THE BASSET HOUND 77 



a head as much like that of a Bloodhound as we can 

 breed it. The ears are long, and hang in graceful 

 folds/,; the head, peaked at the occiput, is long and 

 narrow, without a stoop below the eyes, and the 

 forehead is of great depth through the flews. There 

 should be an ample dewlap, and the skin across 

 the forehead and down the side of the head should 

 be wrinkled. The front legs, which are only about 

 4 inches in length, may be either crooked or straight, 

 but in any case they should be heavily boned, and 

 set on well under the body. Elbows that turn out 

 or joints that knuckle over are a great disfigure- 

 ment, obviously unfitting the animal for any pro- 

 longed exertion. The chest is deep and full, well 

 let down-; the hind quarters should be full of muscle, 

 and the stifles should be well bent. The arched 

 loin and the fact that the hind legs are somewhat 

 longer than those in front f ;ive the Basset a peculiar 

 gait, which is thoroughly distinctive. The stern is 

 carried hound fashion, and is well feathered under- 

 neath. The coat of the smooth variety is short and 

 fine, handling well, with skin loose and elastic. The 

 markings are usually black, white, and tan, the head 

 and shoulders being preferably of a rich tan with 

 black patches on the back'; sometimes they are beau- 

 tifully flecked, and when you get a sorty pack 

 together, you cannot wish for a prettier sight. 



In conformation the rough Basset is very similar 

 to his smooth brother, except that his head is not 

 quite so houndy, and the ears usually hang in fewer 

 folds, nor are they as a rule so long. The coat 

 must be profuse, thick and harsh to the touch, with 

 a dense undercoat. The average weight is between 

 40 and 50 Ib, As the Basset has been bred down 



