FRENCH AND OTHER CONTINENTAL HOUNDS. 
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 gatement 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 
Vendée, the 
Chicn du 
Poitou, Chien 
Normand, 
Chien de 
Franche- 
Comté, and 
those of Ar- 
“ TUFTERS.” 
FROM THE DUC DE LORGE’S PACK. 
FRENCH STAGHOUNDS: THE 
485 
“LIMIERS.” 
FROM THE DUC DE LORGE’S PACK. 
FRENCH STAGHOUNDS: THE 
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-Comté (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 Vendéen 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- 
