Beagle

A Beagle is a medium-sized dog breed, similar in appearance to a Foxhound[?] but smaller—largely because of its shorter legs—and with longer, softer ears. The UK Kennel Club (http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/discoverdogs/hound/h770.htm) describes it as "a merry hound", and it is indeed a cheerful, energetic dog.

As well as making excellent (if not very trainable) pets, beagles are used for hunting. Beagling has been referred to as "the poor person's foxhunting", as a beagle pack (30-40 dogs) is followed on foot, not horseback. The usual quarry is the hare. Beagles are admired by some for the bloodcurdling "beagle music" they emit when in full pursuit. Beagling, like foxhunting, is still legal in England, but may not remain so for long.

Beagles have superb noses and, despite their self-willed temperament, are sometimes used as sniffer dogs for drug detection.

The comic strip character Snoopy is a beagle.

H.M.S. Beagle is also the name of the ship in which Charles Darwin undertook the travels during which he made many observations which became important for his formulation of his theory of evolution.

See also: The Beagle Aircraft Company