CHAPTER LI 



The Harrier 



HE hunting hound of England, as distinguished from the 

 coursing hound and the led bloodhound, went by the gen- 

 eral name of harrier until special pains were taken to de- 

 velop hounds solely for fox hunting, to which were given the 

 name of foxhounds. What was left for hunting with 

 hounds was the hare, and harriers then became solely hare hunters, the 

 sport which at one time held precedence, now taking rank below that of fox- 

 hunting. The name harrier has no connection with the word hare, but owes 

 its origin to the use of the hounds in harrying or driving the game. 



We have no harriers in this country, but a few have been kept in Canada, 

 near Newmarket mainly. In England they at one time were the medium 

 hound between the foxhound and beagle, but of late years beagles have been 

 bred larger and have been crossed with harriers, and the same desire for size 

 has caused the harrier to be crossed with the foxhound till it is difficult to 

 get the pure harrier. There are a few packs which have not resorted to 

 foreign blood, among them being the Penistone hunt in Yorkshire, where a 

 pack of black and tan harriers has been kept for a number of years, back, it 

 is said, to nearly the seventeenth century. These are large hounds and are 

 called harriers by reason of their not being used for foxhunting. If they had 

 been they would have had their na^ie changed and yet be the same hounds. 

 According to the run of hare hunting packs the English harriers vary from 

 i8 inches to as high as 24 inches, but we agree with Mr. Lee that from i6 to 

 19 inches is the proper harrier limits of height. They run lighter in shape 

 than the foxhound, more on what the American foxhound lines are supposed 

 to be, that is, less substance and bone. Cooper's head of the harrier 

 which will be found in the introductory chapter to the hounds is a superb 

 illustration of a quality head. 



No standard for the harrier has ever been published, reference being 

 generally made to what is wanted in the foxhound, but a lighter dog, so here, 

 ■where we have a standard for just such a foxhound, we can say that the 



American foxhound standard is well adapted to this breed. 



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