The Beagle
"They must not be hurried at all — just taken into a field and a wave of the hand is enough to make them very busy. A hare, rabbit, or…
From: 1900 C.E. To: 1911 C.E.
Location: Eton, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Note: This article has been excerpted from a larger work in the public domain and shared here due to its historical value. It may contain outdated ideas and language that do not reflect TOTA’s opinions and beliefs.
“The Beagle,” by G.S. Lowe, from The New Book of the Dog, 1911.
Pour down, like a flood from the hills, brave boys,
On the wings of the wind
The merry beagles fly;
Dull sorrow lags behind:
Ye shrill echoes reply,
Catch each flying sound, and double our joys."
Wm. Somerville.
There is nothing to surpass the beauty of the Beagle either to see him on the flags of his kennel or in unravelling a difficulty on the line of a dodging hare. In neatness he is really the little model of a Foxhound. He is, of course, finer, but with the length of neck so perfect in the bigger hound, the little shoulders of the same pattern, legs and feet the same, and the typical quarters and second thighs. Then how quick he is in his casts! and when he is fairly on a line, of course he sticks to it, as the saying is, "like a beagle."
Beagles have been carefully preserved for a great many years, and in some cases they have been in families for almost centuries. In the hereditary hunting establishments they have been frequently found, as the medium of amusement and instruction in hunting for the juvenile members of the house; and there can be nothing more likely to instill the right principles of venery into the youthful mind than to follow all the ways of these little hounds.
They must not be hurried at all — just taken into a field and a wave of the hand is enough to make them very busy. A hare, rabbit, or whatever it may be, will not take them off their noses if breaking away in view, but they hold to the line in a sort of revelry of enjoyment. To lift them is impossible, they know their part so well, and, throwing their tongues like peals of little bells, they will hunt a hare to death by sheer pertinacity.
It is all perfect hunting: not at all like that of the Dachshund, who dwells round the form of a hare, and seemingly does not dare to trust himself. But the little Beagle, without dashing away at all like a Foxhound — who gets impatient in the enchantment of his pleasure — hangs on to a line as if tied to it. The young sportsman may take all this to account, and learn that it does not do to excite the hounds. They must not throw their heads up or they may overlap the running of their quarry by a furlong. To do as the Beagle does is an object lesson.
Dorsetshire used to be the great county for Beagles. The downs there were exactly fitted for them, and years ago, when roe-deer were preserved on the large estates, Beagles were used to hunt this small breed of deer. Mr. Cranes' Beagles were noted at the time, and also those of a Colonel Harding. It is on record that King George IV. had a strong partiality for Beagles, and was wont to see them work on the downs round about Brighton.
The uses of the Beagle in the early days of the last century, however, were a good deal diversified. They were hunted in big woodlands to drive game to the gun, and perhaps the ordinary Beagle of from 12 inches to 14 inches was not big enough for the requirements of the times. It is quite possible, therefore, that the Beagle was crossed with the Welsh, Southern or Otterhound, to get more size and power, as there certainly was a Welsh rough-coated Beagle of good 18 inches, and an almost identical contemporary that was called the Essex Beagle. Sixty years ago such hounds were common enough, but possibly through the adoption of the more prevalent plan of beating coverts, and Spaniels being in more general use, the vocation of the Beagle in this particular direction died out, and a big rough-coated Beagle is now very rarely seen. A very pretty lot of little rough Beagles were recently shown at Reigate. They were called the Telscombe, and exhibited by Mr. A. Gorham.
That a great many of the true order were bred became very manifest as soon as the Harrier and Beagle Association was formed, and more particularly when a section of the Peterborough Hound Show was reserved for them. Then they seemed to spring from every part of the country. In 1896 one became well acquainted with many packs that had apparently held aloof from the dog shows. There was the Cheshire, the Christ Church (Oxford), Mr. T. Johnson's, the Royal Rock, the Thorpe Satchville, the Worcestershire, etc., and of late there have been many more that are as well known as packs of Foxhounds. One hears now of the Chauston, the Halstead Place — very noted indeed — the Hulton, the Leigh Park, the Stoke Place, the Edinburgh, the Surbiton, the Trinity Foot, the Wooddale, Mrs. G. W. Hilliard's, Mrs. Price's, and Mrs. Turner's — exhibited at Peterborough in 1906 — and they were surpassed again at the Crystal Palace June Show, 1906, which was confined to Foxhounds, Harriers, and Beagles....
What must have struck anyone who saw these Beagle shows of 1906 at Peterborough and the Crystal Palace, was the obvious unanimity of breeders in the matter of type. There were no outsiders, if one may use the term; all were as much like Searcher, Fulmen, Primrose, Dorothy, and Dutchie as possible, without being quite their equals, and this speaks volumes for the breed, as excepting in long existence, in the hands of private individuals for their own use and pleasure, they have not been the medium of public competitions for many years.
The owners, like the masters of Foxhound kennels, have never been very partial to the ordinary dog shows, and so the development of the up-to-date Beagle, as seen at these shows, is somewhat new. It is just as it should be, though, and if more people take up "beagling" — to coin a term — it may not be in the least surprising. They are very beautiful little hounds, can give a vast amount of amusement, and, for the matter of that, healthy exercise. If a stout runner can keep within fairly easy distance of a pack of these well-bred little Beagles on the line of a lively Jack hare, he is in the sort of condition to be generally envied.
Description of the Beagle.
Head. — Fair length, powerful without being coarse; skull domed, moderately wide, with an indication of peak, stop well defined, muzzle not snipy, and lips well flewed.
Nose. — Black, broad, and nostrils well expanded.
Eyes. — Brown, dark hazel or hazel, not deep set nor bulgy, and with a mild expression.
Ears. — Long, set on low, fine in texture, and hanging in a graceful fold close to the cheek.
Neck. — Moderately long, slightly arched, the throat showing some dewlap.
Shoulders. — Clean and slightly sloping.
Body. — Short between the couplings, well let down in chest, ribs fairly well sprung and well ribbed up. with powerful and not tucked-up loins.
Hindquarters. — Very muscular about the thighs, stifles and hocks well bent, and hocks well let down.
Forelegs. — Quite straight, well under the dog, of good substance and round in the bone.
Feet. — Round, well knuckled up, and strongly padded.
Stern. — Moderate length, set on high, thick and carried gaily, but not curled over the back.
Colour. — Any recognised hound colour.
Coat. — Smooth variety: Smooth, very dense and not too fine or short. Rough variety: Very dense and wiry.
Height. — Not exceeding 16 inches. Pocket Beagles must not exceed 10 inches.
General Appearance. — A compactly-built hound, without coarseness, conveying the impression of great stamina and vivacity.
There was until some few years ago in Ireland a hound known as the Kerry Beagle, but it seems now to be practically extinct, although so recently as 1870 the Scarteen pack in Tipperary was composed entirely of this breed. It was described by Richardson in 1851 as a fine, tall, dashing hound, averaging 26 inches in height, with deep chops, broad pendulous ears, and, when highly bred, hardly to be distinguished from an indifferent Bloodhound. The coat was hard, close and smooth, in colour black and tan, or blue mottled and tan. Some were tan and white, or black, tan and white. They were at one time used for deer hunting.
Etonians will expect here some reference to the E.C.H. When we first hear of the Beagles at Eton they apparently hunted a drag or an occasional bagged fox; but the more legitimate sport of hare hunting has for many years reigned supreme. There is always a good pack of about twenty couples kept in an enclosure known as the Kennels up in Agar's Plough. A kennelman is paid to look after them. The puppies are usually walked by the young sportsmen at their homes, and a prize is given every winter half for the best walked Beagle.
The appointment of the Master used to rest with the Captain of the Boats, but this custom has fallen into abeyance. He acts as huntsman and is assisted by three whips. All four wear brown velveteen coats, and some seventy boys are allowed to run with them. There were at one period two packs, a Colleger and an Oppidan, but they were amalgamated in 1866, and now any boy may put his name down to join, his admission being determined by the Master. The subscription is thirty shillings, reduced to fifteen shillings at half-term. The Beagles run every half-holiday during the Easter half, and there is usually a good field.
"Beagles" are not always looked upon with favour by the authorities at Eton, and attempts have occasionally been made to stop the sport; but it is well disciplined, and there is no doubt that it provides an excellent training for our future Fox-hunters.
Lowe, G.S. “The Beagle.” The New Book of the Dog. Robert Leighton, ed. Cassell. 1911.
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