520 Modern Dogs. 



his unduly long body and crooked legs are, as in the 

 case of the dachshund, likely to prevent his ever 

 being a popular idol. Still he has many admirers, 

 for he is a quiet sensible hound, and an attractive 

 one likewise. As a companion he is affectionate, 

 but his short legs and heavy body make him less 

 adapted for outdoor exercise than many other 

 varieties of the dog, especially when the roads and 

 streets are dirty, and where he is kept in the house. 

 A Basset-hound can take more mud into a drawing- 

 room than a giant St. Bernard or a mastiff, and 

 sometimes he possesses a rather strong odour of 

 the kennels. However, kept clean and nicely 

 groomed, his expression and gaudy markings are 

 sure to attract attention anywhere, and he is not so 

 quarrelsome as our own hounds. 



During the period of his naturalisation with us, he 

 has in several instances been used for hare hunting, 

 and packs of Bassets for that purpose have from 

 time to time been formed. An excellent pack has 

 for some seasons given good sport round about 

 Brighton, their kennels being at Aldington, West 

 Brighton, Mr. Croker being the huntsman. Last 

 year these Bassets, amongst other good runs, had a 

 hare before them for three hours, when hounds were 

 called off. 



At Wallasey, near Birkenhead, there was, until 



