Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 November 1884 — English Beagles. [ARTICLE]

English Beagles.

It is a very pretty sight to see a pack of beagles working in a cover. How they try every tuft of grass or rushes! Soon you notice that they are working mora eagerly, and soon begin to lash their tails, and suddenly out bursts “bunny” from his seat, sure to be saluted by a hasty shot from some one, not the least to its detriment, but a very narrow escape for the leading dog*. Away go the pack, making the woods ring with their tongues. Excited individuals look after them, often with their guns on full cock and their fingers on the trigger. What their ideas may be in this performance it is difficult to say, but I suppose it is the effect of that temporary insanity that seizes many people at the sight of a rabbit. As a rabbit invariably runs a ring and returns to its starting place, there is not the least use, except for the sake of exercise, in trying to follow it; and the first one put up is safe to run his ring, as the good shotq will not fire at him, that the youngsters may have a chance, and the indifferent shots are sure to miss the first through excitement. You hear plenty of shots while the dogs are running, as other rabbits, frightened by their noise and passage, bolt-from their seats and scuttle about everywhere. Besides these, a few old cock pheasants, who have strayed from the preserves, are sure to be found and shot You shortly hear a shot from the cover the rabbit was found in, followed by the “Whfcrhoop!” showing that the hunted one been killed. — London Society. 1 f