214 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



Below is given the standard and scale of points of the 

 Basset Hound : 



Value. Value 



Head 25 Coat 10 



Neck and chest 10 Color 10 



Fore legs and feet r . 15 Size and symmetry 10 



Ribs and loin 10 



Hind quarters and stern 10 Total TOO 



Head, resembling that of the Bloodhound in shape and 

 dignity of expression, long, rather narrow, and well peaked, 

 with little or no stop. Jaws long, strong, and level; teeth 

 rather small. Nose usually black; but some good ones 

 have had considerable white about theirs. Mouth well 

 flewed. Ears long, large, and soft, hanging like the softest 

 velvet drapery. Eyes are a deep brown, very expressive, 

 rather deeply set, and showing a good deal of haw; expres- 

 sion affectionate, intelligent, and good-humored, though 

 occasionally reflective and melancholy. 



Neck and chest. The neck is long, but very powerful, 

 with flews extending nearly to the chest. The chest is well 

 developed, overhanging, and extending to within nearly two 

 inches of the ground 



Forelegs and feet. The shoulders are of great power. 

 Legs very short, and turning inward at the knees; and the 

 feet, which appear to be a mass of joints, considerably bent 

 out. 



Ribs and loin. The back and ribs are strongly put 

 together, and the former is of great length. 



Hind quarters and stern. The hind quarters are very 

 strong and muscular, the muscles standing out, and clearly 

 defined down to the hocks. 



Coat. The skin is soft, and the coat smooth and close, 

 though moderately hard and very weather-resisting in qual- 

 ity, and when the dog is in condition, showing a beautiful 

 natural gloss. 



Color. The tri-color, which has a tan head and a black 

 and white body, is much preferred; but they come in all 

 the varieties of white and black-and-tan. 



Size and symmetry. Bassets come in all sizes, from nine 



