THE HUNTING DOG 
couple of good beagles for $50, and if he lives 
in the country, where rabbits are numerous— 
especially Molly Cottontail—he can get more 
fun out of this investment of $50 than one 
ignorant in sport could suppose possible. 
Few, if any, of our breeders care to handle 
the so-called pocket-beagle, that is, a beagle 
standing less than ten inches at the shoulder, 
and yet a perfect little hound for all its diminu- 
tive size. As used in England for hunting the 
small English rabbit, the pocket beagle is about 
perfection, but for American work, where hares 
take the place of rabbits, a larger, swifter and 
stronger dog is preferable. About fourteen 
inches is a good height for a working beagle, 
and if one needs a dog to shoot over, there is 
no necessity for securing a bench show speci- 
men. It is by no means always the case that 
the dog whose points are nearest perfection is 
the best worker. Some very homely dogs are 
simply wonders in the field. 
The ideal way of keeping beagles, unless the 
owners are wealthy, is for several sportsmen to 
combine and keep a trencher-fed pack. On 
hunting morning a rendezvous may be arranged 
and each man brings his dog or dogs, which 
may be hunted in a pack, or in relays, as may 
be deemed expedient. By this means a dozen 
guns can have excellent sport, provided there 
be enough rabbits to go around. Invitations 
may be sent to those who, though not possessing 
hounds, may be good and careful shots, and, 
hence, desirable additions to the party. We 
say careful shots advisedly, because if a man is 
not very careful he can bag a fifty-dollar beagle 
instead of a rabbit every time he fires, and 
every now and again he may even chance to 
drop a man, or at the least pepper him severely. 
Many a terrier has fallen before the gun in the 
big rabbit preserves of the Old Country. There, 
on account of the sharp gorse in the southern 
counties, wirehaired terriers are often used in- 
stead of beagles, and, sometimes, when they 
are close behind the rabbit, a careless shot may 
kill both dog and quarry by one fatal pressure 
of the trigger. 
381 
An expert has stated that a perfect beagle 
kennel may be built for $400; but this provides 
for an extensive establishment, including accom- 
modation for the kennelman, kitchen. puppy 
yards and main room, all of which are, of 
course, not needed, excepting in a large and 
very ambitious establishment. A couple of 
small beagles may be kept without any very 
severe drain on the purse, and they will afford 
as much fun as a larger pack. 
There is a great diversity of type among 
beagles, and no wonder, for there are at least 
two separate animals that are covered by this 
term. The pocket beagle, which is undoubtedly 
nearest to the true type, has a large, soft, 
kindly eye, a rounded head, ears set on low 
down, somewhat large and houndy, and a weak, 
terrier-like muzzle. The other standard beagle 
is simply a diminutive harrier; a dog dwarfed 
some three inches at the shoulder, but a strong, 
serviceable, powerful and untiring animal. 
You must decide which breed you prefer, and 
having made up your mind, be resolved not to 
mix your types. If I were hunting in Virginia, 
or any State where the cottontail is found, I 
should prefer the pocket beagle. Were I in the 
West or in Canada, I should certainly choose 
the harrier beagle, as there we have larger and 
more powerful hares, and the whole proceeding 
might develop into a farce were we to set the 
little pocket beagle to catching the big Northern 
hare, that weighs almost as much as he does, 
and which can travel farther and faster. 
We hope to hear of several of the readers of 
RECREATION having started beagle kennels this 
autumn; if they do we are sure they will not 
regret it. The game birds are fast vanishing in 
the East, but the rabbit we yet have with us, 
and it is highly improbable that he will ever 
become extinct; hence, it would appear to be a 
wise move in certain sections to give up keeping 
pointers and setters, seeing there is no longer 
any use for them, replacing them by the active 
little beagle, who will be able to{give us a 
day’s enjoyment whenevet we feel so dis- 
posed. 

