CHAPTER XXI

THE HARRIER AND THE BEAGLE

The Harrier is a distinct breed of hound used for hunting the hare—­or rather it should be said the Association of Masters of Harriers are doing their utmost to perpetuate this breed; the Harrier Stud Book bearing witness thereto:  and it is to be deplored that so many Masters of Harriers ignore this fact, and are content to go solely to Foxhound kennels to start their packs of Harriers, choosing, maybe, 20 inch to 22 inch Foxhounds, and thenceforth calling them Harriers.  It is, indeed, a common belief that the modern Harrier is but a smaller edition of the Foxhound, employed for hunting the hare instead of the fox, and it is almost useless to reiterate that it is a distinct breed of hound that can boast of possibly greater antiquity than any other, or to insist upon the fact that Xenophon himself kept a pack of Harriers over two thousands years ago.  Nevertheless, in general appearance the Harrier and the Foxhound are very much alike, the one obvious distinction being that of size.

Opinions differ as to what standard of height it is advisable to aim at.  If you want to hunt your Harriers on foot, 16 inches is quite big enough—­almost too big to run with; but if you are riding to them, 20 inches is a useful height, or even 19 inches.  Either is a good workable size, and such hounds should be able to slip along fast enough for most people.  Choose your hounds with plenty of bone, but not too clumsy or heavy; a round, firm neck, not too short, with a swan-like curve; a lean head with a long muzzle and fairly short ears; a broad chest with plenty of lung room, fore-legs like gun barrels, straight and strong; hind-legs with good thighs and well let down hocks; feet, round like cats’ feet, and a well-set-on, tapering stern.  Such a make and shape should see many seasons through, and allow you to be certain of pace and endurance in your pack.  It is useless to lay down any hard and fast rule as to colour.  It is so much a matter of individual taste.  Some Masters have a great fancy for the dark colouring of the old Southern Hound, but nothing could look much smarter than a good combination of Belvoir tan with black and white.  Puppies, as a rule, a week or two after they are whelped, show a greater proportion of dark marking than any other, but this as they grow older soon alters, and their white marking becomes much more conspicuous.  As in the case of the Foxhound, the Harrier is very seldom kept as a companion apart from the pack.  But puppies are usually sent out to walk, and may easily be procured to be kept and reared until they are old enough to be entered to their work.  Doubtless the rearing of a Harrier puppy is a great responsibility, but it is also a delight to many who feel that they are helping in the advancement of a great national sport.

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