506 THE BOOK ot THE DOG. 



great stamina, although rather slow in the field. They are keen hunters, though inclined to 

 riot. Unfortunately the old breed has been crossed with Normandy dogs and English Fox- 

 hounds, though two or three pure packs are still in existence. Amongst the principal kennels 

 of Chiens d'Artois are those of M. -Paul Bernard, a HeVy, par Seignelay (Yonne), and M. 

 Delarue-Buisson, a Abbeville (Somme). In their glory the Chien d'Artois had the support of 

 the aristocracy of Picardy, to whom they were invaluable in the chase as wolf-hounds, though 

 subsequently they have degenerated into harriers, in which sport they now excel all other 

 breeds of French hounds. It is, however, a peculiar trait in the character of this hound that 

 he could never be taught to hunt foxes. There are now two varieties of Chiens d'Artois, the 

 large and small, of which the latter is by far the most common. A grand specimen of the 

 large size is Antigone, located in the Jardin d'Acclimatation in Paris. 



Basset Hounds. 



We have decided to add to the remarks which have already appeared on page 333 by 

 publishing the following interesting notes, which are the result of the researches made by 

 Mr. George R. Krehl, who has kindly sent them to us. 



" A very excellent description, by Mr. E. Millais, has already appeared in an earlier 

 part of this work ; but the few supplementary notes that I have to offer may still be 

 worth preserving if adding only a little to our present meagre stock of Basset lore. 

 Bassets were until the seventeenth century described in French works as Chiens d'Artois ; 

 this appellation has since been exclusively retained for the noble Chiens courants d'Artois, 

 which were in those times called Picardy Hounds. Du Fouilloux was the first French 

 writer who spoke of them as Bassets, and he explains their ancient affix of Artois by 

 giving us to understand that it was in effect from this province and the neighbouring country 

 of Flanders that the breed of Bassets originally sprung. Se"lincourt is at one with the authority 

 quoted in attributing to them this origin. One recognises from that period, says the Baron 

 de Noirmont, two varieties the Bassets full-crooked, generally smooth -coated, and 'ayant 

 double range"e de dents comme les loups ;' and Bassets straight-legged with black and rough 

 coats. Leverrier de la Couterie says that the straight-legged Bassets came from Flanders, and 

 the crooked from Artois. He preferred the quicker Flamands, but found them ' mauvais crieurs 

 et bricoleurs;' the Artesians, long bodied, and ' bien coiffes,' he found courageous and very 

 enterprising sub terra. In going to earth it was noticed that the straight-legged had more dash, 

 but the crooked stayed in longer. He concludes, though, by agreeing with Du Fouilloux that 

 there were good and bad of both sorts. 



" Though there are even at the present time several varieties of Bassets, yet I agree with 

 Mr. Millais that English breeders would do well to confine themselves to the two popular types, 

 viz., the smooth-coated Artesian and the rough Vendean Bassets. The latter is the Basset 

 Griffon. He has straight but short legs ; rough, hard coat, with a woolly undergrowth ; colour 

 iron-grey, or white with brown markings, or all white. They are powerfully built, not very long, 

 and possess a speed which is extraordinary when one thinks of their shape. A Monsieur 

 d'Incourt de Metz owns a pack of these hounds, that run down their hare easily in two or three 

 hours. The Basset far excellence, though, is the beautiful smooth-coated tricolour of Artois, and 

 this is the type with its rich and brilliant colouring of black, white, and golden tan, its noble 

 Bloodhound-like head so full of solemn dignity, the long velvet-soft ears, the kind and pensive 



