the true pure-bred beagle is a distinct 

 breed, wliich may be regarded as a miniature of the old southern hound. In build 

 the ordinary beagle is rather short in the limbs and long in the body, with a 

 relatively wide and somewhat dome-shaped head and a short nose. The throat is 

 likewise rather short and thick, and the older breeds used to have a tendency to a 

 dew-lap. The ears are full and hang in folds. Beagles may vary in height from 

 about 15 to 10 or 9 inches; but from 11 to 12 inches is esteemed the best. They 

 are used in hunting both hares and rabbits. The beagle has a remarkably musical 

 note and an exquisite sense of scent, as well as great perseverance in following a 



THE OTTEHHOLXD. 



morning. 

 Beagle. 



