THE BASSET-HOUND. 



301 



ing we ha\-e now produced a beautiful hound 

 of fine smooth coat, and a rich admixture 

 of markings, with a head of noble character 

 and the best of legs and feet. Their short, 

 t\\'inkling legs make our Bassets more suit- 

 able for covert hunting than for hunting 



THE LATE SIR JOHN EVERETT MILLAIS' MODEL 



From a Drawing by C. BURTON BARBER. 



hares in the open, to which latter purpose 

 they have frequently been adapted with 

 some success. Their note is resonant, with 

 wonderful power for so small a dog, and in 

 tone it resembles the voice of the Blood- 

 hound. 



The Basset-hound is usually very good 

 tempered and not inclined to be quarrel- 

 some with his kennel mates; but he is wilful, 

 and loves to roam apart in search of game, 

 and is not very amenable to discipline 

 when alone. On the other hand, he works 

 admirablj^ with his companions in the pack, 

 when he is most painstaking and indefatig- 

 able. Endowed with remarkable powers 

 of scent, he will hunt a drag with keen in- 

 telligence. 



During the years of his naturalisation 

 \vith us his calling has undergone \'arious 

 changes, and it is to be feared that if he is 

 bred only for pace the old distinguishing 

 characteristics will be lost, and his quaint 

 and patrician appearance will suffer deteri- 

 oration. His peculiar formation prevents 

 him from being a very speedy or an especially 

 active hound, and, indeed, when it is a 

 question of negotiating a stiff fence or a steep 

 bank he has often to be helped. It is ex- 

 tremely doubtful whether an alteration in 



this direction would tend to any improve- 

 ment in the breed. 



There are now several packs of Bassets 

 kept in England, and they show very fair 

 sport after the hares ; but it is not their 

 natural vocation, and their massive build is 

 against the possibility of their becoming 

 popular as harriers. The general custom is 

 to follow them on foot, although occasionally 

 some sportsmen use ponies. Their pace, how- 

 ever, hardly warrants the latter expedient. 

 On the Continent, where big game is more 

 common than with us, the employment of 

 the Basset is varied. He is a valuable help 

 in the tracking of boar, wolf, and deer, 

 and he is also frequently engaged in the 

 lighter pastimes of pheasant and partridge 

 shooting. 



The Earl of Onslow and the late Sir John 

 Everett Millais were among the earliest im- 

 porters of the breed into England. They 

 both had recourse to the kennels of Count 

 Couteulx. Sir John Millais' Model was the 

 first Basset-hound exhibited at an English 

 dog show, his debui taking place at Wol- 

 ^•erhampton in 1875. Later owners and 

 breeders of prominence were Mr. G. Krehl, 

 Mrs. Stokes and ^Irs. Mabel Tottie. At one 



MMto.BMMMr 



THE SMOOTH BITCH SANDRINGHAM DIDO 



BY COL ANNAND'S TARQUIN VIOLA. 



PROPERTY OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN ALEXANDRA. 



time .Mrs. Tottie o\\Tied the finest kennel 

 of both rough and smooth Bassets in the 

 British Isles. She considered the rough 

 variety more delicate than the smooth — an 

 opinion which is not commonly shared. 

 As with most imported breeds, the Basset- 



