Many Basenji puppies develop umbilical hernias, generally acorn-sized. If your Basenji has one, you may be fairly sure that it is an inheritance from Belgian Congolese ancestors and a mark of authenticity. Dr. James P. Chapin of the American Museum of Natural History has told me that nearly all Basenjis in the eastern Congo have umbilical hernias. The larger the hernia, according to the standard of the Pygmies' Basenji-Fanciers Association of the Ituri Forest, the handsomer the dog! This characteristic is also desirable in humankind. In the Ituri, an umbilical hernia is a beauty mark and a social asset, and its possessor is always admired and excites favorable comment, everywhere he goes. Expectant mothers persuade the great African preying mantis to crawl over their distended tummies for this is the only certain way to induce lovely umbilical hernias in their babies.

When the puppies are six months old, the small hernias have generally disappeared or, at least, are not obvious. Breeders light-heartedly tell clients that these are only layers of tissue or of fat and can easily be corrected by pressing them through the abdominal wall several times a day. I have yet to hear from a new owner that this method is actually effective. My veterinarian maintains that the large ones are always potentially dangerous and should be corrected by simple surgery. At any rate, even with large umbilical hernias, Basenjis live long, healthy lives; and one old bitch, the pillar of a kennel that does nation-wide business, has one the size of a teacup but, for the seven years that I have counted, has whelped litter after litter without suffering damage. The English and American Standards, strangely, ignore the subject; and judges pay no attention whatever to them although they are usually spotted by overly sensitive ringsiders. Walter Philo, NY, New York