326 THE VETERINARY DOCTOR. 
much exceed nine inches in height; but for ‘young England’ they are now 
often used up to eleven or even tweive inches, going a pace which requires 
a good runner in prime condition to keep up with them.” He also men- 
tions the most celebrated pack in England as follows: “ A diminutive pack 
of rabbit beagles, the property of Mr. Crane, of Southover House, near 
Bere Regis, Dorset, contains the best patterns we have ever known. Mr. 
Crane’s standard is nine inches, and every little hound is absolutely perfect.” 
This standard is kept up with great difficulty, owing to the inability of the 
dams to raise their whelps, and also to many deaths from distemper. 
Beagles were great favorites during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and 
were bred as small as possible. “A pack of the Virgin Queen’s (2¢ zs satd) 
could be carried in a man’s glove.” Stonehenge speaks very strongly of 
the benefit to be derived from beagle packs as training for fox hunting, and 
says: “ We believe we are correct in stating that ten or more of the most 
celebrated masters of the day learnt their first lessons with the merry 
beagles.” 
Otter hunting is followed during the summer, when most other sports. 
of the field are out of season. Though popular, it is not extensively prac- 
tised, as otters are very destructive to fish, and so are destroyed whenever 
possible when frequenting noted fishing streams. In Cumberland and 
Devonshire there are many streams in which the fish are too small to afford 
much sport and here otter hunting is pursued with relish, There are also 
packs kept up by subscription at Carlisle and Northumberland, and several 
private packs in Wales. As in this sport there is a great amount of water 
work, it is essential that otter hounds shall have a rough, long coat, with 
an inner coat of thick, close wool, a point always regarded in breeding. 
They must also have very keen noses and deep, rich voices. 
To mention all classes of dogs as fully as I have spoken of those kept 
for sport would require more space than can be given to this article. I 
shall therefore pass the others over with very brief remarks and take up the 
matter of the breeds most used or kept in America. 
In the watch-dog class, the most prominent in point of size is the 
mastiff, which often weighs from one hundred and sixty to one hundred 
and eighty pounds, yet the gentleness of his disposition renders him a fit 
companion for children and ladies; in fact, some of the noted prize winners 
are owned by ladies, who take as much pride in their huge pets as others do 
in their toy terriers or delicate Italian greyhounds. 
The Newfoundland, to suit popular taste, must be black, though Sir 
Edward Landseer brought the black and whites into prominence through 
his paintings. The latter are not deemed purely bred, and are often ex- 
cluded from the regular classes and classed by themselves as “ Landseers.” 
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