158 THE DOGS OF THE BEITISH ISLAISTDS. 



the home of the dachshund) via Alsace, and were there crossed with the terrier, 

 to give them that individual courage that is lacking in the hound. The Artesian 

 type is that with which English dog- show lidbitues are now familiar. In the 

 many political storms that have swept over France, carrying away her monarchical 

 pageantry , and the imposing ceremonies of the chase, many of that country's 

 ancient breeds became almost extinct. Amongst them the basset-hound fared a 

 little better than its blood neighbours the hounds of Artois, Normandy, Gascony, 

 and Sainteonge. Thanks to the sporting and patriotic instincts of a descendant 

 of the old noblesse, Count le Couteulx de Canteleu, who spared neither trouble 

 nor expense in his purpose, the smooth, tricolour basset-hound of Artois has 

 been preserved in all its purity. The breed was not revived ; it had never died 

 out, but it was necessary to search all over the "basset" districts to find, in 

 sportsmen's kennels, the few true and typical specimens, and to breed from them 

 alone. In these efforts on behalf of the old breeds, the Count was greatly 

 benefited by the valuable assistance of Monsieur Pierre Pichot, Editor of the 

 " Revue Britannique." 



For our purpose it will be sufficient to divide the basset-hounds of to-day 

 into two groups the rough and smooth. The former are of Vendean extraction, 

 a branch of one of the original breeds. They have rough hard coats, with a 

 woolley undergrowth, and are generally white, with lemon markings, or else 

 iron grey, like our otter-hounds', which they so closely resemble that, if one can 

 imagine an otter-hound reduced in size, and put on short legs, they will have 

 the Basset- Griff on before them. 



Their legs are very short, usually straight or demi-torse, bodies low, strongly 

 built, and not very long. They are very hardy, and equal to any rough work. Mr. 

 Macdona's Eomano, often exhibited in variety classes, is of this type. 



It is, however, with the smooth and nobler race that I will now deal. These 

 are inseparably connected with the famous kennel of Chateau St. Martin, and 

 hounds of Count Couteulx' s strain are now as highly prized and eagerly sought 

 for in England as in France. They are very aptly described by the French writer 

 De la Blanchere as " large hounds on short legs." It is the massiveness of these 

 miniature hounds that first strikes a stranger's fancy. 



The curious formation of their body and limbs, the grand head, and brilliant 

 colouring, combine to make a whole that is quaint and picturesque, and in harmony 

 with mediaeval character. They are the dogs one expects to see on tapestries or 

 roaming about castle-keeps. 



The following lines from Shakspere are remarkable in their faithfulness to 

 this breed : go fl ewe< j 9 so gan a e d ; and their heads are hung 



With ears that sweep away the morning dew, 

 Crook -kneed and dew-lapped like Thessalian bulls, 

 Slow in pursuit, but matched in mouths like bells 

 Each unto each. 



There are few more useful all-round dogs to the sportsman than the 

 basset-hound. In France this is well known and appreciated, and in a 



