THE HARRIER.
THE HARRIER.
THE HARRIER.
THE HARRIER.
These Dogs are kept for the business of the chase. They pursue the hare with the greatest eagerness, hardly giving her time to breathe. The most eager sportsmen find it sufficient exercise to keep in with their speed. There is a kind of Dog between this and the large Terrier, which forms a strong, active, and hardy Hound, used in hunting the otter. It is rough, wire-haired, thick-quartered, long-eared, and thin-shouldered. There is reason to suppose, that the Beagle and the Harrier must have been introduced into Great Britain after the Romans became masters of the island a thousand years ago, as, before that time theBritons were occupied in clearing their extensive forests of the various wild beasts, such as wild boars, bears and wolves, with which they then abounded; and for that purpose larger and stronger dogs than the Harrier or the Beagle would be required.
In the New Forest, in 1810, a person, in getting over a stile observed there was blood upon it; he knew that deer had been killed, and sheep stolen. He obtained a bloodhound. The dog being brought to the spot and led to the scent followed in it, and at length came to a heap of furze, belonging to a cottager. The woman of the house attempted to drive away the dog, but was prevented. On removing the faggots a hole was found containing the body of a sheep and a quantity of salted meat.