Hare-hunting and Harriers
Chapter XVIII - Sport with Basset Hounds
Hunting with bassets a new feature - Bassets unknown in England before 1875 - A very old Continental breed - Sir Everett Millais and the Earl of Onslow sponsors in this country - Rise of the basset - Different varieties - Colours - How used on the Continent - Hare-hunting bassets - Different packs, The Walhampton - Messrs, Heseltine - Their success with these hounds - Captain Heseltine's ccount of basset hounds and hunting - Statistics - Some fine runs - Patience required for this pursuit - Points of the basset
Hunting with basset hounds is a comparatively new feature in British field sports. It dates back little farther than fourteen or fifteen years, and, in fact, may be said not to have been really established on a businesslike footing until the Messrs. Heseltine began to hunt regularly in the year 1891. It is not a sport which, for various reasons, is ever likely to oust beagles or harriers from their ancient popularity. In the first place, bassets are much more difficult to get hold of and more expensive to buy. In the second place, although they have wonderful noses and are most determined workers, they are, from their very conformation, exceedingly slow, and take several hours, usually from two to three, sometimes even more, to wear down their quarry. This style of hunting, although to the chosen few who love hound work before anything else most interesting to watch, is, to the average modem sportsman, inclined to be tedious, and most men would, therefore, prefer to take their pleasure with a faster type of hound. Still, bassets have come to stay ; they are now growing far more numerous than they were a dozen years ago ; many fanciers have become greatly attached to them ; there are a Basset Club and a Stud Book, and each season, among the list of packs of hounds hunting in these islands, there are to be found two or three packs of these bizarre-looking, but wonderfully handsome, hounds.
Before the year 1875, the basset hound was practically unknown in England. He had flourished for ages upon the Continent, chiefly in France and Belgium, as well as, to a lesser extent, in Austria and Germany, where he had been employed for various purposes connected with sport. But in England, prior to that year, the Earl of Onslow was, I believe, the only person who had ever kept bassets in this country. Lord Onslow had, in fact, a kennel of these hounds before the late Sir Everett Millais, who was, next to him, the earliest introducer of them, appeared on the scene. These had been presented to Lord Onslow by the Comte Tournon de Montmelas. In 1875 Sir Everett (then Mr.) Millais first exhibited one of these hounds, the celebrated " Model," which is still often referred to as a typical hound of this curious breed. The basset became quickly a fashion. Sir Everett Millais did much to encourage fanciers, and even wrote a monograph on the new importation,* and before very long — by the year 1883 — this hound had acquired so much of fame and repute as to demand a Club of its own, as well as a place in the Kennel Club Stud Book. Since that time, the march of the basset has, among connoisseurs who can afford the luxury of a new and somewhat expensive fashion, been a triumphant one. In 1883 there were but ten entries of these hounds in the Kennel Club Stud Book, In 1896 there were no less than ninety bassets entered at the Kennel Club Show.
Yet, although the basset has thus achieved a not inconsiderable triumph in a comparatively short period, he is still a somewhat scarce commodity, caviare to the general public. A certain number have seen him on the show benches, or walking abroad with his master ; few have watched him at work in the hunting-field. In appearance, the basset hound looks somewhat like a handsome foxhound — with long ears, deepish flews, and a somewhat old-fashioned type of head — set on extremely squat legs, the fore-legs, especially, being much bent inwards. As to the conformation of the legs, they give, at first, the impression of this hound having some kinship with dachshunds and the old English turnspit. But, as a matter of fact, they are totally distinct. The dachshund is a terrier, while the basset is a pure hound of very ancient descent.
How long he has been bred in his present state it is impossible to say with anything like precision. By some authorities the basset, as found in France and Belgium, is placed in three classes :
- Bassets a jambes droites (or straight-legged bassets).
- Bassets a jambes demi-torses (with fore-legs half crooked).
- Bassets d jambes torses (with fore-legs wholly crooked).
* For further information on the basset, the reader maybe referred to the works of Mr. Hugh Dalziel and Mr. Rawdon Lee on British dogs, and to Sir Everett Millais' book on this hound.
In La Vendee, Luxembourg, Alsace-Lorraine, and other parts, where coverts are extensive, the rough-coated basset seems to be most in favour, but this variety is, as a rule, much scarcer than the smooth-coated hound. The basset is an independent, determined kind of hound. He prefers to take nothing on trust, but, instead of giving tongue and joining in the cry of the other hounds, which have already owned the scent, likes to work out the line for himself and then raise his voice. He has an extraordinarily delicate sense of scent.
On the Continent this race was, apparently, used very largely for shooting purposes, hunting the country for different kinds of game, and driving it to the guns posted in various positions. In the Ardennes, a bigger breed seems to have been used for driving wolves, boar, and roe ; this is the rough-coated kind, previously referred to. But in various districts this useful hound was, and is, employed for aU kinds of sport, including badger, vermin, and even truffles. A good truffle-hound is, of course, a real treasure. The basset is a most courageous beast and takes readily to the chase of wolf, which ordinary hounds are said to be not very keen about. It is even stated that a well-bred basset will hunt a wolf single-handed, which, considering his inferior size, must be taken as evidence of very high mettle.
When these hounds were first used for hunting hare in this country, it was quickly discovered that, although they had wonderful noses and were infinitely persevering, they had certain drawbacks which required correction. They are inclined, as I have shown, to dwell too much on the line, and are somewhat too independent, and they are rather easily frightened by the whip. Still, within the last ten years they
The Walhamtopn Pack
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In 1897-98 the Wintershill dropped out, and the Highworth were added to the other packs. In 1898-99 three packs remained hunting — the Walhampton, the Delapre, and the Highworth. In 1899-1900 the Walhampton apparently held the field alone, to be joined in 1900-01 by the Stoodleigh and the Knowlton. 1901-02 saw two packs again hunting — the ever-faithful Walhampton and Mr. E. H. M. Denny's, the latter hunting from Chiddingstone Castle, Kent — the Knowlton and the Stoodleigh having retired. The Knowlton, it is to be noted, were mastered and hunted by Miss Gladys Peto, to whom two sisters and a brother acted as whippers-in. During the season, 1902-03, the Walhampton and Mr. Denny's were joined by a new pack, the Reepham, hunting near Lincoln.
From these particulars it would seem that many people have tried hare-hunting with bassets for a short time, usually a season or two, and have then abandoned it. Whether they found that the sport was somewhat slow, or that these dwarf hounds required more time and patience in their education than they could afford to give them, it is beyond me to say. Probably both reasons led to their abandonment, after a brief trial. In some few instances, no doubt, the pack was started as a mere passing fad or fashion, the owner having acquired a few couples of these hounds and wishing to see how they would behave themselves in the field.
The Walhamton Pack - The Kill
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Captain Heseltine has been good enough to send me particulars of the pack and accounts of some of their best runs ; and the narrative seems to me so instructive, not only in reference to sport with bassets, but as regards hare-hunting generally, that I have thought well to print it, in its entirety. It will be noticed with what patience and care this pack has been trained and matured to a successful issue, and how disappointing, comparatively, were the first essays in hare-hunting during the season of 1890-91, when the hounds never killed a hare.
It will be noticed, too, how much more readily even bassets can kill hares early in the season, i.e., in September, October, and the early part of November, than later on when hares are so much stronger. This is a point that is often forgotten by young Masters of harriers and beagles.
Here, then, follows Captain Heseltine's account of the Walhampton Basset Hounds :
" (i) The first couple of basset hounds we ever possessed were given to us by Captain Peacock (late M.F.H. Hertfordshire, Isle of Wight, etc.), in 1890, and with four or five couples we used to chivey about, but in April 1891, we purchased 9|- couples from Mr. T. Cannon, Junr., of Danebury, and commenced hunting regularly in the season, 1891-2, and I have a record of every day's sport from then till now. We commenced hunting badger in the New Forest in July 1891, and had several good hunts, both by moonlight and in the early morning, but gave it up for hare-hunting in September, and have never hunted anything but hare since. In the seasons 1891-2, 1892-3, the hounds hunted during term time at Cambridge, having their kennels at Chesterton ; the remainder of the season they hunted in the New Forest, and around Lymington. Since 1892-3, with the exception of the season, 1900-1, they have been regularly hunted by the writer in the New Forest and the neighbourhood of Lymington. The hounds are the joint property of my brother and myself. My brother is the Master of the pack, and I have always hunted them, with the exception of Nov. 1894, when my brother hunted them. At the present moment (December 1903) kennels are being erected at Canterbury, where I hope to hunt them till the end of the season.
" We have had as many as fourteen couples of puppies at walk, but the last two seasons we have been particularly unfortunate in not being able to breed half that number, I do not think I got more than four couples of whelps. In March 1896, we purchased the whole of the late Major V. Ferguson's pack of basset hounds (15 couples), from which we made a good selection ; and in August 1896, Prince Henry of Pless presented us with the whole of his pack from Germany, consisting of about 10 couples. And at various times since then we have purchased small packs, with a view to selecting some 2 or 3 hounds to add to our pack.
" Here is a short summary of our hunting seasons, with the number of hounds in kennel at commencement of the season :
| Season | No. of Hunting days |
No. of Blank days |
No. of hares brought to hand |
No. of Couples of hounds in kennel at commencement of season |
| 1890-1 | No record kept; hunted with 5 couples of hounds, but never caught a hare. | |||
| 1891-2 | 47 | 2 | 9 | 10 |
| 1892-3 | 54 | 4 | 17 | 12 |
| 1893-4 | 42 | 3 | 11 | 14 |
| 1894-5 | 43 | 1 | 14 | 13½ |
| 6½ brace of hares were killed this season in 27 hunting days. On fifteen days on which the hounds were taken out, they could do nothing at all owing to the frost-bound state of the ground; thus there were only 27 days in the whole season on which it was fit to hunt. | ||||
| 1895-6 | 38 | 2 | 19 | 14½ |
| 1896-7 | 41 | 0 | 17 | 17½ |
| 1897-8 | 34 | 1 | 12 | 17 |
| 1898-9 | 32 (8 by-days) | 0 | 16 | 17½ |
| 1899-0 | 20 | 1 | 4 | 13 |
| Hunting very irregularly ; I was hunting the dog pack of the New Forest Foxhounds as well until Jan. 1900, when we both went to the war. | ||||
| 1900-1 | In 1900-1 these hounds did not hunt, owing to the South African War. | |||
| 1901-2 | 24 | 2 | 8 | 19½ |
" S. Walker has been the kennel huntsman and whipper-in since 1891. The following is a summary of hounds for this season :
WALHAMPTON BASSET HOUNDS
Season 1902-03
| DOGS | No. | Total |
| Eight years old | 1 | |
| Five years old | 1 | |
| Four years old | 1 | |
| Three years old | 4 | |
| Two years old | 1 | |
| One year old | 4 | 12 dogs |
| BITCHES | ||
| Eight years old | 1 | |
| Six years old | 2 | |
| Five years old | 3 | |
| Four years old | 6 | |
| Three years old | 6 | |
| Two years old | 2 | |
| One year old | 4 | 24 bitches |
| Total | 36 hounds |
" (2) The country in the New Forest is admirably suited to basset hounds, being moorland or large open woodland.
" The heather on the moor is not sufficiently high to stop these little hounds and invariably carries good scent. The country round Lymington is chiefly plough and banks. The country around Cambridge was chiefly plough, and fen-land, which latter suited the hounds very well, if it had not been for the dykes. Deep ditches or stone walls are a terrible hindrance to basset hounds.
" (3) In the New Forest, during the months of September, October, and early part of November, given a scent, the hounds can bring a hare to hand in 50 minutes to i hour 20 minutes. After the middle of November till the end of the season, I have scarcely ever hunted a hare to death in less than 2 hours and it has much more often been 3 or 4 hours ; it is very seldom that these hounds manage to kill a
hare before she is so beat that you can pick her up yourself.
" They are very slow to take any advantage ; sometimes they would rather throw their tongues than bite ; in many cases beagles or even terriers would have killed a hare which has absolutely escaped from
the jaws of the pack, because they are so slow to grasp the situation, or, more to the point, the hare.
" (4) I do not think that our kennel management differs in any degree from that of a pack of foxhounds, except that our hounds have biscuit with their meal during the hunting season, and that I only give
them the soup from the horse-flesh and none of the meat ; otherwise, the kennel management is the same. The floors of the lodging-houses are boarded with battens, 4 inches from the cement flooring, so that no hound can lie on the cement when shut in the lodging-house.
" (5) I beheve Major Croker and Mr. Miles B. Kennedy were two of the first ever to attempt hunting a hare with basset hounds, about 1886. There were no basset hounds in England prior to 1872, and Lord Onslow, the late Sir Everett Millais, and Mr. Krehl were three of their first admirers."
Six good days with the Walhampton Basset Hounds.
(From Capt. Heseltine's Diary.)
" On Saturday Sep. 24, 1892 (io| couples), met, 11-30, Hill Top Gate, Beaulieu. Found immediately a three-part grown leveret ; raced her for 25 mins., without a check, and killed her at Harley Pitts. Found No. 2 Harley Pitts, hounds ran away from us ; they ran straight to the Nodes, which they skirted, sinking the valley thro' King's Hat Enclosure, crossed the high road ; she jumped up close to Ipley River, and they
ran a circle by King's Hat Enclosure. She squatted off a track and we had a long check.
" We had been running i hr. 10 mins. and the point was nearly four miles ; a forest keeper poked her out, and 9 mins. later Radical rolled her over in the open in Dibden Bottom, running game to the very end.
Who- Whoop !
" On Wedy. March 8, 1892, a blazing hot summer day, met for a by-day, 1-30 p.m. at the Kennels, Chesterton, Cambridge. The ploughs raised a dust cloud, as hounds ran over them ; we found a hare at Chesterton at 2-30 P.M. and hunted her to death at 5-25 p.m.
A small jack hare.
" On Monday Sep. 17, 1894 (io| couples), met at Walhampton. Found on Warborne and ran her to ground ; had her out and turned her down in the forest ; she ran back to Warborne, and, after hunting her for 53 minutes, killed her.
" Found No. 2 on Warborne, and had 47 mins. without a check and killed her. Hounds rather tired, so sent Sam home for 2 couples left in kennel. Found No. 3 close to Bull Hill, ran her by Pilley Green, over
Ditton Farm, and thro' Sheffield Copse to the forest, where Sam joined us with two couples of fresh hounds, and we had an excellent hunt and killed our hare in the middle of Beaulieu Heath. Time i hour, 3 mins.
" On Friday, Nov. i, 1895, met, 10 o'clock, Hill Top Gate (13 couples). Found at 11-15 close to Harley Pitts ; they ran over the burnt ground and on to the cultivated land at Hythe Cross Roads down to Butts Ashe ; hounds were running hard and they packed like a flock of pigeons ; they never left her in covert and hunted her back to Hythe Cross Roads. Christopher viewed her away, leaving the Nodes on their left ; they sank the valley, but on rising the opposite hill, hounds were at fault on heather, burnt ground, but we viewed her making for Ipley.
" I lifted them and they hunted beautifully past King's H