FRENCH AND OTHER CONTINENTAL HOUNDS. 485 



The procedure is the same ; the elaborate 

 vocabulary is the same ; only the fanfares 

 have been improved, the costumes slightly 

 modernised, and the hounds strengthened 

 with the strain of English blood. 



French tradition clings to line hunting, 

 drawing, and perseverance. Pace is not 

 encouraged. The French huntsman has 

 little patience with the arrogance and fling 

 of a Foxhound. M. de Chezelles, a high 

 authority, thinks that a good modern 

 Batard, which is to all intents the dominant 

 French hound, hunts more gaiement than 

 an English hound. He is busier, throws his 

 tongue incessantly, and wishes everybody 

 to share in his opinions, perplexities and 

 triumphs ; and Lord Ribblesdale, who has 

 had experience with them, avers that " there 

 can be little doubt that a good Batard is a 

 better hound for forest hunting than a 

 draft hound from the Holdernesse or the 

 Tedworth." They are magnificent animals, 

 although to the English eye they are wanting 

 in compactness, grace and agility, and they 

 are certainly less beautiful and more leggy 

 than we should appreciate in our packs 



Among the more important varieties and 

 strains of hounds in France are the Chien 



courant de 

 Vendee, the 

 Chien du 

 Poitou, Chien 

 N or ma n d, 

 Chien de 

 F r a n c h c- 

 Comte, and 

 those of Ar- 



FRENCH STAGHOUNDS: THE TUFTERS." 

 FROM THE DUG DE LORGE'S PACK. 



FRENCH STAGHOUNDS: THE " LIMIERS." 

 FROM THE DUC DE LORGE'S PACK. 



tois, Saintonge and Gascogne. These are 

 all remarkable for their long, pendulous 

 ears, deep flews, and heavy dewlaps 

 characteristics which indicate a keen power 

 of scent. Each strain is distinguished 

 from the rest by peculiarities of colour, 

 shape of head, size or build ; but in general 

 type they all approximate to the form of 

 our own Foxhounds and Harriers, with 

 occasionally something of the Southern 

 hound in their contour. The Chien de 

 Franche-Comte (often called the Porce- 

 laine) is one of the smallest and the most 

 elegant. It is seldom higher than 22 inches. 

 The most massive is the Norman hound, 

 with an average height of 29 inches. 



Of the Vendeen Hound there are two 

 varieties ; a rough and a smooth. The 

 Comte de Coulteulx has decided that the 

 smooth-coated variety are descendants of 

 the white St. Hubert Bloodhound, and it 

 is a credible theory, as the dog still bears 

 some recognisable semblance to the deep- 

 flewed and dewlapped Bloodhound type. 

 It is a strong, well-built and shapely dog, 

 with a somewhat rounded skull and a 

 longish muzzle. The ears are long, thin 

 and flexible, set on low and nicely folded. 

 The neck is long, clean, muscled and beau- 



