196 Forty Years Beagling 



notch, and by reason of his breeding unable to un- 

 derstand the excitement of the hunt, making a rush 

 here and there upon scenting game, and pushing at 

 the top of his speed when he has his game 'straight- 

 ened out,' can not give such an exhibition of all the 

 nicer and finer qualities that a more moderate 

 worker can, that goes systematically about his busi- 

 ness upon first scenting a track, laying out his work 

 with as much precision and care as a prudent man 

 in the conduct of his business. 



"The writer has watched hounds when they first 

 found signs of a track. Their tails gave the first 

 evidence of the find ; working slowly along, a turn, 

 perhaps was made; a little more excitement, and 

 then the scent was lost. Again the starting point 

 was tried, a repetition of the former operation, and 

 then they swung in a circle, finding the track further 

 on; and so, step by step they worked closer and 

 closer to the game, scarce a whimper escaping them 

 until the rabbit, which was espied carefully jump- 

 ing onto a rock was 'jumped' by the foremost 

 hound, and then there was music. 



"In conclusion I would say there are portions 

 of New England in which 15-inch beagles may 

 furnish better sport on white rabbits or hares than 

 11 or 12-inch hounds, but I maintain, for the pur- 

 pose of using beagles to shoot over them, there are 



