174 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



not until 1880 that a class was provided for it by the Kennel 

 Club. 



It is to be regretted that owners of this beautiful hound are 

 not more numerous. Admirable specimens are still to be seen 

 at the leading exhibitions, but the breed is greatly in need of 

 encouragement. At the present time the smooth dog hound 

 taking the foremost place in the estimate of our most capable 

 judges is Mr. W. W. M. White's Ch. Loo-Loo-Loo, bred by Mrs. 

 Tottie, by Ch. Louis Le Beau out of Sibella. Mr. Croxton 

 Smith's Waverer is also a dog of remarkably fine type. Among 

 bitch hounds Sandringham Dido, the favourite of Her Majesty 

 the Queen, ranks as the most perfect of her kind. 



The rough or Griffon-Basset, introduced into England at 

 a later date than the smooth, has failed for some reason 

 to receive great attention. In type it resembles the shaggy 

 Otterhound, and as at present favoured it is larger and higher 

 on the leg than the smooth variety. Their colouring is less 

 distinct, and they seem generally to be lemon and white, 

 grey and sandy red. Their note is not so rich as that of the 

 smooth variety. In France the rough and the smooth Bassets 

 are not regarded as of the same race, but here some breeders 

 have crossed the two varieties, with indifferent consequences. 



Some beatuiful specimens of the rough Basset have from 

 time to time been sent to exhibition from the Sandringham 

 kennels. His Majesty the King has always given affectionate 

 attention to this breed, and has taken several first prizes at 

 the leading shows, latterly with Sandringham Bobs, bred in 

 the home kennels by Sandringham Babil ex Saracenesca. 



Perhaps the most explicit description of the perfect Basset- 

 hound is still that compiled twenty-five years ago by Sir John 

 Millais. It is at least sufficiently comprehensive and exact to 

 serve as a guide : 



" 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, the nose black (although some of my own 

 have white about theirs), and well flewed. For the size of the hound 



