Speed Versus Nose 105 



four rabbits past me. I shot two, although it was 

 too dark to shoot properly, but the dogs would not 

 come in. I was about three miles from home and 

 was afraid I would lose my dogs, but concluded 

 to give them a test. I had rubber boots on, and 

 following the path from the other field into the 

 main road, I walked the three miles in the center of 

 the road to my lodgings. I was much concerned 

 about my dogs, but about 9 P.M. I heard a whim- 

 per at the door and opening it found one of my 

 beagles. Shortly after, I heard another whimper 

 and the other beagle was on the doorstep. Do you 

 wonder that the hunter loves his hounds — what but 

 good nose would have brought those dogs home?" 



Then comes Mr. J. F. Stoddard, of Georgetown, 

 New York, who insists that speed and nose are not 

 the only requisites for a hound to have, and says: 

 "Having read the opinion of our various beagle 

 friends on speed versus nose, I would like to give 

 my opinion if you deem what I shall say of suffi- 

 cient interest to the many readers of your valuable 

 paper. 



"I claim speed and nose constitute only a small 

 portion of the necessary requirements of a good 

 beagle. He may have both, and of the very best, 

 and still be as useless for rabbit-hunting as a collie. 

 A good beagle must be bred and broken to the 



