334 THE BOOK Of THE DOG. 



my arrival I was directed to the Talbot Hotel, as being nearest to the Agricultural Hall. It was 

 late when I got back to the hotel, after seeing my hound chained up under his appointed number, 

 and having dined I descended to the smoking-room, where several gentlemen were taking their 

 ease, and anarchy in the shape of dog-talk presided. 



" One of the gentlemen commenced to talk to me, and the following remarks took place : 



" ' Showing Terriers ? ' said one. 



" ' Bulls ? ' said another. 



"'No,' I replied, 'a Basset.' 



"'A what?' 



" ' A Basset,' I repeated. 



" ' What's he like,' said another, winking at the gentleman who sat next him. 



"' Oh, he's about 4 feet long and 12 inches high.' 



"At this announcement there was a general desire to sec the wonderful animal. I replied 

 that I had already taken him to the show, but that I would be only too delighted to show him to 

 them in the morning. 



" I merely mention this to prove that even the breed of the dog had scarcely reached the cars 

 of those whose duties led them, before other people, in the way of hearing it. 



" Great was the excitement that day in the canine world when the hound was led into the 

 ring, and at night many were the cups emptied by those who had seen the breed often before, 

 but couldn't exactly remember where. 



"Amongst Dachshund fanciers the sensation he caused may be gathered from the various 

 letters which appeared shortly after the Wolverhampton show, wherein my hound, weighing 

 then between 50 and 60 Ibs., was pronounced by Dachshund fanciers, from a reported description, 

 to be an overgrown specimen of their particular hobby. 



" These letters produced no results as to clearing up the doubts, so I determined to exhibit at 

 the forthcoming Crystal Palace show not only my Basset Francais, but also a Dachshund. With 

 the Dachshund I got highly commended, and with the Basset Francais first in the variety class. 

 The following were the remarks on the hound by the Live Slock Journal after the show : 



" ' Mr. Everett Millais's Model was likewise amongst the winners (foreign class). This 

 exquisitely pretty little hound was greatly admired, and acknowledged by Dachshund fanciers 

 to be a totally distinct variety.' 



" It was here that the Earl of Onslow, now the largest proprietor of these hounds, first saw 

 a Basset Frangais. Struck by the singular beauty of the hound (which is a rich tricolour) he 

 procured a pair from France. These, however, being aged, he again procured a couple and 

 a half from Comte Couteul (1876), viz., Fino, Nest'or, and Finette. All these hounds are of 

 the Normandy type. 



"This year (1880) at the Crystal Palace the Basset Francais class was entirely composed of 

 the above type, either imported or bred from imported parents, with the exception of two, one of 

 which was Mr. Macdona's Basset Griffon (Vendee type) which I have mentioned before, and 

 the other a tricoloured nondescript ; the Normandy type of hounds belonging to Lord Onslow 

 and myself. 



"As in Germany anything with crooked legs is called a Dachshund, so in France for the 

 same reason ' the anything ' is called a Chien Basset, for the simple reason that people do not 

 know better. In England it is the same ; the word Terrier is good enough for the whole race, 

 whether pure or mongrel. The other day I smiled on hearing men, who ought to know 

 better, describe a well-known Skye Terrier breeder's team in the Park as Dandic Dinmont pups ! 



