a small sort of hounds or hunting dogs. Beagles are of divers kinds; as the southern beagle, something less and shorter, but thicker, than the deep-mouthed hound; the fleet northern or cat beagle, smaller, and of a finer shape than the southern, and a harder runner. From the two, by crossing the strains, is bred a third sort held preferable to either. To these may be added a still smaller sort of beagles, scarce bigger than lap-dogs, which make pretty diversion in hunting the coney, or even small hare in dry weather; but otherwise unserviceable, by reason of their size.