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This image from the turn of the 19th century shows a canine with a much heavier body and doing not have the features of later stress. By the 18th century two breeds had been developed for searching hare and bunny: the Southern Hound and the North Nation Beagle (or Northern Hound). The Southern Hound, a high, heavy canine with a square head, and long, soft ears, was typical from south of the River Trent and probably closely related to the Talbot Hound.
The North Country Beagle, perhaps a cross in between an offshoot of the Talbot stock and a Greyhound, was reproduced chiefly in Yorkshire and was common in the northern counties. It was smaller than the Southern Hound, less heavy-set and with a more pointed muzzle. It was faster than its southern counterpart however its scenting abilities were less well developed.
Although details of the pack's family tree are not taped it is believed that North Country Beagles and Southern Hounds were strongly represented; William Youatt suspected that Harriers formed a great bulk of the beagle's family, however the origin of the Harrier is itself unknown. Honeywood's Beagles were small, standing at about 10 inches (25 cm) at the shoulder, and pure white according to John Mills (writing in The Sportsman's Library in 1845).
Early images of the Beagle (clockwise from top left): 1833, 1835, Stonehenge's Medium (1859, recycling Youatt's 1852 "Beagle" image) and Dwarf Beagle (1859 ). Although credited with the advancement of the modern-day type, Honeywood focused on producing dogs for searching and it was left to Thomas Johnson to improve the breeding to produce pet dogs that were both appealing and capable hunters.
The rough-coated beagle survived up until the start of the 20th century, and there were even records of one making a look at a canine show as late as 1969, but this range is now extinct, having actually most likely been soaked up into the basic beagle bloodline. In the 1840s, a standard beagle type was beginning to develop; the distinction in between the North Nation Beagle and Southern Hound had actually been lost, but there was still a big variation in size, character, and dependability amongst the emerging packs.