MR. MjLLAIS ON THE BASSET HOUND. 335 



" The word ' Basset ' is such a large word, that to ask a French sportsman for a Basset 

 would be precisely as putting the same question to him, substituting the word ' horse ' for 

 ' Basset.' You might want a cart-horse, a cob, a hack, a racehorse, &c. 



" In like manner there are various breeds of Bassets. 



" The word ' Basset,' which means a ' dwarf dog,' is applied to all short and crooked- 

 legged dogs, and those which appear to have had an accident in their puppyhood. 



" I know many authors put this defect down to rickets, but I believe that these animals 

 have been, like the mole, provided by Nature to do a certain work, which could not be done 

 by those on high and straight limbs. 



" Bassets are divided into two distinct breeds the Basset Fran9ais and the Basset Allemand, 

 which is the German Dachshund. So let us put this latter aside without further ado. 



" Now the Bassets Francais are divided into two classes the Basset a poll ras (smooth- 

 coated), and the Basset d poll dur, more commonly known as the ' Basset Griffon.' 



" Both the smooth-coated and the rough-coated varieties are divided into three classes, and 

 are named after the crookedness, if one may so express it, of their fore-paws. The names are 

 as follows : The crooked-legged (Basset a jambcs torses) ; the half crooked-legged (Basset d 

 jambcs dcmi-torscs) ; the straight-legged (Basset ajambes droites). 



" So as to make my readers more easily able to distinguish the difference between the 

 Basset a jambcs torses and the Basset d jambes droites, more frequently known as the ' petit 

 chien courant,' let me refer them to the two engravings, reproduced from a well-known French 

 book on dogs used for sport, ' Chiens de Chasse.' 



"The first engraving is that of the heavy Basset a jambcs torses. Mark the high conical 

 head, heavy flews, pendulous cars, and deep-set eyes. There is but one mistake in this drawing, 

 and that is that the chest is not properly developed. It should come down straight to the 

 ankle joints. A small ball may be observed, attached to the hinder hound's neck. This is 

 a ' grelot,' and is put on for the purpose of letting the sportsman know where his hound is 

 when in cover, but not on game. 



"The second engraving is that of a couple of Bassets & jambcs droites. The reader will see 

 at once that the flews have disappeared, and that the hound is of a much lighter build than 

 the Basset a jainbes torses. 



" Now the variety of these names is very confusing, and for sporting purposes the intending 

 purchaser must exercise his own judgment when making a purchase. Should his ground be 

 flat and easy to get over, then by all means have the long, low, heavy hound with crooked 

 legs ; but should it be of a stony and marshy description, with deep cuttings, &c., then one 

 of the two latter. The rough-coated hounds are of course used for what might be called the 

 hard work. 



"The Basset, for its size, has more bone, perhaps, than nearly any other dog. 



" The skull should be peaked like that of the Bloodhound, with the same dignity and 

 expression, nose black (although some of my own have white about theirs), and well flewed. 

 For the size of the hound, I think the teeth are extremely small. However, as they are not 

 intended to destroy life, this is probably the reason. 



" The cars should hang like the Bloodhound's, and are like the softest velvet drapery. 



" The eyes are a deep brown, and are brimful of affection and intelligence. They are 

 pretty deeply set, and should show a considerable haw. A Basset is one of those hounds 

 incapable of having a wicked eye. 



" The neck is long, but of great power ; and in the Basset a jambes torses the flews extend 



