160 



THE DOGS OF THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 



winning first prize in Brussels, when I bought her, and I have shown her often 

 since then. She has never been beaten, and scores- 97 points in 100 of perfection. 

 Fino de Paris is a hound of Continental fame, having been for a long time the 

 stud dog of the Jardins d'Acclimatation. He is a very large dog on short 

 legs, with grand chest properties and great bone. I subsequently imported 

 Guinevere, Vivien, and Hecuba, which are all of Count Couteulx's strain. Besides 

 Lord Onslow, Mr. Millais, and myself, Lieut. Monro and Mr. G. Ramsay possess 

 the breed, and I suppose a few others who may have purchased home-bred 

 stock. These hounds are not quick breeders, and being in-bred require much 

 care in rearing. I have lost whole litters at a time from puppy complaints, but 

 have not been troubled with distemper since I took to vaccinating them. Though 

 basset-hounds are still rare, and good specimens few even in France, yet they 

 already fill two classes at the London shows. When I judged them at the winter 

 show in 1881 the English exhibits were augmented by the entries of Mons. Lane, 

 whose hounds are, from the work he requires of them (hunting wild boar), of a 

 larger type than the "Couteulx" strain. 



"With steady and judicious breeding, the basset-hound should in time take a 

 unique position in the esteem of the sportsman and the exhibitor, when the pioneers 

 of the breed in this country will be able to look back with pleasure and pride 

 upon their efforts to gain it an intelligent and lasting recognition. 



The following is the value of the points : 



POINTS OF THE BASSET HOUND. 



Yalue. 

 Head, skull, eyes, 



muzzle, and flews ... 15 



Ears 15 



Neck, dewlap, chest, 



and shoulders 10 



40 



Value. 



Forelegs and feet 15 



Back, loins, and hind- 

 quarters 10 



Stern . 5 



30 

 Grand Total 100. 



Value. 



Coat and skin 10 



Colour and markings ... 15 

 "Basset character" 

 and symmetry 5 



30 



(1). To begin with the head, as the distinguishing part of all breeds. The 

 head of the basset-hound is most perfect when it closest resembles a bloodhound's. 

 It is long and narrow, with heavy flews, occiput prominent, " la bosse de la chasse," 

 and forehead wrinkled to the eyes, which should be kind, and show the haw. 

 The general appearance of the head must present high breeding and reposeful 

 dignity; the teeth are small, and the upper jaw sometimes protrudes. This is 

 not a fault, and is called the "bee de lievre." 



2. The ears very long, and when drawn forward folding well over the nose so 

 long that in hunting they will often actually tread on them ; they are set on low, 

 and hang loose in folds like drapery, the ends inward curling, in texture thin and 

 velvety. 



