The Basset-hound 203 



close to the ground; this also materially adds to the 

 snake-like contour so much admired in these little 

 hounds. The back and the loins must be long, with 

 a graceful curve at the last-named region. Strong 

 first and second thighs, clean but big hock joints, 

 together with big-boned pasterns, are essential 

 features of the breed. 



Like all other hounds the chest must be deep, 

 with the breast bone particularly prominent. Neck 

 short and thick, covered by loose skin. Judges pay 

 a good deal of attention to quality of the fore limbs, 

 and the stouter in bone these are the better the 

 hound. Lightness of bone constitutes a decided 

 fault, as it predisposes to knuckling over at the 

 joints. Not only must the fore limbs be particu- 

 larly strong, but, what is equally important, they 

 must have a good crook at the knees, ending below 

 in broad feet, which turn outwards. This peculiar 

 conformation of the limbs must be looked upon as 

 illustrative of economy of material, the necessity for 

 which has evidently arisen with the shortening of 

 the limbs, though it is questionable whether the 

 latter has been to the advantage of the breed. The 

 head of the smooth-coated variety preserves the 

 houndlike characteristics in a more marked manner 

 than that of the rough-coats. It must be long and 

 narrow, with little or no evidence of "stop"; be 

 deep in the muzzle, have the cheeks hanging well 



