What is the origin of the beagle dog?

In the eleventh century, William the Conqueror brought the Talbot hound into Great Britain. A white scent hound, the Talbot (now extinct) is thought to be a more recent ancestor of the modern day beagle. The black and tan Irish Kerry Beagles are also considered another possible link in the evolution of early beagles. A small hunter similar to the Bloodhound, Kerry Beagles may be the reason for the strong scenting abilities of beagles today.