DACHSHUNDS. 43/ 



narrow, being cut off square, with the teeth level and very 

 strong. 



3. The ears, eyes and lips, v. 10. — The ears are long enough 

 to reach the tip of the nose when brought over the jaw without 

 force. They are broad, rounded at the ends, and soft in " leather" 

 and coat, hanging in graceful folds ; but when excited, brought 

 forward so as to lie close to the cheeks. Eyes rather small, pierc- 

 ing, and deeply set. In the black and tan variety they should be 

 dark brown, or almost black ; but in the red or chocolate, deep 

 hazel. Dr. Fitzinger has often observed the two eyes vary in 

 color, and even in size. The lipszx^ short, but with some little flew 

 towards the angles ; not at all approaching, however, to that of 

 the blood-hound. The skin is quite tight over the cheeks, and 

 indeed over the whole head, showing no blood-hound wrinkle. 



4. Length of body, v. 15. — In taking this into consideration the 

 neck is included ; this part, however, is somewhat short, thick, 

 and rather throaty. The chest is long, round, and roomy, but not 

 so a? to be unwieldy. It gradually narrows toward the back ribs, 

 which are rather short. The brisket should only be two and a 

 half to three inches from the ground, and the breast bone sliould 

 ])roject considerably. The loin is elegantly arched, and the flanks 

 drawn up so as to make the waist look slim, the dog measuring 

 higher behind than before. The quarters are strong in muscle as 

 well as the shoulders, the latter being especially powerful. 



5. Legs, V. 15. — The/isTi? legs should be very short, strong in 

 bone, and well clothed with muscle. The elbows should not turn 

 out or in, the latter being a great defect. The knees should be 

 close together, never being more than two and a half inches apart, 

 causing a considerable bend from the elbows inwards, so as to 

 make the leg crooked, and then again turning outwards to the 

 foot. In order that the brisket should approach the ground as 

 above described, the fore legs must be very short. On the hind 

 legs there is often a dew claw, but this is not essential either way. 



6. T\\(tfeet, v. ']\, should be of full size, but very strong and 

 cat-like, with hard, horny soles to the pads. The fore feet are 

 generally turned out, thus increasing the appearance of crooked- 

 ness in the legs. This formation gives assistance to the outthrow 

 of the earth in digging. 



7. The stern, v. 10, is somewhat short and thick at the root, 

 tapering gradually to the point, with a slight curve upwards, and 

 clothed with hair of a moderate length on its under surface, when 

 excited, as in hunting, it is carried in a hound-like attitude over 

 the back. Its shape and carriage indicate high breeding and are 

 valued accordingly. 



8. The coat, v. 5, is short and smooth, but coarse in texture, 

 and by no means silky, except on the ears, where it should be very 

 soft and shiny. 



