THE BEAGLE
is the smallest of the Hounds, usually not exceeding ten or twelve inches in height. These Dogs were formerly a good deal used in Hare-hunting, and were celebrated for their uniform size, close running, and musical voice. So small were they that they used to be carried to the field in panniers.
THE HARRIER
was also used for hunting the Hare. It is about half-way between the Beagle and the Greyhound as to size.
THE FOXHOUND
is, in England at least, the most important of the Hound group. He may, in fact, be looked upon as one of the main supporters of that peculiarly English institution, the Squirearchy; for what would become of the average country gentleman if he could not hunt through the winter six days a week, and visit his Hounds on Sunday?
The Foxhound ([see figure on p. 136]) “is the old English Hound, sufficiently crossed with the Greyhound to give him lightness and speed without impairing his scent.” His height is about twenty-two to twenty-four inches; his fur short, ears long and drooping, and tail tolerably straight. He exhibits great variation as to hue; and an authority, cited by Youatt, “gives a curious account of the prejudices of sportsmen on the subject of colour. The white Dogs were curious hunters, and had a capital scent; the black, with some white spots, were obedient, good hunters, and with good constitutions; the grey-coloured had no very acute scent, but were obstinate and indefatigable in their quest; the yellow Dogs were impatient and obstinate, and taught with difficulty.”
The statement about the particularly good scent of the white Hounds is very curious, for it is generally found that animals of light colour are inferior in sensory endowments to darker ones, owing to the absence of a peculiar black pigment from the delicate membranes to which the nerves of special sense are distributed.
The pace of the Foxhound is very rapid. One was known to run a course of four miles one furlong and one hundred and thirty-two yards in a trifle over eight minutes! Of the correctness of their scent, no one who has seen the Hounds put off and watched the unerring way they pursue the Fox, can have any doubt.