THE BEAGLE 7 



muscle ; good deep chest ; strong hind quarters ; deep, 

 well-sprung ribs ; and the tail well carried. The colours are 

 black and white, all tan or black and tan, also black, white, 

 and tan. 



Their voice is sharp and ringing, and most musical. 

 The rabbit beagle is the best. 



Bloodhounds 



This dog has an irascible and somewhat unreason- 

 able temper, and consequently everyone except its owner 

 should be careful not to interfere with one unless they 

 wish to be mauled or torn to pieces. But the modern 

 bloodhound is quite a different animal from the one we read 

 of formerly, the old breed being nearly as extinct as the dodo. 



In ancient times it was called the sleuth hound. The 

 National Dog Olub describes its appearance thus : — 



Head large and conical, forehead long and narrow, 

 eyes deep and sunken, showing the haw very plainly, 

 giving an appearance of redness to the eye. Ears long 

 and thin and hanging straight down. Face and upper jaw 

 narrow, nose large, and the lips long, thin, and pendulous. 



Neck long, the throat hanging in its skin on wrinkled 

 shoulders, and forelegs good, legs straight and powerful, feet 

 round and full, toe-nails black. Stern well set on, long, and 

 lashing, tapering to a fine point and without feather. 



Colour reddish tan, darkening gradually towards the 

 upper parts till it becomes mixed with black on the back. 



Coat close, rather silky, short, and strong, approaching 

 to the texture of wool at the bottom. Height at shoulder 

 28 inches. 



These dogs were formerly much used to track persons 

 suspected of murder or robbery, poachers, &c., but are now 

 principally used in the pursuit of deer that have been 

 wounded, or for discovering deer-stealers, whom they in- 

 fallibly trace by the blood which falls from the wounds of 

 the slain animals. 



Morris relates the following instance of this power, 



