Anecdotes of dogs

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ANECDOTES

or

DOGS.

BT

EDWARD JESSE, Esa.

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"Histories are more full of examples of i^G'^deli^jCotcliJgB'^]^ o^lHenda'

* POPX.

%Qt|[ tan)ut0ns (KngtEbhcgs.

LONDON:
HENRY G. BOHN. YORK STREET, COYEKT CifeSSS^S..

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• • •

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• ••

• • •
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LONDON:

Printed by Q. Bamlat, Castle St. Leicester Sq.

PEEFACE.

The character^ sensibilities^ and intellectual faculties
of animals have always been a favourite study, and
they are, perhaps, more strongly developed in the
dog than in any other quadruped, from the circum-
stance of his being the constant companion of man.

I am aware how much i^^'b&eil ,wiitjep». on^ ,this

* * * * *«***. * »*• •**•■»
subject, but having accumulafed *niany 'origiiial fapd

**** * I* * * ,
interesting anecdotes of this JT&ithfiii'.'ani^/ir/ I have

attempted to enlarge the gcHerdt *sitpok <ji inBannation

■* •* •*• *••**'
respecting it. It is a pleaisiii^*t^8¥,''ajh[i8iiig from

the conviction that the more the character of the

dog is known, the better his treatment is likely to

be, and the stronger the sympathy excited in his

behalf.

Let me hope, that the examples which are given

in the following pages will help to produce this

effect, and that a friend so faithful, a protector so

disinterested and courageous, will meet with that

kindness and affection he so well deserves.

IV PREFACE.

It IS now my grateM duty to express my thanks
to those friends who have so kindly contributed
original anecdotes to this work^ and especially to
Lady Morgan and Mrs. S. Carter Hall for their re-
marks on the Irish wolf-dog.

I have also to acknowledge my obligations for
various anecdotes illustrative of the character of pe-
culiar dogs, extracted from Colonel Hamilton Smithes
volumes in the Naturalist^s Library and Captain
Brown's interesting sketches ; as well to the Editor of
the "Irish Penny Magazine '^ for his extremely well-
written account of the Irish wolf-doff : and to other
80tb^^:t6o;ftjlm&i^s l^^iSpntion.

•TKe'nregent jicw •edition is considerably enlarged,
both in letter: *axfd* folates, and, to suit the taste of
the afi:ei*U'V)i«fceBjfea*Jii i cheap and popular form.

My Publisher has, as usual, lent his aid, and is
responsible for some of the additional anecdotes, for
the account of the Setter, and for all after page 458,
including the chapter " On Feeding and Management.'*

Edward Jesse.

Batt Sheen, Sept. 1858.

ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD.

TiTLB. PAnrrSR. ENaRAVER. Paok

1. Spaniel ft Newfoundland Dogs . W. Habvet . . W. Branston . 1

2. Betiiever W. Harybt . W. Brakston . 54

8. Tail-piece W. P. Smith . . T. Oilkb ... 83

4. Deer-hounds W. Haryet . . W. Branstok . 85

5. Tail-piece W. P. Smith . . T. Oilkb . . .132

6. Newfoundland Doff W. Haryby . . W. Branston . 133

7. Tail-piece W. P. Smith . . T. Gilks ... 184

8. The GoUey, or Shepherd's Dog . Stewart . . . Pearson ... 185

9. Tail-piece W. P. Smith . . T. Gilks ... 239

10. St. Bernard Dog W. P. Smith . . T. Gilks ... 240

11. Chasseur ft Cul^ Bloodhounds . Freeman . . . Whitino . . . 250

12. Tail-piece W. P. Smith . . T. Gilks ... 203

13. The Terrier W. Haryet . . W. Branston . 264

14. Tail-piece 'W.^P.-Bmitel .^.^T. Gilks . . . 299

15. The Blenheim Spaniel . . . .^^Akx^sn^^ * . ^BeasS^n; '«;•/* ^^

16. Tail-piece Wj'i^.-SMiUkV. . "t.^K^^^.-^ .830

17. The Poodle CAOBeaxp/j;^^. . ^Allsoxf --.^ .■> . 831

18. TaU-pieoe W. Ei-Si^iTijL*^*..* T.jG/iiKS . . .352

19. Vignette W. iJ. HAj.t;»1 j.* p TjTGilks ... 863

20. Otter Hunting W/P. Smwh^JI .'^(T. Gilks . . .361

21. Tail-piece "Wh Hap^\isy;^.' /-^VtotfjiV • • '866

22. Greyhounds . ^.-Illif^jirtr; V '. -ViztXEljiT . . .367

23. Tail-piece C. D. Radoliftb . t' LkNl>ELLS . . 382

24. The Pointer W. Haryet . . W. Branston . 383

25. Tail-piece W. P. Smith . . T. Gilks . . .399

26. The Setter W. Haryet . . W. Branstcn . 400

27. Tail-piece Bewick .... Bewick .... 411

28. The Comforter W. R Smith . . Pearson . . .412

39. A Pugnacious Pair Cruikshank . . Cruikshank . . 417

30. The Foxhoimd CD. Radclote . E. Landells . . 421

31. Hounds in a Bath C. D. Radcliffe. E. Landells . .437

32. The Beagle W. R Smith . . T. Gilks ... 438

33. Tail-piece CD. Radcliffe . E. Landells . . 439

34. The Mastiff W. Haryet . . Whimper . . . 440

85. Tail-piece W. R. Smith . . T. Gilks . . .453

36. The Bull-dog W. Haryet . . Vizitellt . . . 454

87. Tail-piece W. R Smith . . T. Gilks ... 458

38. Tail-piece Seymour . . . Pearson ... 481

89. Feeding Hounds CD. Radouffb. E. Landblls . . 482

40. Tail-pieoe . . W. R. Smith . . T. Giles ... 490

• ••«»• •• • •

• • • •••••••

•• - • ! •

\

CONTENTS.

Introduction — Value, propensities, and origin of the dog, 1 9t
panvm — the wolf partially domesticated, 6 — wild dogs of Ceylon,
15 — Sir Walter Scott's bull-dog terrier Camp, 16 — the dog and
the pieman, 17 — death of a dog from affection for its deceased
mistress, 18 — frozen fowls rescued by a house-dog — Sir R. Brown-
rigg's dog — the author's terrier Phiz, 20 — a dog fond of travelling
by himself, 20 — runaway horse caught by a dog, 21 — lost money
guarded by, 21 — dogs can reckon time, 22 — death of a dog from
joy at the return of his master, 22 — faithfulness of a dog to its
charge, 24 — the dog's character influenced by that of its master,
25 — sense of smelling, 26 — duel about a dog, 28 — murder pre-
vented by, 29 — a faithful dog killed by mistake, 30 — sporting
anecdotes of Smoaker, Bachelor, Blunder, &c. 31 — intelligence of
the dog, 42 — tact in cat-hunting, 44 — find their way home fi-om
long distances, 46 — bantam rescued from a game cock, 46 — per-
ception of right and wrong, 47 — turkey punished for gluttony, 48
— speaking dogs, 48-9 — a singing dog, 50 — creatures of habit, 50
— Caniche and the breeches, 51 — distinguishes his master's cus-
tomers, 54 — a robber killed by a dog, 55 — Dr. Hooper's dog, 55
— the fireman's dog. Tyke, 56 — the fireman's dog. Bill, 60 — dog
used as a servant, 61 — Mr. Backhouse's dog, 62 — the post-dog's
revenge, 62 — dog returns from Bangalore to Pondicherry, 63 —
Mr. Decouick's dog, 63 — a dog saves human life, 64 — guards a
chair dropped from a waggon, 64 — rescues his master from an
avalanche, 64 — spaniel tracks his master to Drury Lane, and dis-
covers him in the pit, 65 — large dog rescues a small one from
drowning, 65 — a canine messenger, 66 — contrivance of a New-
foundland to get a bun, 67 — dog lost for nine weeks in the dome
of St. Paul's, 67 — support themselves in a wild state, 69 — laugh-

X CONTENTS.

able account of the transmigration of souls in connexion with dogs,
71 — sheep-dogs in the Pyrenees, 76 — Mrs. S. C. HaU's dog, 77
— musical spaniel of Darmstadt, 11 — Lord Grenville's lines on the
dog, 82.

THk IRISH AND HIGHLAND WOLF-DOG.

History of the Irish wolf-dog, 86 et seq. passim — supposed recognition
of a wolf-dog of the Irish blood royal, 86 — lines on the Irish wolf-
dog, 88 — anecdotes from Plutarch, 89 — the dog of Montargis, 90
— the dog of Aughrim, 93 — wolf-hunting in Tyrone, 94 — sheep-
killing wolf-dog, 107 — Buskar and Bran, 112 — incident with Lord
Ossulton's bounds, 116 — Bruno and OToole, 117 — a deer-hound
recovers a glove from a boy, 119 — Sir W. Scott's dog Maida, 120 —
a deer-hound detains a suspicious person, 120 — follows a wounded
deer for three days, 121 — Comhstri drowns a stag, 122 — Scotch
dogs much prized in England, 123 — Llewellyn and Beth Grelert,
124 — Lady Morgan on the Irish wolf-dog, 127.

THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG.

Character, &c. 133 — saves people from drowning, 135 — Baby, 136 —
saves a child from being run over, 136 — saves a spaniel from being
drowned, 137 — saves a gentleman from drowning at Portsmouth,
138 — saves a man in a mill-stream, 138 — calculating dogs, 138 —
Sabbath party disturbed by a dog, 139 — Archdeacon Wix's dog,
140 — a Newfoundland brings away breeches containing money be-
longing to his master, 143 — commits suicide, 145 — saves a coach-
man in the Thames, 146 — tries to drown a spaniel, 147 — uses his
the paw as a fishing-bait, 1 48 — in carrying two hats pats one inside
other, 148 — three dogs previously enemies unite against a common
foe, 149 — a dog saves his drowning enemy, 151 — releases himself
and companions from captivity, 152 — a swimming-wager amusingly
lost by a dog's care,i53 — the dog as postman, 153 — swims for ten
hours in a tempestuous sea, 153 — saves his dead master's pocket-
book, 154 — Lord Grenville's lines on the, 155 — Newfoundland dog
ducks his aggressor, 157 — carries a rope to the shore, 158 — saves
an ungrateful master. 158 — guardian of a lady's honour 160 —
anecdotes of Mr. M4ntyre's dog Dandie, 160-5 — a Newfound-

CONTENTS. XI

land causes the detection of a dishonest porter, 165 — saves twelve
persons from drowning, 166 — watches over his drunken master,
167 — his humanity qpcasionsa disturbance at Woolwich Theatre,
167 — carries a lanthom before his master, 168 — saves the lives of
all on board the Durham Packet, 170-*- drowns a pet lamb out of
jealousy, 171 — rescues a canary which had flown into the sea, 171
— saves his old master from robbers, 173 — St. John's and Labrador
dogs, 176 — long remembrance of injuries, 177 — discovers a poacher,
178 — discretion and revenge, 178 — returns from Berwick to Lon-
don, 179 — the Romans had some dog of the same kind, 179 —
liberates a man who had fallen into a gravel«pit, 180 — Boatswain
provides his mistress a dinner, 181 — a trespasser detained, 181 —
Victor at the Battle of Copenhagen, 182 — a Newfoundland dog
retrieves on the ice, 182 — fetches a coat from the tailor's, 183 —
lines by Lord Eldon, 184.

THE COLLEY OR SHEPHERD'S DOG.

Saves the life of Mr. Satterthwaite, 186 — the Ettrick Shepherd's dog.
Sirrah, collects a scattered flock at midnight, 188 — Hector, 189 —
points the cat, 191 — has an ear for music, 194 — hears where his
master is going, and precedes him, 196 — a wonderful sheep-dog,
199 — a bitch having pupped deposits her young in the hills, and
afterwards fetches them home, 201 — cunning of sheep-stealing dogs,
202-5 — a sheep-dog dies of starvation whilst tending his charge,
206 — discrimination of a sheep-dog, 207 — a sheep-dog remembers
all the turnings of a road, 208 — follows a young woman who had
borrowed his mistress's cloak, 211-^ Drummer saves a cow, 212 —
Ceesar rescues his master from an avalanche, 213 — a sheep-dog
snatches away a beggar's stick, 2 14-^ a colley conducts the flock
whilst his master is drinking, 214 — dishonesty punished, 215 — a
sporting colley, 216 — a colley buries her drowned offspring, 217
— brings assistance to her helpless master, 217 — saves his master
from being frozen to death, 219 — his master having broken his
arm sends home his dog for assistance, 220 — a colley punishes a
tailor's dog for worrying his flock, 221 — the sheep-stealing colley,
222 — a colley distinguishes diseased sheep, 228 — the Ettrick Shep-
herd's story of the dog Chieftain, 230 — a colley feeds his master's
lost child on the Grampian Hills, 232 — the shepherds' dogs of North
Wales, 535 — training a colley, 238.

XU CONTENTS.

THE ST. BERNARD DOG.

Mrs. Houston's lines on the, 240 — peculiajr intelligence of, 241 — the
monks and their dogs, 242 — a dog sa^es a woman's life, 243 ;
intuitive foreboding of danger, 244 — a dog saves a child, 245 —
revenges his ill-treated master, 247 — a St. Bernard dog named
Barry saves forty lives, 248 — destruction of a whole party by an
avalanche, 249.

THE BLOODHOUND.

Habits of the bloodhound, 251 — its remarkable scent, 252 — pursuit
of Wallace with a bloodhound, 253 — bloodhounds employed for
hunting negroes in Cuba, 253 — a bloodhound traces a miscreant
twenty miles, 255 — Sir W. Scott's description of a bloodhound, 255
— extract from Wanley's "Wonders," 256 — a bloodhound dis-
covers a lost child, 257 — the Spanish chasseurs and their dogs, 258
— a sheepstealer discovered by a bloodhound, 260 — atrocities of
the Spaniards, 261.

THE TERRIER.

Its varieties, 265 — Peter, 266 — a terrier kills a child from jealousy,
268 — pines to death from jealousy, 268 — guards a lady in her
walks, 269— affection of a terrier, 269— Sir Walter Scott's de-
scription of Wasp, 270 — brings assistance to his imprisoned
master, 271 — gets a friend to pay his boat-hire, 272 — Mrs.
Grosvenor's dog, 273 — a bell-ringing and message-carrying terrier,
273 — a dog knows his mistress's dress, and follows the wearer, 274
— anecdotes of a terrier at Hampton Court, 274 — a terrier saves
his master from being burnt to death, 277 — suckles a rat, 277 —
tries to prevent his master ^m beating his son, 278 — Pincer seeks
assistance in dislodging rats, 278 — a terrier rescues her two drowned
pups, 280 — seeks assistance in getting a bone, 281 — gets a lady
to ring the bell for him, 282 — flies at the throat of a man who
attacks his master, 282 — a grateful terrier, 283 — attachment to a
cat, 283 — clever expedient of two affectionate dogs, 284 — Snap,
285 — the fate of a gentleman revealed to his family by means of a
terrier, 286 — a terrier in the Tower follows a soldier to find his
master, 288 — Snob, 289 — a terrier suckles fox-cubs, 290 — brings
assistance to his canine friend, 291 — returns from York to London,

CONTENTS. XIU

292 — finds a thief in the cupboard, 292 — friendship between a
terrier and bantam, 293 — traces his master to Gravesend, 294 —
Peter, 295 — a terrier suckles a kitten, 295 — a terrier discovers
where his master has travelled by the scent, 296 — nurses a brood
of ducklings and chickens, 296 — brings his master's wife to the
dead body of her husband, 297 — Keeper recognises his master's
vessel after a long interval, 298.

THE SPANIEL.

Sings, 300 — affected by a particular air, 301 — gathers a water-lily,
303 — retrieves a wild duck, 303 — a grateful spaniel, 304 — faithful
to his guillotined master, 304— Dash, her inteUigence and fidelity,
305 — gratitude for surgical assistance, 306 — spaniels in cover, 308
— the Clumber spaniels, 308 — Lord Albemarle's spaniels, 309 —
suckling, 309 — friendship between a dog and cat, 310 — Rose
travels from London to Worcester, 311 — recognition of his master
after a long absence, 312 — friendship between a spaniel and par-
tridge, 313 — a spaniel avoids being left behind, 315 — an adept in
shoplifting, 316 — takes up his abode at a grave in St. Bride's
churchyard, 317 — dies of grief for his dam's death, 317 — dogs of
the poor the most affectionate, 318 — a spaniel takes up his abode
in St. Olave's churchyard, 319 — causes a man to be executed for
murder, 320 — saves the life of Mrs. Alderman Yearsley, 321
— a spaniel's recognition of his old master by scent, 323 — a
King Charles spaniel alarms his mistress and saves her from being
robbed, 324 — a spaniel knocks at the door, 326 — opens the gate
to release other dogs, 326 — imitates his master in eating turnips,
327 — finds his way from Boston to Chepstow, 328 — prevents a
cat from stealing meat, 329 — Mrs. Browning's lines on, 329.

THE POODLE.

The Shoeblack's poodle, 332 — two learned poodles exhibited at Milan,
332 — a poodle reminds the servant that he wants a walk, 336 —
hides the whip, 336 — performance in a London theatre, 337 —
finds his way from London to Inverary, 342 — supports himself
during his master's absence, 342 — friendship with a terrier, 342 —
discerns a rogue at first sight, and causes him to be detected^ ?»43k —
enjoys a glass of grog, 344 — cama* ^^«fcY^YS^^'*"^^'^"^^^^'^'^^^^''

XIV CONTENTS.

one at a time, 345 —fetches his master's slippers, &c., 346— imi-
tates the agonies of death, 346 — goes to church by habit without
the family, the road being overflowed, 347 — watches over the dead
body of his master, 347 — protects his master's body,. 348 — climbs
np a house in Wells Street, Oxford Street, 348 — anecdote of
FroU, 349.

THE ESQUIMAUX DOG.

Traditions, 353 — Capt. Lyons' account of the, 354 — Col. Hamilton
Smith's account of one, 359.

THE OTTER TERRIER.

Somerville's description of an otter-hunt, 361 — otter-hounds almost
extinct, 362 — otter-hunting, 363 to end of chapter.

THE GREYHOUND.

Match between a Scotch greyhound and Snowball, 368 — Match
between a greyhound and a racehorse, 368 — its courage and per-
severance, 369 — a coursed hare dies of exhaustion, 369 — a hare
and two dofcs die of exhaustion, 370 — a wild greyhound, 370 —
greyhounds coupled pursue a hare, 372 — a greyhound brings
assijstance to his drowning master, 372 — finds his way from Cum-
nock to Castle Douglas, 373 — canine friendship, 373 — King
Richard's greyhound, 375 — attachment between St. Leger and his
greyhound, 377 — the Persian greyhound, 379.

THE POINTER.

Its origin and present breed, 384 — a pointer punished by her grand,
dam, 386 — disgust at a bad shot, 387 — ^pointing on the top
of a wall, 388— ^steady pointing, 389 — a weather-wise pointer, 389
— guards some dropped birds all night, 389 — finds his way back
firom America, 390 — traces his master four hundred miles, 390 —
M. Leonard's dogs, Brague and Philaz, 391 — a pointer acts as a
landing-net, 394 — calls the attention of his master to a hare, 394
extraordinary pointer, 395 — a pointer suckles a hedgehog, 398

CONTENTS. XV

THE SETTER.

Its origin and present breed, 400 — smells birds a hundred yards off,
401 — acts as a retriever, 402 — traces a wounded deer, and brings
her master to it next morning, 403 — finds a lost whip, 404 —
gratitude of a dying setter, 405 — friendship with a cat, 406 — a
setter angry with his master for missing birds, 406 — falls in love
with a mongrel, 407 — effect of imagination on pregnant bitches,
408 — Medor brings the keys to his shut-out mistress, 409 —
sagacity in hunting red-legged partridges, 410.

THE PUG DOG.

Its history and progress, 412 — a pug saves the life of the Prince of
Orange, 413 — a lady incurs a pug's displeasure for preventing
him from stealing, 414 — a pug pronounces the wordWilUam, 415
•—ditto Elizabeth, 41&— the Comforter, 416.

THE TURNSPIT.

Recollections of it, 418 — an industrious dog punishes his lazy fellow-
labourer, 419 — one dog forces another to take his turn at the
wheel, 420.

THE FOXHOUND.

Somerville's lines on, 421 — friendship between a fox and a pack of
hounds, 424 — dog always attacks the fox's head, 424 — a hound
finds its way back from Lincolnshire to Frogmore, 425 — dog found
swimming across the Channel, 425 — dog finds its way back from
Ireland to Liverpool, 425 — three hounds escape from their kennel
in Ireland and return to Leicestershire, 426 — bitch after losing
her eye continues to follow the fox, 427 — three hounds hunt a fox
alone for seven hours, 428 — pack of hounds hunt a fox for eight
hours, 428 — a hound follows a fox for thirty hours, 429 — fox-
hound follows with her new-bom pnp in mouth, 429 — hounds
follow a fox for four days, 430 — fox leaps a precipice of sixty yards
and is followed by the hounds, 433 — foxhounds refuse to eat a
bag-fox, 435.

BEAGLE.
Description of; 438 — lines on, by DT^dea«sA'^a^^^^3a.

XVI CONTENTS.

MASTIFF.

Description of, 440 — detects and kills a housebreaker, 443 — mastiff
engages a bear, a leopard, and a lion, 444 — prerents his master
fh>m being murdered by his valet, 446 — gentle towards children,
448 — killed by the wheel of a cart rather than desert his charge,
449 — attacks a horse which had trodden upon him, 450 — drops a
snarling cur into the water, 453.

BULL-DOG.
Description of, 454 — saves a shipwrecked crew, 457.

DALMATIAN OR COACH-DOG.

Finds its way from France to England, 461 — affection for a hotin, 462.

GREAT DANISH DOG.

Discovers a murderer under the bed, 464 — dies of starvation rather
than eat his master's game within reach, 465 — rings a convent bell
for his dinner, 466.

CUR DOG.

Prevents a man from stealing a bridle, 468 — carries his master's
din^r to him daUy, 470 — pursues a pony and conducts him to
the%ble, 474.

LURCHER.

Hunting rabbits, 477 — attacks a fox and is killed by the hounds, 479.

BAN DOG.
Gratitude for a favour conferred, 480.

A Fkench writer has boldly afBrmedj that with the
exception of women there is nothing on earth so
agreeable, or bo necessary to the comfort of man, as
the dog. This assertion may readily be diapnted, but
etill it will be allowed that man, deprived of the com-

IT.

2 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

panionsliip and services of the dog^ would be a solitary
and^ in many respects^ a helpless being. Let us look
at the shepherd^ as the eiwiiiig doses in and his flock
is dispersed over the Anst iBaceessible heights of
mountains; they are speedily collected by his inde-
fatigable dog— nor dor hm services end here : he guards
either the flock or }m nuMler's cotti^e by nighty and
a sli^t caress^ and the coarsest food^ satisfy him for
all hifl trouble. The d(^ performa the services of a
horse im tke more northern regioM; while in Cuba and
some other hot countries^ he haa beaii tiia scourge and
terror of the runaway negroeaw. Eb the destruction of
wild beasts, or the less dangerous stag, or in attacking
the bull, the dog has proved himself to possess pre-
eminent courage. In many instances he has died in
the defence of his master. He has saved him from
drowning, warned him of approaching danger, served
him faithfully in poverty and distress, and if deprived
of sight has gently led him about. When spoken to, he
tries to hold conversation with him by the movement
of his tail or the expression of his eyes. If his master
wants amusement in the field or wood, he is delighted
to have an opportunity of procuring it for him ; if
he finds himself in solitude, his dog will be a cheerful
and agreeable companion, and maybe, when death
comes, the last to forsake the grave of his beloved
master.

There are a thousand little facts connected with
dogs, which many, who do not love them as much as I

INTRODUCTION, 8

do; may not have observed, but which all tend to
develope their character. For instance, every one
knows the fondness of dogs for warmth, and that they
never appear more contented than when reposing on the
rug before a good j6re. If, however, I quit the room,
my dog leaves his warm berth, and places himself at the
door, where he can the better hear my footsteps, and
be ready to greet me when I re-enter. If I am pre-
paring to take a walk, my dog is instantly aware of my
intention. He frisks and jumps about, and is all
eagerness to accompany me. If I am thoughtful or
melancholy, he appears to sympathise with me; and.
On the contrary, when I am disposed to be merry, he
shows by his manner that he rejoices with me. I have
often watched the eflfect which a change in my counte-
nance would produce. If I frown or look severe, but
without saying a word or uttering a sound, the effect is
instantly seen by the ears dropping, and the eyes show-
ing unhappiness, together with a doubtful movement of
the tail. If I afterwards smile and look pleased, the
tail wags joyously, the eyes are filled with delight, and
the ears even are expressive of happiness. Before a
dog, however, arrives at this knowledge of the human
countenance, he must be the companion of your walks,
repose at your feet, and receive his food from your
hands : treated in this manner, the attachment of the
dog is unbounded; he becomes fond, intelligent, and
grateftd. Whenever Stanislas, the unfortunate King
of Poland, wrote to his daughter, he always concbi.^^^

4 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

Ids letter with these words — " Tristan^ my companion in
misfortune^ licks your feet : '' thus showing that he had
still one friend who stuck to him in his adversity.
Such is the animal whose propensities^ instincts^ and
habits^ I propose to illustrate by various anecdotes.

The propensities of the dog^ and some of them are
most extraordinary, appear to be independent of that
instinct which Paley calls, '' a propensity previous to
experience, and independent of instruction.'' Some of
these are hereditary, or derived from the habits of the
parents, and are suited to the purposes to which each
breed has long been and is still applied. In fact, their
organs have a fitness or imfitness for certain functions
without education ; — for instance, a very young puppy
of the St. Bernard breed of dogs, when taken on snow
for the first time, will begin to scratch it with con-
siderable eagerness. I have seen a young pointer of
three or four weeks old stand steadily on first seeing
poultry, and a well-bred terrier puppy will show a great
deal of ferocity at the sight of a rat or mouse.

Sir John Sebright, perhaps the best authority that
can be quoted on this subject, says that he had a puppy
of the wild breed of Australia ; that the mother was
with young when caught, and the puppy was bom in
the ship that brought her over. This animal was so
like a wolf, not only in its appearance, but in all its
habits, that Sir John at first doubted if it really were a
dog, but this was afterwards proved by experiment.

Of all the propensities of the brute creation, the well-

INTRODUCTION. O

known attachment of the dog to man is the most re-
markable^ arising probably from his having been for so
many years his constant companion^ and the object of
his care. That this propensity is not instinctive is
proved, by its not having existed, even in the slightest
degree, in the Australian dog.

Sir John Sebright kept this animal for about a year,
almost always in his room. He fed him himself, and
took every means that he could think of to reclaim him,
but with no effect. He was insensible to caresses, and
never appeared to distinguish Sir John from any other
person. The dog would never follow him,, even from
one room to another ; nor would he come when called,
unless tempted by the offer of food. Wolves and foxes
have shown much more sociability than he did. He
appeared to be in good spirits, but always kept aloof
from the other dogs. He was what would be called
tame for an animal in a menagerie ; that is, he was not
shy, but would allow strangers to handle him, and
never attempted to bite. If he were led near sheep or
poultry, he became quite furious from his desire to
attack them.

Here, then, we see that the propensities that are the
most marked, and the most constant in every breed of
domestic dogs, are not to be found in animals of the
same species in their natural state, or even in their
young, although subjected to the same treatment from
the moment of their birth.

Notwithstanding the above-mex^tvOT^^^W^^^^^oaac^^

6 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

I thinks consider the domestic dog as an smmdlper se;
that is^ that it neither owes its origin to the fox Dor
wolf^ but is sprang from the wild dog. In giving this
opinion^ I am aware that some naturalists have en-
deavoured to trace the origin of the dog from the fox ;
while others^ and some of the most eminent ones^ are
of opinion that it sprung from the wolf. I shall be
able to show that the former is out of the question.
The wolf, perhaps^ has some claim to be considered as
the parent animal^ and that he is susceptible of as strong
attachment as the dog is proved by the following
anecdote^ related by Cuvier.

He informs us^ that a young wolf was brought up
as a dog^ became familiar with every person whom he
was in the habit of seeing^ and in particular^ followed
his master everywhere, evincing evident chagrin at his
absence, obeying his voice, and showing a degree of
submission scarcely differing in any respect from that
of the domesticated dog. His master, being obliged to
be absent for a time, presented his pet to the Menagerie
du Roi, where the animal, confined in a den, continued
disconsolate, and would scarcely eat his food. At
length, however, his health returned, he became attached
to his keepers, and appeared to have forgotten all his
former affection; when, after an absence of eighteen
months, his master returned. At the first word he
uttered, the wolf, who had not perceived him amongst
the crowd, recognised him, and exhibited the most lively
joy. On being set at liberty, the most affectionate

INTRODUCTION. 7

caresses were layished on his old master^ such as the
most attached dog would have shown after an absence
of a few days.

A second separation was followed by similar demon-
strations of sorrow, which, however, again yielded to
time. Three years passed, and the wolf was living
happily in company with a dog, which had been placed
with him, when his master again returned, and again
the long-lost but still-remembered voice was instantly
replied to by the most impatient cries, which were
redoubled as soon as the poor animal was set at
liberty; when, rushing to his master, he threw his
fore-feet on his shoulders, licking his face with the
most lively joy, and menacing his keepers, who
offered to remove him, and towards whom, not a
moment before, he had been showing every mark of
fondness.

A third separation, however, seemed to be too
much for this faithful animal's temper. He became
gloomy, desponding, refused his food, and for a long
time his life appeared in great danger. His health
at last returned, but he no longer suffered the ca-
resses of any but his keepers, and towards strangers
manifested the original savageness of his species.

Mr. Bell, in his " History of Quadrupeds,^' men-
tions a curious fact, which, I think, still more strongly
proves the alliance of the dog with the wolf, and is
indeed exactly similar to what is frequently done by
dogs when in a state of domestication^ li^ xc&sws^^

8 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

us^ that he '^ remembers a bitch-wolf at the Zoolo-
gical Gardens^ which would always come to the front
bars of her den to be caressed as soon as he^ or
any other person whom she knew, approached.
When she had pups, she used to bring them in her
mouth to be noticed; and so eager, in fact, was she
that her little ones should share with her in the notice
of her friends, that she killed all of them in succession
by rubbing them against the bars of her den, as she
brought them forwards to be fondled.^'

Other instances might be mentioned of the strong
attachment felt by wolves to those who have treated
them kindly, but I will now introduce some remarks
on the anatomical affinities between the dog, the fox,
and the wolf, which serve to prove that the dog is
of a breed distinct from either of the last-mentioned
animals.

It must, in fact, be always an interesting matter of
inquiry respecting the descent of an animal so faithful
to man, and so exclusively his associate and his friend,
as the dog. Accordingly, this question has been enter-
tained ever since Natural History took the rank of a
science. But the origin of the dog is lost in antiquity.
We find him occupying a place in the earliest pagan
worship ; his name has been given to one of the first-
mentioned stars of the heavens, and his effigy may be
seen in some of the most ancient works of art. Pliny
was of opinion that there was no domestic animal
without its unsubdued counterpart, and dogs are

INTRODUCTION. 9

known to exist absolutely wild in various parts of
the old and new world. The Dingo of New Hol-
land^ a magnificent animal of this kind^ has been
shown to be susceptible of mutual attachment in a
singular degree, though none of the experiments yet
made have proved that he is capable, like the domestic
dog, of a similar attachment to man. The parentage
of the wild dogs has been assigned to the tame
species, strayed from the dominion of their masters.
This, however, still remains a question, and there is
reason to believe that the wild dog is just as much a
native of the wilderness as the lion or tiger. If there
be these doubts about an animal left for centuries in a
state of nature, how can we expect to unravel the
difficulties accumulated by ages of domestication ?
Who knows for a certainty the true prototype of the
goat, the sheep, or the ox ? To the unscientific reader
such questions might appear idle, as having been
settled from time immemorial ; yet they have never
been finally disposed of. The difficulty, as with the
dog, may be connected with modifications of form and
colour, resulting from the long-continued interference
of man with the breed and habits of animals subjected
to his sway.

Buflfbn was very eloquent in behalf of the claim of
the sheep-dog to be considered as the true ancestor of
all the other varieties. Mr. Hunter would award this
distinction to the wolf; supposing also that the jackal
is the same animal a step fuil\\et ^An^mj.^^ \ss^'^x^

10 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

civilization^ or perhaps the dog returned to its wild
state. As the affinity between wolf^ jackal^ fox, and
dog^ cannot fail to attract the notice of the most super-
ficial observer; so he may ask if they do not all really
belong to one species^ modified by varieties of climate,
food, and education ? If answered in the negative, he
would want to know what constitutes a species, little
thinking that this question, apparently so simple, in-
volves one of the nicest problems in natural history.
Difference of form will scarcely avail us here, for the
pug, greyhound, and spaniel, are wider apart in this
respect, than many dogs and the wild animals just
named. It has often been said that these varieties in
the dog have arisen from artificial habits and breeding
through a long succession of years. This seems very
like mere conjecture. Can the greyhound be trained
to the pointer's scent or the spaniel to the bulldog's
ferocity? But admitting the causes assigned to be
adequate to the effects, then the forms would be tem-
porary, and those of a permanent kind only would
serve our purpose. Of this nature is the shape of the
pupil of the eye, which may be noticed somewhat par-
ticularly, not merely to make it plain to those who
have never thought on the subject, but with the hope
of leading them to reflections on this wondrous inlet to
half our knowledge, the more especially as the part in
question may be examined by any one in his own per-
son by the help of a looking-glass. In the front of
the eye then, just behind the transparent surface, there

INTBODUCTIO¥. 11

is a sort of curtain called the tm, about the middle of
which is a round hole. This is the pupil^ and you will
observe that it contracts in a strong lights and dilates
in a weaker one^ the object of which is to regulate the
quantity of light admitted into the eye. Now the
figure of the pupil is not the same in all animals. In
the horse it is oval ; in the wolf, jackal^ and dog^ it is
rounds like our own, however contracted; but in the
fox, as in the cat, the pupil contracts vertically into an
elongated figure, like the section of a lens, and even to
a sort of slit, if the hght be very strong.

This is a permanent character, not affected, as far
as is at present known, by any artificial or natural cir-
cumstances to which the dog has been subjected.
Naturalists, therefore, have seized upon this character
as the ground for a division of animals of the dog kind,
the great genus Cants of Linnaeus, into two groups, the
diurnal and nocturnal ; not to imply that these habits
necessarily belong to all the individuals composing
either of these divisions, for that would be untrue,
but simply that the figure of the pupils corresponds
with that frequently distinguishing day-roaming ani-
mals from those that prowl only by night. It is re-
markable that a more certain and serviceable specific
distinction is thus afforded by a little anatomical point,
than by any of the more obvious circumstances of
form, size, or colour. Whether future researches into
the minute structure of animals may not discover other
means to assist the naturalist m d\^\.\xi^cli^\sjL^ \iRasSc^

12 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

aUied species, is a most important subject for inquiry,
which cannot be entertained here. But to encourage
those who may be disposed to undertake it, I must
mention the curious fact, that the group to which the
camel belongs is not more certainly indicated by his
grotesque and singular figure than by the form of the
red particles which circulate in his blood. And here
again the inherent interest of the matter wiU lead me
to enter a Uttle into particulars, which may engage any
one who has a good microscope in a most instructive
course of observations, not the least recommendation of
which is, that a just and pleasing source of recreation
may be thus pursued by evening parties in the drawing,
room, since the sUghtest prick of the finger will furnish
^ blood enough for a microscopic entertainment, and you
may readily procure a little more for comparison from
any animal.

Now the redness of the blood is owing to myriads
of minute objects in which the colour of the vital fluid
resides. They were formerly called globules, but as
they are now known to be flattened and disc-like,
they are more properly termed particles or corpuscles.
Their form is wonderfully regular, and so is their size
within certain limits ; in birds, reptiles, or fishes, the
corpuscles are oval. They are circular in man, and all
other mammaha, except in the camel tribe, in which
the corpuscles are oval, though much smaller than in
the lower animals. Thus, in the minutest drop of
blood, any one of the camel family can be surely dis-

INTBODUCTIOX. 13

tinguished from all other animals, even from its allies
among the ruminants ; and what is more to our purpose^
in pursuing this inquiry, Mr. GuUiver has found that
the blood-corpuscles of the dog and wolf agree exactly,
while those of all the true foxes are slightly though
distinctly smaller.

These curious facts are all fully detailed in Mr.
Gulliver's Appendix to the English version of Gerber's
Anatomy, but I think that they are now for the first
time enlisted into the service of Natural History.

Thus we dismiss the fox as an alien to the dog, or,
at all events, as a distinct species. Then comes the
claim of the wolf as the true original of the dog.
Before considering this, let us revert to the question of
what constitutes a species. Mr. Hunter was of opinion
that it is the power of breeding together and of con-
tinuing the breed with each other ; that this is partially
the case between the dog and the wolf is certain, for
Lord Clanbrassil and Lord Pembroke proved the fact
beyond a doubt, above half-a-century ago; and the
following epitaph in the garden at Wilton House is a
curious record of the particulars : —

Here libs Lupa,

Whose Grandmother was a Wolf,

Whose Father and Grandfather were Dogs, and whose

Mother was half Wolf and half Dog.

She died on the 16th of October, 1782,

Aged 12 years.

Conclusive as this fact may appear ^ ^& y^^^to^'^ *^^

14 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

descent of the dog from the wolf, it is not convincing,
the dog having characters which do not belong to the
wolf.

The dog, for instance, guards property with strictest
vigilance, which has been entrusted to his charge ; all
his energies seem roused at night, as though aware
that that is the time when depredations are committed.
His courage is unbounded, a property not possessed by
the wolf: he appears never to forget a kindness, but
soon loses the recollection of an injury, if received
from the hand of one he loves, but resents it if o£fered
by a stranger. His docility and mental pliability
exceed those of any other animal ; his habits are social,
and his fidelity not to be shaken ; hunger cannot
weaken, nor old age impair it. His discrimination is
equal, in many respects, to human intelligence. If he
commits a fault, he is sensible of it, and shows pleasure
when commended. These, and many other qualities,
which might have been enumerated, are distinct from
those possessed by the wolf. It may be said that
domestication might produce them in the latter. This
may be doubted, and is not likely to be proved ; the
fact is, the dog would appear to be a precious gift to
man from a benevolent Creator, to become his friend,
companion, protector, and the indefatigable agent of
his wishes. While all other animals had the fear and
dread of man implanted in them, the poor dog alone
looked at his master with affection, and the tie once
formed was never broken to the present hour.

INTBODDCTION. 15

It should also be mentioned^ in continnation of my
argument^ that the experiment of the wolf breeding
with the dog is of no value^ because it has never been
carried sufficiently far to prove that the progeny would
continue fertile inter se. The wolf has oblique eyes —
the eyes of dogs have never retrograded to that position.
If the dog desc^ided from the wolf^ a constant tendency
would have been observed in the former to revert to the
original type or species. This is a law in all other
cross-breeds — but amongst all the varieties of dogs^ this
tendency has not existed. I may also add^ that as far
as I have been able to ascertain the fact, the number of
teats of the female wolf have never been known to vary.
With respect to the dog, it is known that they do vary,
some having more, aiid others a less number.

Having thus brought forward such arguments as
have occurred to me to prove that the dog is a breed
sm generisy I will give a few anecdotes to show how
different this animal is in his specific character to the
wolf, and that he has a natural tendency to acknowledge
man as his friend and protector, an instinct never shown
by the wolf.

In Ceylon there are a great number of what are
called wild dogs, that is, dogs who have no master,
and who haunt villages and jungles, picking up what
food they are able to find. If you meet one of these
neglected animals, and only look at him with an ex-
pression of kindness, from that moment he attaches

16 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

himself to you^ owns you for his master^ and will re-
main faithful to you for the remainder of his life.

" Man/^ says Bums, " is the God of the dog ; he
knows no other ; and see how he worships him I With
what reverence he crouches at his feet, with what re-
verence he looks up to him, with what delight he fawns
upon him, and with what cheerful alacrity he obeys
him ! "

Such is the animal which the brutality of man sub-
jects to so much ill-treatment; its character depends
very much on that of his master, kindness and con-
fidence produce the same qualities in the dog, while ill-
usage makes him sullen a|id distrustful of beings far
more brutal than himself.

I have had many opportunities of observing how
readily dogs comprehend language, and how they are
aware when they are the subject of conversation. A
gentleman once said in the hearing of an old and
favourite dog, who was at the time basking in the Bxxn,
— "I must have Ponto killed, for he gets old and is
offensive/^ The dog slunk away, and never came near
his master afterwards. Many similar anecdotes might
be brought forward, but I will mention one whidt
Captain Brown tells us he received himself from Sir
Walter Scott.

The wisest dog I ever had,^^ said Sir Walter,
was what is called the bulldog terrier. I taught
him to understand a great many words, insomuch that

INTKODUCTION. 1 7

I am positive that the communication betwixt the
canine species and ourselves might be greatly enlarged.
Camp once bit the baker, who was bringing bread to
the family. I beat him, and explained the enormity of
his oflfence ; after which, to the last :noment of his life,
he never heard the least allusion to the story, in what-
ever voice or tone it was mentioned, without getting up
and retiring into the darkest comer of the room, with
great appearance of distress. Then if you said, ' the
baker was well paid,' or, ^ the baker was not hurt after
all,' Camp came forth from his hiding-place, capered,
and barked, and rejoiced. When he was unable,
towards the end of his life, to attend me when on horse-
back, he used to watch for my return, and the servant
would tell him ' his master was coming down the hill,
or through the moor,' and although he did not use any
gesture to explain his meaning, Camp was never known
to mistake him, but either went out at the front to go
up the hill, or at the back to get down to the moor-side.
He certainly had a singular knowledge of spoken
language/' An anecdote from Sir Walter Scott must
be always pleasing.

Mr. Smellie, in his " Philosophy of Natural History,^'
mentions a cuiious instance of the intellectual faculty
of a dog. He states that ^^a grocer in Edinburgh
had one which for some time amused and astonished
the people in the neighbourhood. A man who went
through the streets ringing a bell and selling pies,
happened one day to treat this dog with. ^ ^\&, ^\>aft.

18 ANBCDOTBS OP DOQS.

next time he heard the pieman's bell he ran impetuoosly
toward him^ aeiied him by the coat, and would not
sufier him to pass. The pieman, who understood what
the animal wanted, showed him a penny, and pointed
to his master, who stood at the street-door, and saw
what was going on. The dog immediately supplicated
his master by many humble gestures and looks, and on
receiving a penny he instantly carried it in his mouth
to the pieman, and received his pie. This traffic be-
tween the pieman and the grocer's dog continued to be
daily practised for several months.''

The afiection which some dogs show to their
masters and mistresses is not only very often surprising,
but even aflkcting. An instance of this lately occurred
at Brighton. The wifo of a member of the town
council at that place had been an invalid for some
time, and at last was confined to her bed. During this
period she was constantly attehded by a faithful and
afiectionate dog, who either slept in her lOomor outside
her <?oor. She died, was buried, and the dog followed
the remains of his beloved mistress to her grave. After
the funeral the husband and his friends returned to the
house, and while they were partaking of some refresh-
ment the dog put its paws on his master's arm, as if to
attract his attention, looked wistfully in his face, and
then laid down and instantly expired.

In giving miscellaneous anecdotes in order to show
the general character of the dog, I may mention the
following very curious one«

INTBODUCTION. 19

During a very severe firost and fall of snow in
Scotland^ the fowls did not make their appearance at
the hour when they usually retired to roost^ and no one
knew what had become of them ; the house-dog at last
entered the kitchen, having in his mouth a hen, ap-
parently dead. Forcing his way to the fire, the saga-
cious animal laid his charge down upon the warm
hearth, and immediately set off. He soon came again
with another, which he deposited in the same place,
and so continued till the whole of the poor birds were
rescued. Wandering about the stack-yard, the fowls
had become quite benumbed by the extreme cold, and
had crowded together, when the dog observing them,
effected their deliverance, for they all revived by the
warmth of the fire.

That dogs possess a faculty nearly allied to reason
cannot, I think, be doubted. Mr. Davy, in his " Angler
in the Lake District,^^ (a charming work), gives one or
two anecdotes in proof of this.

When Mr. Davy was at Ceylon, the Governor of
that Island, the late Sir Robert Brownrigg, had a dog
of more than ordinary sagacity, lie always accom-
panied his master, being allowed to do so, except on
particular occasions, such as going to church or council,
or to inspect his troops, when the Governor usually
wore his sword; but when the dog saw the sword
girded on, he would only follow to the outer door.
Without a word being said, he would return and wait
the coming back of his master, patieutbj \i^\siMSSsss%

20 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

up-stairs at the door of his private apartment. So it is
with respect to my own pet terrier. Phiz. When he
sees me putting on my walking-shoes, my great-coat^
or hat, he is all eagerness to accompany me, jumping
about me and showing his joy. But on Sundays it is
very different. My shoes, irreat-coat or hat, may be
puTon, but he remains peSy resigned on the mg
before the fire, and never attempts or shows any in«
clination to follow me. Is the dog guided in acting
thus by instinct or reason ?

Let me give another instance from Mr. Davy's
work.

Once when he was fishing in the highlands of
Scotland, he saw a party of sportsmen, with their dogs^
cross the stream, the men wading, the dogs swimming,
with the exception of one, who stopped on the bank
piteously howling. After a few minutes he suddenly
ceased, and started off full speed for a higher part of the
stream. Mr. Davy was able to keep him in view, ap
he did not stop till he came to a spot where a p)
connected the banks, on which he crossed dry-fr
and soon joined his companions.

Dogs have sometimes strange fancies with i
to moving from one place to another. A Fellr
College at Cambridge had a dog, which sr
took it into his head to visit his master's us
of resort in London. He would then ret
home in Suffolk, and then go to Cambridge,
at each place as long as he felt disposed to

INTRODUCTION. 21

going and returning with the most perfect indifference
and complacency.

The extraordinary sense of a dog was shown in
the following instance. A gentleman^ residing near
Pontypool, had his horse brought to his house by a
servant. While the man went to the door, the horse
ran away and made his escape to a neighbouring
mountain. A dog belonging to the house saw this,
and of his own accord followed the horse, got hold'
of the bridle and brought him back to the door.

I have been informed of two instances of dogs
having slipped their collars and put their heads into
them again of their own accord, after having committed
depredations in the night, and I have elsewhere men-
tioned the fact of a dog, now in my possession, who
undid the collar of another dog chained to a kennel
near him. These are curious instances of sense and
sagacity.

Mr. Bell, in his " History of British Quadrupeds,'^
gives us the following fact of a dog belonging to a
friend of his. This gentleman dropped a louis d'or
one morning, when he was on the point of leaving his
house. On returning late at night, he was told by
his servant that the dog had fallen sick, and refused
to eat, and, what appeared very strange, she would
not suffer him to take her food away from before her,
but had been lying with her nose close to the vessel,
without attempting to touch it. On Mr. Bell's friend
entering the room, the dog vcL-at^CLXX:^ Y^sss^^^ ^5;:^<5s^

22 AK£CDOTE8 OF DOGS.

him^ laid the money at his feet^ and began to devour
her victuals with great voracity.

It is a curious fact that dogs can count time. I
had, when a boy, a favourite terrier, which always went
with me to church. My mother^ thinking that he
attracted too much of my attention^ ordered the servant
to fasten him up every Sunday momingi He did so
once or twice, but never afterwards. Trim concealed
liimself every Sunday morning, and either met me as I
entered the church, or I found him under my seat in
the pew. Mr. Southey, in his " Omniana,^^ informs us
that he knew of a dog, which was brought up by a
Catholic and afterwards sold to a Protestant, but still
he refused to eat anything on a Friday.

Dogs have been known to die from excess of joy at
seeing their masters after a long absence. An English
officer had a large dog, which he left with his family
in England, while he accompanied an expedition to '
America during the war of the Colonies. Throughout
his absence, the animal appeared very much dejected.
When the officer returned home, the dog, who happened
to be lying at the door of an apartment into which hit
master was about to enter, immediately recognised him^
leapt upon his neck, licked his face, and in a few
minutes fell dead at his feet. A favourite spaniel of a
lady recently died on seeing his beloved mistress afiter
a long absence.

A gentleman who had a dog of a most endearing
disposition, was obliged to go a journey periodical^

INTRODUCTION. 23

once a-montli. His stay was shorty and his departure
and return very regular, and without variation. Tlie
dog always grew uneasy when he first lost his master^
and moped in a corner^ but recovered himself gradually
as the time for his return approached ; which he knew
to an hour^ nay, to a minute. When he was convinced
that his master was on the road, at no great distance
from home, he flew all over the house ; and if the street
door happened to be shut, he would suffer no servant
to have any rest until it was opened. The moment he
obtained his freedom away he went, and to a certainty
met his benefactor about two miles from town. He
played and frohcked about him till he had obtained
one of his gloves, with which he ran or rather flew
home, entered the house, laid it down in the middle of
the room, and danced round it. When he had suffi-
ciently amused himself in this manner, out of the house
he flew, returned to meet his master, and ran before
him, or gambolled by his side, till he arrived with him
at home. " I know not (says Mr. Dibdin, who relates
this anecdote), how frequently this was repeated ; but
it lasted till the old gentleman grew infirm, and inca-
pable of continuing his journeys. The dog by this
time was also grown old, and became at length blind ;
but this misfortune did not hinder him from fondling
his master, whom he knew from every other person,
and for whom his affection and solicitude rather in-
creased than diminished. The old gentleman, after a
short illness, died. The dog knew tVkft ca^\xsas5y«aRfc^

24 ANECDOTEA OF DOGS.

watched the corpse^ blind as he was^ and did hit
utmost to prevent the undertaker from screwing up the
body in the coffin^ and most outrageously opposed it^
being taken out of the house. Being past hope^ be
grew diMConsolate^ lost his fleshy and was evidently
verp;ing towards his end. One day he heard a gentle-
man come into the house^ and he ran to meet bim.
His master being old and infirm, wore ribbed stockings
for warmth. The gentleman had stockings on of the
same kind. The dog perceived it^ and thought it was
his master, and began to exhibit the most extravagant
signs of pleasure ; but upon further examination finding
his mistake, he retired into a comer, where in a short
time he expired.^'

Some dogs are so faithful that they will never quit
a thing entrusted to their charge, and will defend it to
the utmost of their power. This may be often observed
in the case of a cur, lying on the coat of a labourer
while he is at work in the fields, and in those of carriers'
and bakers' dogs. An instance is on record of a chim-
ney-swee[)er having placed his soot-bag in the street
under the care of his dog, who suffered a cart to drive
over and crush him to death, sooner than abandon hit
charg(i. Colonel Hamilton Smith, in the ^^ Cyclopaedia
of Natural History,^' mentions a curious instance of
fidelity and sagacity in a dog. He informs us that-
"in the neighbourhood of Cupar, in the county of
Fife, tlu^re lived two dogs, mortal enemies to each
other, and who always fought desperately whenever

INTRODUCTION. 25

they met. Capt. R was the master of one of

them^ and the other belonged to a neighbouring farmer.
Capt. R ^8 dog was in the practice of going mes-
sages^ and even of bringing batchers^ meat and other
articles from Cupar. One day^ while returning charged
with a basket containing some pieces of mutton^ he
was attacked by some of the curs of the town, who, no
doubt, thought the prize worth contending for. The
assault was fierce, and of some duration ; but the mes-
senger, after doing his utmost, was at last overpowered
and compelled to yield up the basket, though not
before he had secured a part of its contents. The piece
saved from the wreck he ran off with, at full speed, to
the quarters of his old enemy, at whose feet he laid it
down, stretching himself beside it till he had eaten it
up. A few snuffs, a few whispers in the ear, and other
dog-like courtesies, were then exchanged ; after which
they both set off together for Cupar, where they worried
almost every dog in the town ; and, what is more re-
markable, they never afterwards quarrelled, but were
always on friendly terms."

That society and culture soften and moderate the
passions of dogs cannot be doubted, and tjiey con-
stantly imbibe feelings from those of their master.
Thus, if he is a coward, his dog is generally found to
be one. Dogs are, however, in many respects, rational
beings ; and some proofs of this will be given in the
present work. They will watch the countenance of

26 ANSCIKmS Of DOOfl*

their master — they will understand words^ whieb^
though addressed to others^ they will apply to them'
selves^ and act accordingly. Thus a dog, which, from
its mangy state, was ordered to be destroyed, took the
first opportunity of quitting the ship, and would never
afterwards come near a sailor belonging to it. If I
desire the servant to wash a little terrier, who is appa-
rently asleep at my feet, he will quit the room, and
hide himself for some hours. A dog, though pressed
with hunger, will never seize a piece of meat in pre-
sence of his master, though with his eyes, his move-
mimtH, and his voice, he will make the most humble
and expressive petition. Is not this reasoning ?

But there is one faculty in the dog which would
appf;ar perfcM^ly incomprehensible. It is the sense ol
smelling. He will not only scent various kinds of
game at considerable distances, but he has been knowr
U) traci; the odour of his master^s feet through all ^
winding streets of a populous city. This extreme
sibility is very wonderful. It would thus appea
the f(;(;Iings of dogs are more exquisite than oui
They have sensations, but their faculty of conr
them, or of fonning id(;as, is much circumscri'
do^ eari imitate; noma human ai.'tions, and is r
rc^jciving a ci;rtain degrw; of inKtnietiem ; bi
gr(;HM Hixm stops. It is, however, an animal t
alwayM fie loved and treated with kindnes'
curious fact, that dogs who have had their <

INTRODUCTION. 27

cat for many generations^ transmit these defects to
their descendants. Drovers' dogs^ which may always
be seen with short tails^ are a proof of this.

A pleasing character of the dog is given in Smellie's
" Philosophy of Natural History.'^ He says : —

^^ The natural sagacity and talents of the dog are
well known, and justly celebrated. But when these are
improved by association with man, and by education^
he becomes, in some measure, a rational being. The
senses of the dog, particularly that of scenting distant
objects, give him a superiority over every other quad-
ruped. He reigns at the head of a flock ; and his lan-
guage, whether expressive of blandishment or of com-
mand, is better heard and better understood than the
voice of his master. Safety, order, and discipline, are
the efiects of his vigilance and activity. Sheep and
cattle are his subjects. These he conducts and protects
with prudence and bravery, and never employs force
against them except for the preservation of peace and
good order. But when in pursuit of his prey, he makes
a complete display of his courage and intelligence. In
this situation both natural and acquired talents are
exerted. As soon as the horn or voice of the hunter
is heard, the dog demonstrates his joy by the most
expressive emotions and accents. By his movements
and cries he announces his impatience for combat, and
his passion for victory. Sometimes he moves silently
along, reconnoitres the ground, and endeavours to dis-
cover and surprise the enemy, M. ^XJast >C\ssnr»» \iR.

28 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

traces the animaPs stcps^ and by different modulations
of voice, and by the movements^ particularly of his tail^
indicates the distance^ the species^ and even the age of
the fugitive deer. All these movements and modifi-
cations of voice are perfectly understood by experienced
hunters. When he wishes to get into an apartment he .
comes to the door; if that is shut^ he scratches with
his foot, makes a bewailing noise, and, if his petition is
not soon answered, he barks with a peculiar and humble
voice. The shepherd^s dog not only understands the
language of his master, but, when too distant to be
heard, he knows how to act by signals made with the
hand."

Mr. Brockedon, in his " Journal of Excursions in
the Alps," says: — "In these valleys, the early hours
of retirement placed us in the difficult situation of
fighting our way to the inn door at Lanslebourg against
a magnificent Savoyard dog, who barked and howled
defiance at our attempts, for which he stood some
chance of being shot. At length a man, hearing our
threats, popped his head out of a window, and en-
treated ()\ir forbearance. We were soon admitted^ and
refreshments amply provided. I had heard a story of

a duel fought here from Mr. N , in which he was

a ])rincipal, about a dog ; and upon inquiry learnt that
thin was the same animal. A party of four young
ofFic(jrs, returning from Genoa, stopped here. Mr.

N had brought with him a beautiful little pet dog,

which had been presented to him by a lady on his

INTRODUCTION. 29

leaving Genoa. Struck by the appearance of the fine
dog at the inn^ one of the officers bought it. He was
fairly informed that the dog had been already sold to
an Englishman^ who had taken it as far as Lyons^
where the dog escaped^ and returned (two hundred
miles) to Lanslebourg. The officer who made the pur-
chase intended to fasten it in the same place with the

little dog. This Mr. N objected to ; when his

brother-officer made some offijnsive allusions to the
lady from whom the pet had been received. An apology
was demanded^ and refused. Swords were instantly

drawn; they fought in the room. Mr. N wounded

and disarmed his antagonist; an apology for the in-
jurious reflections •followed, and the party proceeded to
England. The dog was taken safely as far as Paris,
where he again escaped, and returned home (five hun-
dred miles). I was now informed that the dog had
been sold a third time to an Englishman ; and again,
in spite of precautions having been taken, he had re-
turned to Lanslebourg from Calais."

A Scotch grazier, named Archer, having lost his
way, and being benighted, at last got to a lone cottage ;
where, on his being admitted, a dog which had left
Archer's house four years before immediately recog-
nised him, fawned upon him, and when he retired for
the night followed him into the chamber where he was
to lie, and there, by his gestures, induced him narrowly
to examine it ; and then Archer saw sufficient to assure
him that he was in the house of murderers. Rendered

80 ANECDOTES OP DOGS.

desperate by the terrors of his situation^ he burst into
the room where the banditti were assembled, and
wounded his insidious host by a pistol-shot; and in
the confusion which the sudden explosion occasioned,
he opened the door ; and, notwithstanding he was fired
at, accompanied by his dog Brutus, exerted all the
speed which danger could call forth until daylight,
which enabled him to perceive a house, and the main
road, at no great distance. Upon his arrival at the
house, and telling the master of it his story, he called
np some soldiers that were there quartered, and who,
by the aid of the dog, retraced the way back to the
cottage. Upon examining the building a trap-door
was found, which opened into a plaee where, amongst
the mangled remains of several pennons, was the body
of the owner, who had received the shot from the
grazier's pistol in his neck; and although not dead,
had been, by the wretches his associates, in their quick
retreat, thrown into this secret cemetery. He waa^
however, cured of his wound, delivered up to justice,
tried, and executed.* ^■

A merchant had received a large sum of money;
and being fatigued with riding in the heat of the di^,
had retired to re];>08e himself in the shade ; and upoa
remounting his horse, had forgotten to take up the bag
wliieh contained the money. His dog tried to remind
his master of his inadvertency by crying and barking;,
which 80 surprised the merchant, that, in crossing a

* Danierg *' Rural SporUJ'

INTRODUCTION. 31

brook^ lie observed whether the dog drank^ as he had
his suspicions of his being mad ; and which were con-
firmed by the dog^s not lapping any water^ and Ifj his
increased barking and howling, and at length by his
endeavouring to bite the heels of the horse. Impressed
with the idea of the dog's madness^ to prevent further
mischief, he discharged his pistol at him^ and the dog
fell. After riding some distance with feelings that will
arise in every generous breast at the destruction of an
affectionate animal, he discovered that his money was
missing. His mind was immediately struck that the
actions of the dog, which his impetuosity had con-
strued into madness, were only efforts to remind him
of his loss. He galloped back to where he had fired
his pistol; but the dog was gone from thence with
equal expedition to the spot where he had reposed.
But what were the merchant's feelings when he per-
ceived his faithful dog, in the struggles of death, lying
by the side of the bag which had been forgotten ! The
dog tried to rise, but his strength was exhausted. He
stretched out his tongue to lick the hand that was now
fondling him with all the agony of regret for the
wound its rashness had inflicted, and casting a look
of kindness on his master, closed his eyes for ever.*

I am indebted to a well-known sportsman for the
following interesting account of some of his dogs. It
affords another proof how much kindness will do in
bringing out the instinctive faculties of these animals ;

* Daniers " Rural Sports."

82 ANECDOTES OF DOOS.

and that; when properly educated^ their scnse^ courage^
and attachment are most extraordinary.

'^ Smoaker was a deer greyhound of the largest size,
but of his pedigree I know nothing. In speed he was
equal to any hare greyhound; at the same time^ in
spirit he was indomitable. He was the only dog I
ever knew who was a match for a red stag^ single-
handed. From living constantly in the drawing-room^
and never being separated from me^ he became ac-
quaint<;d with almost the meaning of every word —
certainly of every sign. His retrieving of game was
equal to any of the retrieving I ever saw in any other
dogH. He would leap over any of the most dangerous
spikes at a sign^ walk up and come down any ladder^
and catch; without hurting it; any particular fowl out
of a number that wan pointed out to him. If he
niiHK(;(l trie from the drawing-room^ and had doubts
about my being in the housC; he would go into the hall
and look for my hat : if he found it; he would return
contented ; but if he did not find it; he would proceed
up-HtairM to a window at the very top of the housC; and
look from the window each way; to ascertain if I were
in Hi^lit. One day in shooting at Cranford; with hit
lut(; Royal HighnesM the Duke of York, a pheasant fell
on th(; other Hide of the Ntrcam. The river was frozen
over; but in croKning to fetch the pheasant the icd
brokc; and let Hmoaker in; to some inconvenienof*
lie pi(!ked up the pheasant; and inNteiul of trying tba
ice uf^diri; he took it many hundred yards tound to the

INTRODUCTION. 33

bridge. Sm^aker died at the great age of eighteen
years. His son Shark was also a beautiful dog. He
was by Smoaker out of a common greyhound bitchy
called Vagrant^ who had won a cup at Swaffham.
Shark was not so powerful as Smoaker ; but he was/
nevertheless^ a Ikrge-sized dog^ and was a first-rate
deer greyhound and retriever. He took his father's
place on the rug, and was inseparable from me. He
was educated and entered at deer under Smoaker.
When Shark was first admitted to the house, it chanced
that one day he and Smoaker were left alone in a room
with a table on which luncheon was laid. Smoaker
might have been left for hours with meat on the table^
and he would have died rather than have touched it;
but at that time Shark was not proof against tempta-
tion. I left the room to hand some lady to her car-
riage, and as I returned by the window, I looked in.
Shark was on his legs, smelling curiously round the
table; whilst Smoaker had risen to a sitting posture,
his ears pricked, his brow frowning, and his eyes in-
tently fixed on his son^s actions. After tasting several
viands, Shark's long nose came in contact with about
half a cold tongue ; the morsel was too tempting to be
withstood. For all the look of curious anger with
which his father was intently watching, the son stole
the tongue and conveyed it to the floor. No sooner
had he done so, than the offended sire rushed upon
him, rolled him over, beat him, and took away the
tongue. Instead, though, of replacing it on the table^

1>

34 ANKCDOTEB OF D008.

the father contented himself with the punishment he
had administered, and retired with great gravity to the
fire.

^^ I was once waiting hy moonlight for wild dncke
on the Ouze in Bedfordshire, and I killed a couple on
the water at a shot. The current Was strong; but
Shark, having fetched one of the birds, was well aware
there was another. Instead, therefore, of returning by
water to look for the second, he ran along the banks,
as if aware that the strong stream would have carried
the bird further down ; looking in the water till he saw
it, at least a hundred yards from the spot where he had
left it in bringing the first ; when he also brought that
to me. Nothing could induce either of these dogs
to fetch a glove or a stick : I have often seen game fall
close to me, and they would not attempt to touch it.
It seemed as if they simply desired to be of service
when service was to be done; and that when there
were no obstacles to be conquered, they had no wish to
interfere. Shark died at a good old age, and was suc-
ceeded by his son Wolfe. Wolfe^s mother was a New-
foundland bitch. He was also a large and powerful
dog, but of course not so speedy as his ancestors.
While residing at my country house, being my con-
stant companion, Wolfe accompanied me two or three
times a-day in the breeding season to feed the young
pheasants and partridges reared under hens. On going
near the coops, I put down my gun, made Wolfe a
sign to sit down by it, and fed the birds, with some

INTRODUCTION. 85

caution^ that they might not be in any way scared.- I
mention this^ because I am sure that dogs learn more
firom the manner and method of those they love^ than
they do from direct teaching. In front of the windows
on the lawn there was a large bed of shrubs and
flowers^ into which the rabbits used to cross, and where
I had often sent Wolfe in to drive them for me to
shoot. One afternoon, thinking that there might be
a rabbit, I made Wolfe the usual sign to go and drive
the shrubs, which he obeyed; but ere he had gone
some yards beneath the bushes, I heard him make a
peculiar noise with his jaws, which he always made
when he saw anything he did not like, and he came
softly back to me with a sheepish look. I repeated
the sign, and encouraged him to go ; but he never got
beyond the spot he had been to in the first instance,
and invariably returned to me with a very odd ex-
pression of countenance. Curiosity tempted me to
creep into the bushes to discover the cause of the dog^s
unwonted behaviour ; when there, I found, congregated
under one of the shrubs, eight or nine of my young
pheasants, who had for the first time roosted at a dis-
tance from their coop. Wolfe had seen and known the
young pheasants, and would not scare them.

" Wolfe was the cause of my detecting and dis-
charging one of my gamekeepers. I had forbidden
my rabbits to be killed until my return; and the
keeper was ordered simply to walk Wolfe to exercise
on the farm. There was a large stone quarry \si ^3cL^

36 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

vicinity, where there were a good many rabbits^ some
parts of which were so steep, that though you might
look over the cliflF, and shoot a rabbit below, neither
man nor dog could pick him up without going a con-
siderable way round. On approaching the edge of the
quarry to look over for a rabbit, I was surprised at
missing Wolfe, who invariably stole off in another
direction, but always the same way. At last, on shoot-
ing a rabbit, I discovered that he invariably went to
the only spot by which he could descend to pick up
whatever fell to the gun; and by this I found that
somebody had shot rabbits in his presence at timeti
when I was from home.

*^ Wolfe accompanied me to my residence in Hamp-
shire, and there I naturalised, in a wild state, some
white rabbits. For the first year the white ones were
never permitted to be killed, and Wolfe saw that such
was the case. One simimer^s afternoon I shot a white.
rabbit for the first time, and Wolfe jumped the garden-
fence to pick the rabbit up ; but his astonishment and
odd sheepish look, when he found it was a white one,-
were curious in the extreme. He dropped his stem,
made his usual snap with his jaws, and came back
looking up in my face, as much as to say, 'YouVe
made a mistake, and shot a white rabbit, but IVe not
picked him up/ I was obliged to assure him that I
intended to shoot it, and to encourage him before lie ■
would return and bring the rabbit to me. Wolfe died
when he was about nine years old, and was succeeded >

INTRODUCTION. 87

by my present favourite, Brenda, a hare greyhoimd of
the highest caste. Brenda won the Oak stakes of her
year, and is a very fast and stout greyhoimd. I have
taught her to retrieve game to the gun, to drive home
the game from dangerous sands, and, in short, to do
everything but speak; and this she attempts, by
making a beautiful sort of bark when she wants her
dinner.

'^ I have the lop-eared rabbit naturalised, and in a
half-wild and wild state, and Brenda is often to be
seen with some of the tamest of them asleep in the sun
on the lawn together. When the rabbits have been
going out into a dangerous vicinity, late in the evening,
I have often sent Brenda to drive them home, and to
course and kill the wild ones if she could. I have
seen one of the wild-bred lop-ears get up before her,
and I have seen her make a start to course it; but
when she saw that it was not a native of the soil she
would stop and continue her search for others. The
next moment I have seen her course and kill a wild
rabbit. She is perfectly steady from hare if I tell her
not to run, and is, without any exception, one of the
prettiest and most useful and engaging creatures ever
seen. She is an excellent rat-kUler also, and has an
amazing antipathy to a cat. When I have been ab-
sent from home for some time, Mrs. B. has observed
that she is alive to every sound of a wheel, and if the
door-bell rings she is the first to fly to it. When
walking on the sea-beach during my absence^ ^Vj^r. Sa.

38 ANECDOTES OP DOGS.

greatly interested in every boat she sees^ and watches
them with the most intense anxiety^ as in the yachting
season she has known me return by sea. Brenda
Y^ovld take my part in a row^ and she is a capital
house-dog. If ever the heart of a creature was given
to man^ this beautiful^ graceful^ and clever animal has
given me hers^ for her whole existence is either passed
in watching for my return^ or in seeking opportunities
to please me when I am at home. It is a great mis-
take to suppose that severity of treatment is necessary
to the education of a dog^ or that it is serviceable in
making him steady. Manner — marked and impresrive
manner — is that which teaches obedience^ and example
rather than command forms the desired character.

'^I had two foxhounds when I hunted stag^ — my
pack were all foxhounds, — they were named Bachelor
and Blunder. We used to play with them together^
and they got to know each other by name. In return-
ing from hunting, my brother and myself used to
amuse ourselves by saying, in a peculiar tone of voice,
— the one we used to use in playing with them—
' Bachelor, whereas Blunder ? ' On hearing this,
Bachelor^s stem and bristles rose, and he trotted
about among the pack, looking for Blunder, and when
he found him he would push his nose against his ear
and growl at him. Thus Bachelor evidently knew
Blunder by name, and this arose from the way in
which we used to play with them. At this moment,
when far away from home, and after an absence of

INTBODUCTION. 39

many weeks^ if I sing a particular song^ which I
always sing to a dog named Jessie^ Brenda, though
staying in houses where she had never seen Jessie^ will
get up much excited^ and look to the door and out of
the window in expectation of her friend. I have a
great pleasure in the society of all animals, and I love
to make my house a place where all may meet in rest
and good fellowship. This is far easier to achieve than
people would think for when dogs are kindly used, but
impressed with ideas of obedience.

'^ The gazelle which came home from Acre in the
Thunderer, was one evening feeding from Mrs. B.'s
plate at dessert, when Odion, the great deerhound,
who was beaten in my match against the five deer by
an unlucky stab in the first course, came in by special
invitation for his biscuit. The last deer he had seen
previous to the gazelle he had coursed and pulled
do\fn. The strange expression of his dark face was
beautiful when he first saw her ; and halting in his
run up to me, he advanced more slowly directly to her,
she met him also in apparent wonder at his great size,
and they smeUed each others^ faces. Odion then kissed
her, and came to me for his biscuit, and never after
noticed her. She will at times butt him if he takes
up too much of the fire ; but this she will not do to
Brenda, except in play ; and if she is eating from Mrs.
Berkeley's hand, Brenda by a pecuUar look can send
her away and take her place. Odion, the gazelle,
Brenda, and the rabbits, will all quietly l^^ ^'Sk. ^<i

40 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

lawn together^ and the gazelle and Bruiser^ an immense
house-dqg between the bloodhound and mastiff^ will
run and play together.

" I had forgotten to mention a bull-and-mastifif dog
that I had^ called Grumbo. He was previous to
Smoaker^ and was indeed the first four-footed com-
panion established in my confidence. I was then very
youngs and of course inclined to anything like a row.
Grumbo^ therefore^ was well entered in all kinds of
strife — bulls, oxen, pigs, men, dogs, all came in
turn as combatants; and Grumbo had the oddest
ways of making men and animals the aggressors I ever
knew. He seemed to make it a point of honour never
to begin, but on receiving a hint from me ; some one
of his enemies was sure to commence the battle, and
then he or both of us would turn to as an oppressed
party. I have seen him walk leisurely out into the
middle of a field where oxen were grazing, and then
throw himself down. Either a bull or the oxen were
sure to be attracted by the novel sight, and come
dancing and blowing round him. All this he used to
bear with the most stoical fortitude, till some one moss
forward than the rest touched him with the horn*
^ War to the knife, and no favour,' was then the cry ;
and Gnimbo had one of them by the nose directly.
He being engaged at odds, I of course made in to help
him, and such a scene of confusion used to follow as
was scarce ever seen. Grumbo tossed in the air, and
then some beast pinned by the nose would lie down

INTRODUCTION. , 41

and bellow. I should all this time be swinging round
on to some of their tails^ and so it would go on till
Grumbo and myself were tired and our enemies happy
to beat a retreat. If he wished to pick a quarrel with
a man, he would walk listlessly before him till the
man trod on him, and then the row began. Grumbo
was the best assistant, night or day, for catching delin-
quents, in the world. As a proof of his thoughtful
sagacity, I give the following fact. He was my sole
companion when I watched two men steal a quantity
of pheasants^ eggs : we gave chase ; but before I could
come near them, with two hundred yards start of me,
they fled. There was no hope of my overtaking them
before they reached the village of Harlington, so I
gave Grumbo the office. Off he went, but in the chase
the men ran up a headland on which a cow was
tethered. They passed the cow; and when the dog
came up to the cow he stopped, and, to my horror,
contemplated a grab at the tempting nose. He was,
however, uncertain as to whether or not this would be
right, and he looked back to me for further assurance. I
made the sign to go ahead, and he understood it, for
he took up the running again, and disappeared down a
narrow pathway leading through the orchards to the
houses. When I turned that corner, to my infinite
delight I found him placed in the narrow path, directly
in front of one of the poachers, with such an evident
determination of purpose, that the man was standing
stock still, afraid to stir either hand or foot. I cax&&

43 ANECDOTES OF DOOS.

up and secured the offender^ and bade the dog be
quiet/'

It is^ I believe^ a fact^ and if no, it is a curious om^
that the dog in a wild state only howls; but when be
bcc^^mcH the friend and companion of man, he has then
wants and wishes, hopes and fears, joys and 8onow%
to which in his wilder state he appears to have been a
stranger. His vocabulary, if it may be so called, then
increases, in order to express his enlarged and varying
emotions. He anticipates rewards and punishDient%
and learns to solicit the former and deprecate the
latter. He bounds exultingly forth to accompany his
master in his walks, rides, and sports of the field. He
acts as the faithful guardian of his property. He is his
fire-HJde cr^mpanion, evidently discerns days of house-
hold mirth or grief, and deports himself accordingly.
Hencf;, his energies and his sensibilities are all expanded^
and what he feels he se<;ks to tell in various acoenti^
and in different ways. For instance, our little dog
comes and pulls his mistress's gown and makes signifi-
cant whines, if any one is in or about the premises
whom he thinks has no right to be there. I have seea
a dog pick up a stick and bring it in his mouth to Ids
master, lo^^king at the water first and then at Ins
master^ evidently that the stick might be thrown into
it, that he might have the pleasure of swimming after
it. In my younger days, I was in the habit of teajstng
a favourite dog by twitching his nose and pretending
to pull his ears. He would snap gently at me, but i(

INTBOD UCTION. 43

by accident^ he gave me rather a harder bite than he
had intended, he became instantly aware of it, and ex-
pressed his regret in a way not to be mistaken. Dogs
who have hurt or cut themselves will submit patiently
while the wound is being dressed, however much the
operation may hurt them. They become instantly
sensible that no punishment is intended to be inflicted,
and I have seen them lick the hand of the operator, as
if grateful for what he was doing. Those who are in
the habit of having dogs constantly in the room with
them, will have perceived how alive they are to the
slightest change in the countenance of their master ;
how gently they will touch him with their paw when
he is eating, in order to remind him of their own want of
food; and how readily they distinguish the movements of
any inmate of the house from those of a stranger. These,
and many other circumstances which might be men-
tioned, show a marked distinction between a domesti-
cated dog and one that is wild, or who has lived with
people who are in an uncivilized state, such as the
Esquimaux, &c. Both the wild and domestic dog,
however, appear to be possessed of and to exercise fore-
thought. They will bury or hide food, which they are
unable to consume at once, and return for it. But the
domestic dog, perhaps, gives stronger proofs of fore-
thought ; and I will give an instance of it. A large
metal pot, turned on one side, in which a great quantity
of porridge had been boUed, was set before a Newfound-
land puppy of three or four months old. At fir«t^ Ickfc

44 ANECDOTES OF DOOB.

contented himself by licking off portions of the oatmeal
which adhered to the interior, but finding this unsatis-
factory, he scraped the morsels with his fore-paws into
a heap, and then ate the whole at once. I had a dog,
who, having once scalded his tongue, always afterwards,
when I gave him his milk and water at breakfast^ put
his paw very cautiously into the saucer, to see if the
liquid was too hot, before he would touch it with hit
tongue.

Dogs have frequently been known to hunt in conples;
that is, to assist each other in securing their prey: thuB
associating together and admitting of no partnership.

At Palermo, in Sicily, there is an extraordinaiy
quantity of dogs wandering about without owners.
Amongst the number, two more particularly distin*
guishcd themselves for their animosity to cats. One day
they were in pursuit of a cat, which, seeing no other
place of refuge near, made her escape into a long earthen
water-pipe which was lying on the ground. These two
inseparable companions, who always supported each
other, pursued the cat to the pipe, where they were
seen to stop, and apparently to consult each other as to
what was to be done to deceive and get possession of the
poor cat. After they had stood a short time they
divided, taking post at each end of the pipe, and began
to back alternately, thus giving the cat reason to sup-
pose that they were both at one end, in order to induce
her to come out. This manoeuvre had a succesafbl
result, and the cheated cat left her hiding-place.

. INTRODUCTION. 4&

Scarcely had she ventured out, when she was seized by
one of the dogs ; the other hastened to his assistance^
and in a few moments deprived her of life/'*

The memory of dogs is quite extraordinary, and only
equalled by that of the elephant. Mr. Swainson, in
his work on the instincts of animals, gives the following
proof of this. He says that " A spaniel belonging to
the Eev. H. N., being always told that he must not
follow his master to church on Sundays, used on those
days to set ofiF long before the service, and lie concealed
under the hedge, so near the church, that at length the
point was yielded to him.'' My little parlour dog never
ofiFers to go with me on a Simday, although on other
days he is perfectly wild to accompany me in my
walks.

In my younger days I had a favourite dog, which
always accompanied me to church. My mother, seeing
that he attracted too much of my attention, ordered
the servant to shut him every Sunday morning.
This was done once, but never afterwards; for he
concealed himself early every Sunday morning, and
I was sure to find him either under my seat at
church, or else at the church-door. That dogs
clearly distinguish the return of Sunday cannot be
doubted.

The almost incredible penetration and expedition
with which dogs are known to return to their former
homes, from places to which they have been sent, or

* Thornton's •* Instincts."

46 ANECDOTES OF D0G8.

carried in such a recluse way as not to retain a trace of
the road^ will ever continue to excite the greatest
admiration.

A dog having been given by a gentleman at Wiven-
hoe to the captain of a collier^ he took the dog on
board his vessel^ and landed him at Sunderland; bat
soon after his arrival there the dog was missing, and in
a very few days arrived at the residence of his old master,
in Essex. A still more extraordinary circumstance is
upon record^ of the late Colonel Hardy, who, having been
sent for express to Bath, was accompanied by a favourite
spaniel bitch in his chaise, which he never quitted tiU
his arrival there. After remaining there four days, he
accidentally left his spaniel behind him, and returned to
his residence at Springfield, in Essex, with equal expedi-
tion; where, in three days after, his faithfurand steady
adherent arrived also, notwithstanding the distance
between that place and Bath is 140 miles, and she had
to explore her way through London, to which she had
never been, except in her passage to Bath, and then
within the confines of a close carriage.''*

In the small town of Melbourne, in Derbyshire, cocki
and hens may be seen running about the streets. One
day a game cock attacked a small bantam, and they fought
furiously, the bantam having, of course, the worst of it.
Some persons were standing about looking at the fight,
when my informant's house-dog suddenly darted out,
snatched up the bantam in his mouth, and carried it

* ** Sportiman*! Cabinet"

. INTRODUCTION, 47

into tlie house. Several of the spectators followed^
believing that the poor fowl would be killed and eaten
by the dog ; but his intentions were of a mote benevolent
nature. After guarding the entrance of the kennel for
some time^ he trotted down the yard into the street^
looked about to the right and left^ and seeing that the
coast was clear^ he went back again^ and once more
returning with his protege in his mouth, safely deposited
him in the street, and then walked quietly away. How
few human beings would have acted as this dog had done 4

Here is another curious anecdote from Mr. Davy's
work. He says that the cook in the house of a friend
of his, a lady on whose accuracy he could rely, and from
whom he had the anecdote, missed a marrow-bone. Sus-
picion fell on a well-behaved dog — a great favourite, and
up to that time distinguished for his honesty. He was
charged with the theft ; he hung down his tail, and for
a day or two was altered in his manner, having become
shy, sullen, and sheepish, to use these expressions for
want of better. In this mood he continued, till, to
the amusement of the cook, he brought back the bone
and laid it at her feet. Then, with the restoration of
her stolen property, he resumed his cheerful manner.
How can we interpret this conduct of the dog, better
than by supposing that he was aware he had done amiss,
and that the evil doing preyed on him till he had made
restitution ? Was not this a kind of moral sense ?

If a dog finds a bone while he is accompanying his
master in a walk, he does not stay behind to gnaw it^

48 ANXCDOTXS 07 DO08.

but runs some distance in advance^ attacks tbe bone,
waits till his master comes up^ and then proceeds for-
ward again with it. By acting in this manner, he ner^
loses sight of his master.

A dog has been known to convey food to another of
his species who was tied up and pining for want of it.
A dog has frequently been seen to plunge voluntarily
into a rapid stream, to rescue another that was in
danger of drowning. He has defended helpless curt
from the attacks of other dogs, and learns to appor-
tion punishment according to the provocation received,
frequently disdaining to exercise his power and strength
on a weaker adversary. Repeated provocation will,
however, excite and revenge. For instance, a New-
foundland dog was quietly eating his mess of broth
and broken scraps. While so employed, a turkey
endeavoured to share the meal with him. The dog
growled^ and displayed his teeth. The intruder re-
tired for a moment, but quickly returned to the
charge^ and was again " warned oS/' with a like re*
suit. After three or four attempts of the same kind^
the dog became provoked, gave a sudden ferocioaf
growl^ bit off the delinquent's head, and then quietty
finished bid meal, without bestowing any further at-
tention on his victim.

l'h(; celebrated Leibnitz related to the Frendi
Acadeiriy an account of a dog he had seen which was
taught to spcak^ and could call in an intelligible mannar
for tea, coffee, chocolate, &c.

INTRODUCTION. 49

The dog was of a middling size^ and the property of
a peasant in Saxony. A little boy^ the peasant^s son^
imagined that he perceived in the dog^s voice an indis-
tinct resemblance to certain words, and was, therefore,
determined to teach him to speak distinctly. For this
purpose he spared neither time nor pains with his
pupil, who was about three years old when his learned
education commenced; and at length he made such
progress in language, as to be able to articulate no less
than thirty words. It appears, however, that he was
somewhat of a truant, and did not very willingly exert
his talents, being rather pressed into the service of
literature, and it was necessary that the words should
be first pronounced to him each time before he spoke.
The French Academicians who mention this anecdote,
add, that unless they had received the testimony of so
great a man as Leibnitz, they should scarcely have dared
to relate the circumstance.

An invalid gentleman, who resided for some years
on Ham Common, in Surrey, had a dog which dis-
tinctly pronounced John, William, and two or three
other words. A medical friend of mine, who at-
tended this gentleman, has frequently heard the ani-
mal utter these words; and a female relative of his,
who was often on a visit at his house, assures me
of the fact. Indeed it need not be doubted.

These are the only two instances I have met with
of talking dogs, but my brother had a beautiful little
fpunielj named Doll, who was an indefatigable hunter

50 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

after woodcocks and snipes. Doll would come home
in the evening after a hard day's sport, wet, tired
and dirty, and then deposit herself on the rug be-
fore the fire. Happening one day to pull her ear
gently when in this state, she expressed her dislike
to be disturbed by a sort of singing noise. By repeat-
ing this from day to day, and saying " Sing, Doll,^'
she would utter notes of a somewhat musical tone,
and continue for some time after I had ceased to
touch her ear, to the amusement and surprise of
those who heard her. Poor Doll ! I shall never see
your Uke again, either for beauty or intelligence.
If she was affronted she would come to me, at a
distance of four miles, remain s6me time, and then
return to her master.

A small cur, blind of one eye, lame, ugly, old, and
somewhat selfish, yet possessed of great shrewdness,
was usually fed with three large dogs. Watching his
opportunity, he generally contrived to seize the best
bit of offal or bone, with which he retreated into a
recess, the opening to which was so small that he
knew the other dogs could not follow him into it^
and where he enjoyed his repast without the fear of
molestation.

Early habits predominate strongly in dogs, and
indeed in other animals. At the house of a gentleman
in Wexford, out of four dogs kept to guard the pre-
mises, three of them would always wag their tails, and
express what might be called civility, on the approadht

INTRODUCTION. 51

of any well-dressed visitors ; manifesting^ on the other
hand^ no very friendly feelings towards vagrants or ill-
dressed people. The foorth^ — a sort of fox-hound^
— which, as a puppy, had belonged to a poor man,
always seemed to recognise beggars and ill-dressed
passengers as old familiar friends, growling at well-
attiied strangers, barking vehemently at gigs, and
becoming almost frantic with rage at a four-wheeled
carriage.

The olfactory nerves of a dog are quite extra-
ordinary, and it is said that, making allowance for
difference of corporeal bnlk, they are about four times
larger than those of a man. Some dogs, however, seem
to excel in acuteness of hearing, and others in peculiar
powers of vision.

We quote the following from the "Percy Anec-
dotes -y—

'' One day, when Dumont, a tradesman of the Rue
St. Denis, was walking in the Boulevard St. Antoine
with a friend, he offered to lay a wager with the latter,
that if he were to hide a six-livre piece in the dust, his
dog would discover and bring it to him. The wager
was accepted, and the piece of money secreted, after
being carefully marked. When the two had proceeded
some distance from the spot, M. Dumont called to his
dog that he had lost something, and ordered him to
seek it. Caniche immediately tinned back, and his
master and his companion pursued their walk to the
Rue St. Denis. Meanwhile a traveUer, who happened

52 AN£CDOT£8 OF DOGS.

to be just then returning in a small chaise from Vin-
cennes, perceived the piece of money, which his horse
had kicked from its hiding-place ; he alighted, took it
up, and drove to his inn, in the Eue Pont-aux-Choux.
Caniche had just reached the spot in search of the lost
piece when the stranger picked it up. He followed
the chaise, went into the inn, and stuck close to the
traveller. Having scented out the coin which he had
been ordered to bring back in the pocket of the latter,
he leaped up incessantly at and about him. The tra-
veller, supposing him to be some dog that had been
lost or left behind by his master, regarded his different
movements as marks of fondness ; and as the animal
was handsome, he determined to keep him. He gave
him a good supper, and on retiring to bed took him
with him to his chamber. No sooner had he pulled
oiF his breeches, than they were seized by the dog ; the
owner conceiving that he wanted to play with them,
took them away again. The animal began to bark at
the door, which the traveller opened, under the idea that
the dog wanted to go out. Caniche snatched up the
breeches, and away he flew. The traveller posted after
him with his night-cap on, and literally sans culottes.
Anxiety for the fate of a purse full of gold Napoleons,
of forty francs each, which was in one of the pockety
gave redoubled velocity to his steps. Caniche ran fall
speed to his master's house, where the stranger arrived
a moment afterwards, breathless and enraged. He
accused the dog of robbing him. ' Sir,' said tbe

INTRODUCTION. S3

master^ ' my dog is a very faithful creature ; and if he
has run away with your breeches^ it is because you
have in them money which does not belong to you/
The traveller became still more exasperated ^Com-
pose yourself, sir/ rejoined the other, smiling ; ^ with-
out doubt there is in your purse a six-livre piece, with
such and such marks, which you have picked up in the
Boulevard St. Antoine, and which I threw down there
with the firm conviction that my dog would bring it
back again. This is the cause of the robbery which
he has committed upon you/ The stranger's rage
now yielded to astonishment ; he delivered the six-livre
piece to the owner, Mkd could not forbear caressing the
dog which had given him io much uneasiness, and
such an unpleasant chase/'

A gentleman in Cornwall possessed a dog, which
seemed to set a value on white and shining pebble
stones, of which he had made a large collection in a
hole under an old tree. A dog in Regent Street
is said to have barked with joy on hearing the
wheels of his master^s carriage driven to the door,
when he could not by any possibility see the vehicle,
and while many other carriages were at the time
passing and repassing. This, I beUeve, is a fact by no
means uncommon.

My retriever will carry an egg in his mouth to a
great distance, and during a considerable length of
time, without ever breaking or even cracking the shell.
A small bird having escaped from its cage and fallew

AMBCDoni or WMt.

into the wa, a dog eonveyed it in his monib'to the
sbip, withoat doing it the dighteit inJQfy.

One of the carnen of a New Yorit p«per nDsl
"Advocate," having beoome indispoaedf hia Mat'l
his place ; but not knowing the nibteriben he 1
supply^ he took for his gnide a dog which had ■
attended hia father. The animal trotted on a-lu
the boy, and stopped at every door where the ]
was in use to be left, without making a ain^ oi
or mistake.

The following i^ fhmi a newipaper of diie y

INTRODUCTION. 55

'^ A most extraordinary circumstance has just oc-
curred at the Hawick toll-bar^ which is kept by two
old women. It appears that they had a sum of money
in the house, and were extremely alarmed lest they
should be robbed of it. Their fears prevailed to such
an extent, that, when a carrier whom they knew was
passing by, they urgently requested him to remain
with them all night, which, however, his duties would
not permit him to do; but, in consideration of the
alarm of the women, he consented to leave with them a
large mastiff dog. In the night the women were dis-
turbed by the uneasiness of the dog, and heard a noise
apparently like an attempt to force an entrance into
the premises, upon which they escaped by the back-
door, and ran to a neighbouring house, which happened
to be a blacksmith's shop. They knocked at the door,
and were answered from within by the smith's wife.
She said her husband was absent, but that she was
willing to accompany the terrified women to their home.
On reaching the house, they heard a savage but half-
stifled growling from the dog. On entering they saw
the body of a man hanging half in and half out of their
little window, whom the dog had seized by the throat,
and was still worrying. On examination, the man
proved to be their neighbour the blacksmith, dread-
fully torn about the throat, and quite dead.''

A dog, belonging to the late Dr. Robert Hooper,
had been in the constant habit of performing various
httle personal services for his master, such as fetching

56 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

his slippers^ &c. It happened one day that Dr.
Hooper had been detained by his professional duties
much beyond his usual dinner hour. The dog im-
patiently waited for his arrival, and he at last re-
turaed, weary and hungry. After showing his plea-
sure at the arrival of his master, greeting him with his
usual attention, the animal remained tolerably quiet
until he conceived a reasonable time had elapsed for
the preparation of the Doctor^s dinner. As it did not,
however, make its appearance, the dog went into the
kitchen, seized with his mouth a half-broiled beef-
steak, with which he hastened back to his master,
placing it on the table-cloth before him.

A few years ago, the public were amused with an
account given in the newspapers of a dog which pos-
sessed the strange fancy of attending all the fires that
occurred in the metropolis. The discovery of this pre-
dilection was made by a gentleman residing a few
miles from town, who was called up in the middle of
the night by the intelligence that the premises adjoin-
ing his house of business were on fire. " The removal
of my books and papers," said he, in telling the story,
^' of course claimed my attention ; yet, notwithstanding
this, and the bustle which prevailed, my eye every now
and then rested on a dog, which, during the hotteft
progress of the conflagration, I could not help noticing
running about, and apparently taking a deep interest
in what was going on ; contriving to keep himself out
of everybody's way, and yet always present amidst the

INTKODUCTION. 57

thickest of the stir. When the fire was got under^ and
I had leisure to look about me^ I again observed the
dog^ which^ with the firemen^ appeared to be resting
from the fatigues of duty^ and was led to make some
inquiries respecting him. 'Is this your dog^ my
friend V said I to a fireman. ' No, sir/ answered he ;
' it does not belong to me, or to any one in particular.
We call him the firemen^s dog.' ' The firemen's dog !'
I replied. 'Why so? Has he no master?' 'No,
sir,' rejoined the fireman ; ' he calls none of us master,
though we are all of us willing enough to give him a
nighf s lodging and a pennyworth of meat. But he
won't stay long with any of us. His delight is to be
at all the fires in London ; and, far or near, we gene-
rally find him on the road as we are going along, and
sometimes, if it is out of town, we give him a lift. I
don't think there has been a fire for these two or three
years past which he has not been at/

" The communication was so extraordinary, that I
found it difficult to believe the story, imtil it was con-
firmed by the concurrent testimony of several other
firemen. None of them, however, were able to give
any account of the early habits of the dog, or to offer
any explanation of the circumstances which led to this
singular propensity.

'' Some time afterwards, I was again called up in
the night to a fire in the village in which I resided
(Gamberwell, in Surrey), and to my surprise here I
again met with 'the firemen's dog,' still alive and

58 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

well^ pursuing^ with the same apparent interest and
satisfaction^ the exhibition of that which seldom fails to
bring with it disaster and misfortune^ oftentimes loss of
life and ruin. Stilly he called no man master^ dis-
dained to receive bed or board from the same hand
more than a night or two at a time^ nor could the fire-
men trace out his resting-place/'

Such was the account of this interesting animal as
it appeared in the newspapers^ to which were shortly
afterwards appended several circumstances communi-
cated by a fireman at one of the police offices. A
magistrate having asked him whether it was a fact that
the dog was present at most of the fires that occurred
in the metropolis^ the fireman replied that he never
knew '^Tyke/' as he was called^ to be absent from
a fire upon any occasion that he (the fireman) attended
himself. The magistrate said the dog must have an
extraordinary predilection for fires. He then asked
what length of time he had been known to possess that
propensity. The fireman replied that he knew Tyke
for the last nine years ; and although he was getting
old, yet the moment the engines were about^ Tyke wm
to be seen as active as ever, running off in the direction
of the fire. The magistrate inquired whether the dog
lived with any particular fireman. The fireman replied
that Tyke liked one fireman as well as another ; he had
no particular favourites, but passed his time amongst
them, sometimes going to the house of one, and then
to another, and off to a third when he was tired. Daj

INTaODUCTlON. 59

or nighty it was all the same to him ; if a fire broke
out^ there he was in the midst of the bustle^ running
from one engine to another^ anxiously looking after the
firemen; and^ although pressed upon by crowds^ yet^
from his dexterity, he always escaped accidents^ only
now and then getting a ducking from the engines^
which he rather liked than otherwise. The magistrate
said that Tyke was a most extraordinary animal; and
having expressed a wish to see him^ he was shortly
after exhibited at the office^ and some other peculiarities
respecting him were related. There was nothing at all
particular in the appearance of the dog; he was a
rough-looking small animal^ of the terrier breeds and
seemed to be in excellent condition^ no doubt from the
care taken of him by the firemen belonging to the
different companies. There was some difficulty expe-
rienced in bringing him to the office, as he did not
much relish going any distance from where the firemen
are usually to be found, except in cases of attending
with them at a conflagration, and then distance was of
no consequence. It was found necessary to use stra-
tagem for the purpose. A fireman commenced running.
Tyke, accustomed to follow upon such occasions, set
out after him ; but this person, having slackened his
pace on the way, the sagacious animal, knowing there
was no fire, turned back, and it was necessary to carry
him to the office.

#

The following striking anecdote, of a similar kind,
appeared in the first number of the new issue of

GO ▲NBCD0TE8 OF DOGS.

CaMwell^H " Illustrated Family Paper/' After giving a
Khort account of a firc-CHcape man^ named Samuel
Wood, the writer thus alludes to his dog Bill : —

^' Ah to Itill, he regards him evidently in the light
of a frifjid ; he had him when he was a pup from a
poor fidlow who died in the service^ and he and his
' Bill * have been on excellent terms ever since.

'^ ^riie fire-escape man's dog takes after his master
in courage and perseverance. He is of the terrier
breed, hIx years old. An alarm of fire calls forth all
bin (truTgy. He is the first to know that something is
wrong — the first to exert himself in setting it right.
He has not been trained to the work — 'it is a gift/
as his master says; and if we all used our gifts as
efHci(;ntly as the dog Bill, it would be the better for
UH. On an alarm of fire Bill barks his loudest, dashes
about in a frantic manner, till his master and the
escap(; an; on their way to it. He, of course, is there
first, giving the police and the crowd to understand
tliat Wood and his fire-escape are coming. When the
escap(! is fix(td, and W(K)d begins to ascend the ladder.
Bill runs up the canvas; as soon as a window is
i)\)i'Mi\i\y Bill leaps in and dashes about to find the
occu[)antH, 4oudly barking for assistance as soon as he
has accomplished his errand of mercy. His watchful-
ness and sagacity an; ncv(*T at fault, although on more
than out; occasion he has stood a fair chance of losing
his \\U\f and has sustained very severe injury. Not long
a^o a collar was presented to Bill as a reward for his

.INTRODUCTION. 61

services; unfortunately for him^ he has since lost this
token of public regard — a misfortune much to be re-
gretted. The following verse was engraved on the
collar: —

' I am the fire-escape man's dog : my name is Bill.
When ' fire * is called I am never still :
I bark for my master, all danger brave,
To bring the escape — human life to save.'

Collared or collarless, Bill is always ready to lend a
helping bark. May his life be long^ and his services
properly esteemed ! ^'

The following anecdote shows extraordinary sense,
if not reasoning faculty, in a dog : —

A lady of high rank has a sort of colley, or Scotch
sheep-dog. When he is ordered to ring the bell, he
does so ; but if he is told to ring the bell when the
servant is in the room whose duty it is to attend, he
refuses, and then the following occurrence takes place.
His mistress says, '^Ring the bell, dog/' The dog
looks at the servant, and then barks his bow wow, once
or twice. The order is repeated two or three times.
At last the dog lays hold of the servant's coat in a
significant manner, just as if he had said to him —
" Don't you hear that I am to ring the bell for you ?
— come to my lady." His mistress always had her
shoes warmed before she put them on, but one day
during the hot weather her maid was putting them on
without their having been previously placed before the
fire. When the dog saw this he immediately interfered,
expressing the greatest indignation at the maid's ne^lv-

62 AmcDOTBt or dogs.

gence. He took the shoes fiom her, canned them to
the fire^ and after they had been wanned as nadaly he
brought them back to his mistress with nineh appawut
satisfaction^evidently intending to say, if he oonld, ^It
is all right now/'

The dispositions and characters of dogs^ as wdl as
their intelligence, vary very much. Let me gi?e a ftw
instances of this.

When that benevolent man, Mr. Baekhwiar, wait
to Australia, in hopes of doing good among the eon-
vict 8, he was residing in the hoose of a gentksmaa who
had a son about four years of age. This boy atnjed
one morning into the bush, and could not be^ Ibmid
after a long search had been made for him. In ihe
evening a Uttle dog, which had accompanied ihe
child, scratched at the door, and on its being opened
showed unmistakeable signs of wishing to be followed.
This was done; and he led the way to the ehildy wlia
was at last found sitting by the side of a river tkrae* ST
four miles from the house.

At Albany in Worcestershire, at the seatof
Maling, a dog went every day to meet the mail,
brought the bag in his mouth to the house. Hie
tance was about a half-a-quarter of a mile. TkA iffi^'
usually received a meal of meat as his reward. DH/
servants having, on one day only, neglected to gm ]MkI
his accustomed meal, the dog on the arrival of
next mail buried the bag, nor was it found wt
considerable search.

INTRODUCTION. 63

M. D^Obsonville had a dog which he had brought
up in India from two months old; and having to go
with a friend from Fondicherry to Ben galore^ a distance
of more than nine hundred miles^ he took the animal
along with him. " Our journey/' says M. D'O.,
'^ occupied nearly three weeks ; and we had to traverse
plains and mountains^ and to ford rivers^ and go along
by-paths. The animal^ which had certainly never
been in that country before, lost us at Bengalore, and
immediately returned to Pondicherry. He went directly
to the house of my friend, M. BegUer, then command-
ant of artillery, and with whom I had generally lived.
Now the difficulty is not so much to know how the
dog subsisted on the road (for he was very strong, and
able to procure himself food), but how he should so
well have found his way after an interval of more than
a month! This was an effort of memory greatly
superior to that which the human race is capable of
exerting.'^

A gentleman residing in Denmark, Mr. Decouick,
one of the king's privy councillors, found that he had
a remarkable dog. It was the habit of Mr. Decouick
to leave Copenhagen on Fridays for Drovengourd, his
country seat. If he did not arrive there on the Friday
evening, the dog would invariably be found at Copen-
hagen on Saturday morning, in search of his master.
Hydrophobia becoming common, all dogs were shot
that were found running about, an exception being
made in the case of Mr. Decouick's doe" on account of

64 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

his sagacity and fidelity^ a distinctive mark being
placed upon him.

The following anecdotes are from Daniel's '^ Rural
Sports 'P—

Upon the fidelity of dogs, the following facts deserve
to be here recorded : of this property, or other peculiar
traits, if they appertain to any class of sporting dogs,
in that class they will be noticed.

Dr. Beattie, in one of his ingenious and elegant
essays, relates a story, in his own knowledge, of a
gentleman^s life being saved, who fell beneath the ice,
by his dog's going in quest of assistance, and almost
forcibly dragging a farmer to the spot.

Mr. Vaillant describes the losing of a bitch while
travelling in Africa, when after firing his gun, and
fruitlessly searching for her, he despatched one of his
attendants, to return by the way they had proceeded ;
when she w^as found at about two leagues' distance,
seated by the side of a chair and basket, which had
dropped unperceived from his waggon : an instance of
attentive fidelity, which must have proved fatal to the
animal, either from hunger or beasts of prey, had she
not been luckily discovered.

As instances of the dog's sagacity, the foUowiog
are submitted. In crossing the mountain St. Grothard,
near Airola, the Chevalier Gaspard de Brandenberg and
his servant were buried by an avalanche ; his dog, who
escaped the heap of snow^, did not quit the place where
he had lost his master : this was, fortunately, not fitf

m

INTRODUCTION. 65

bom the convent; the animal howled^ ran to the eon-
vent frequ^itly^ and then returned. Struck by his
perseverance^ the next morning the people from the
house followed him ; he led them directly to the spot^
scratched the snow^ and after thirty-six hours passed
beneath it^ the chevalier and his domestic were taken
oat safe^ hearing distinctly during their confinement
the howling of the dog and the discourse of their
deliverers. Sensible that to the sagacity and fondness
of this creature he owed his life^ the gentleman ordered
by his will that he should be represented on his tomb
with his dog; and at Zug^ in the church of St. Oswald^
where he was buried in 1728^ they still show the monu-
ment and the effigy of this gentleman^ with the dog
lying at his feet.

In 1792, a gentleman, who lived in Vere Street,
Clare Market, went with his family to the pit of Drury
Lane Theatre, at about half-past five in the evening,
leaving a small spaniel, of King Charleses breed, locked
up in the dining-room, to prevent the dog from being
lost in his absence. At eight o^clock his son opened
the door, and the dog immediately went to the play-
house and found out his master, though the pit was
unusually thronged, and his master seated near its
centre.

A large dog of Mr. Hilson^s, of Maxwelhaugh, on
the 21st of October, 1797, seeing a small one that was
following a cart from Kelso carried by the current of
the Tweed, in spite of all its efforts to bear up against

66 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

the stream^ after watching its motions attentively,
plung(fd voluntarily into the river, and seizing the tired
animal by the neck, brought it safely to land.

The docility of the dog is such, that he may be
tauglit to practise with considerable dexterity a variety
of human actions : to open a door fastened by a latch,
and [)ull a bell when desirous to be admitted. Faber
mentions one belonging to a nobleman of the Medici
family, which always attended at its master's table,
took from him his plates, and brought him others;
carried wine to him in a glass upon a salver, which it
held in its mouth, without spilling; the same dog
would also hold the stirrup in its teeth while its
master was mounting his horse. Mr. Daniel had
formerly a spaniel, which he gave the honourable
Mr. Greville, that, beyond the common tricks which
dogs trained to fetch and carry exhibit, would bring
the bottles of wine from the comer of the room to the
ta})l(j l)y the neck, with such care as never to break
one ; and, in fact, was the hoot8 of the mess-room.

Some few years since, the person who lived at the
turnpik(shouse, about a mile from Stratford-upon-Avon,
had trained a dog to go to the town for any small
parc('ls of grocery, &c. which he wanted. A note,
nutntioning the things required, was tied round his
nc>(rk, and in the same manner the articles were fastened,
and arrived safe to \m master.

Colonel Hutchinson relates the following aneo*
dote : —

INTRODUCTION. 67

''A cousin of one of my brother-officers was taking
a walk at Tunbridge WeUs, when a strange Newfound-
land snatched her parasol from her hand^ and carried
it off. The lady followed the dog, who kept ahead,
constantly looking back to see if she followed. The
dog at length stopped at a confectioner's, and went in,
followed by the lady, who, as the dog would not resign
it, applied to the shopman for assistance. He then
told her that it was an old trick of the dog's to get a
bun, and that if she would give him one he would
return the property. She cheerfully did so, and the
dc^ as willingly made the exchange.''

The above anecdote proves that dogs are no mean
observers of countenances, and that he had satisfied
himself by a previous scrutiny as to the probability of
his delinquencies being forgiven.

Of the abstinence and escape of a dog, the following
narrative may not be uninteresting : —

In 1789, when preparations were making at St.
Paul's for the reception of his majesty, a favourite dog
followed its master up the dark stairs of the dome.
Here, all at once, it was missing ; and calling and
whistling were to no purpose. Nine weeks after this,
all but two days, some glaziers were at work in the
cathedral, and heard a faint noise amongst the timbers
which support the dome. Thinking it might be some
unfortunate human being, they tied a rope round a
boy, and let him down near the place whence the sound
came. At the bottom he found a dog lying on its

68 ANECDOTEB OF DOGS.

side^ the skeleton of another dog^ and an old shoe half
eaten. The humanity of the boy led him to rescue the
animal from its miserable situation^ and it was accord-
ingly drawn up. Much emaciated^ and scarce able to
standi the workmen placed it in the porch of the church,
to die or live as it might happen. This was about ten
o^clock in the morning. Some time after, the dog was
seen endeavouring to cross the street at the top of
Ludgate Hill; but its weakness was so great, that,
unsupported by a wall, it could not accomplish it.
The miserable appearance of the dog again excited the
compassion of a boy, who carried it over. By the aid
of the houses it was enabled to get to Fleet Market,
and over two or three narrow crossings in its way to
Holbom Bridge, and about eight o^clock in the evening
it reached its master's house in Bicd Lion Street, Hol-
bom^ and laid itself down on the steps, having been
ten hours in its journey from St. Paul's to that place.
The dog was so much altered, its eyes being so sunk
in its head as to be scarce discernible, that the master
would not encourage his faithful old companion, who
when lost was supposed to weigh twenty pounds, but
now only weighed three pounds fourteen ounces. The
first indication it gave of knowing its master was by
wagging its tail when he mentioned its name, FhiUis;
for a long time it was unable to eat or drink, and it
was kept alive by the sustenance it received from its
mistress, who used to feed it with a teaspoon. At
length it recovered. It must not be supposed that this

V

INTRODUCTION. 69

animal existed for nine weeks without food; she was in
whelp when lost^ and doubtless ate her young. The
remains of another dog^ killed by a similar fall, were
likewise founds and were most probably converted by
the survivor to the most urgent of all natural purposes ;
and when this treat was done, the shoe succeeded,
which was almost half devoured. What famine and
a thousand accidents could not do, was e£fected a
short time after by the wheels of a coach, which un-
fortunately went over her, and ended the life of poor
Phillis.

Of dogs that . have supported themselves in a
wild state, to the great loss and annoyance of the
fimner, there are two instances worthy of notice, from
the cunning with which both these dogs finistrated, for
a length of time, every secret and open attack. In
December, 1784, a dog was left by a smuggling vessel
near Boomer, on the coast of Northumberland. Find-
ing himself deserted, he began to worry sheep, and
did so much damage that he was the terror of the
country, within the circuit of above twenty miles.
It is asserted, that when he caught a sheep, he bit a
hole in its right side, and after eating the fat about the
kidneys, left it. Several of them, thus lacerated, were
found alive by the shepherds; and being properly
taken care of, some of them recovered, and afterwards
had lambs. From this delicacy of his feeding, the
destruction may in some measure be conceived, as the
tat of one sheep in a day would scarcely satisfy his

70 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

hunger. Various were the means used to destroy him:
frequently was he pursued with hounds^ greyhounds^
&c.^ but when the dogs came up with him, he laid
down on his back, as if suppUcating for mercy, and in
that position they never hurt him; he therefore laid
quietly, taking his rest, until the hunters approached,
when he made oflF without being followed by the hounds,
until they were again excited to the pursuit, which
always terminated unsuccessfully. He was one day
pursued from Howick to upwards of thirty miles' dis-
tance, but returned thither and killed sheep the same
evening. His constant residence was upon a rock on
the Heugh Hill, near Howick, where he had a view
of four roads that approached it ; and there, in March
1785, after many fruitless attempts, he was at last
shot.

Another wild dog, which had committed similar
devastation among the sheep, near Wooler, in the
same county (Northumberland), was, on the 6th of
June, 1799, advertised to be hunted on the Wed-
nesday following, by three packs of hounds^ which
were to meet at different places; the aid of men and
fire-arms was also requested, with a reward promiBcd
of twenty guineas to the person killing him. This
dog was described by those who had seen him at a
distance as a large greyhound, with some white in his
face, neck and one fore-leg. white, rather grey on the
back, and the rest of a jet-black. An immense con-
course of people assLmbled at the time appointed^ but

INTBODUCTION. 71

the chase was unprosperous ; for he eluded his pursuers
among the Cheviot Hills^ and^ what is singular^ returned
that same night to the place from whence he had been
hunted in the mornings and worried an ewe and her
lamb. During the whole summer he continued to
destroy the sheep^ but changed his quarters, for he
infested the fells, sixteen miles south of Carlisle, where
upwards of sixty sheep fell victims to his ferocity. In
September, hounds and fire-arms were again employed
against him, and after a run from Carrock Fell, which
was computed to be thirty miles, he was shot whilst the
hounds were in pursuit by Mr. Sewel of Wedlock, who
laid in ambush at Moss Dale. During the chase,
which occupied six hours, he frequently turned upon
the headmost hounds, and wounded several so badly as
to disable them. Upon examination, he appeared of
the Newfoundland breed, of a common size, wire-
haired, and extremely lean. This description does not
tally with the dog so injurious to the farmers in
Northumberland, although, from circumstances, there
is little doubt but it was the same animal.

With a laughably philosophical account of dogs,
under the supposition of a transmigration of souls,
and with their general natural history from Linnaeus
and Buffon, this introductory chapter will be concluded.

A facetious believer in the art of distinguishing at
the sight of any creature from what class of animals
his soul is derived, thus allots them : —

The souls of deceased bailiffs and common con-

72 ANECDOTES OF D008.

stables are in the bodies of setting dogs and pointers;
the terriers are inhabited by trading justices; the
bloodhounds were formerly a set of informers^ thief-
takers^ and false evidences; the spaniels were hereto-
fore crjurtiers^ hangers-on of administrations, and hack
journal-writers, all of whom preserve their primitive
qualities of fawning on their feeders, licking their
hands, and snarling and snapping at all who offer to
offend their master; a former train of gamblers and
black-legs are now embodied in that species of dog
called lurchers; bull-dogs and mastiffs were once
butchers and drovers; greyhounds and hounds owe
their animation to country squires and foxhunters;
little whiffling, useless lap-dogs, draw their existence
from the quondam beau ; macaronies, and gentlemen of
the tippy, still being the playthings of ladies, and used
for their diversion. There are also a set of sad dogi
derived from attomies; and puppies, who were in past
time attomies' clerks, shopmen to retail haberdasheriy
men-milliners, &c. &c. Turnspits are animated by old
aldcrrrjen, who still enjoy the smell of the roast meat;
that droning, snarling species, styled Dutch pugs, have
been f(;lIows of colleges; and that faithful, useful tribe
of shepherds' dogs, were, in days of yore, members of
parliament, who guarded the flock, and protected the
sheep from wolves and thieves, although indeed of late
some have turned sheep-biters, and worried those thej
ought to have defended.

Linnaeus informs us, the dog eats flesh, and

INTRODUCTION. 73

fiurinaceous vegetables^ but not greens^ (this is a mis-
take^ for they will eat greens when boiled) ; its stomach
digests bones ; it nses the tops of grass as a vomit ; is
fond of rolling in carrion ; voids its excrements on a
stone; its dung (the album grcBcum) is one of the
greatest encouragers of putrefaction; it laps up its
diink with its tongue ; makes water side-ways^ by lift-
ing up one of its hind-legs; is most diuretic in the
company of a strange dog^ and very apt to repeat it
where another dog has done the same : Odorat anum
alteriu8,menstruan8 catulit cum variis; mordei ilia illos;
coharet copula junctus. Its scent is most exquisite
when its nose is moist ; it treads lightly on its toes ;
scarce ever sweats^ but when hot^ lolls out its tongue ;
generally walks frequently round the place it intends to
lie down on ; its sense of hearing is very quick when
asleep; it dreams. It goes with young sixty-three
days^ and commonly brings from four to ten ; the male
puppies resemble the dog^ the female the bitch (an
assertion by oo means accurate^ any more than the tail
always bending to the left is a common character of
the species). It is the most faithful of animals^ is very
docile, fawns at his master's approach, runs before
him on a journey, often passing over the same ground;
on coming to crossways, stops and looks back ; drives
cattle home from the field; keeps herds and fiocks
within bounds, protects them from wild beasts ; points
out to the sportsman the game ; brings the birds that
are shot to its master ; will turn a spit ; at Brussels,

74 ANECDOTifiS OF D008.

and in Holland^ draws little carts to the herb-market;
in more northern regions, draws sledges with provisions,
travellers, &c. ; will find out what is dropped ; watchful
by niglit, and when the charge of a house or garden is
at such times committed to him, his boldness increaseSj
and he sometimes becomes perfectly ferocious; when
it has been guilty of a theft, slinks away with its tail
between its legs; eats voraciously, with oblique eyes;
enemy to beggars ; attacks strangers without provoca-
tion; hates strange dogs; howls at certain notes in
music, and often urines on hearing them ; will snap at
a stone thrown at it ; is sick at the approach of bad
weather, (a remark vague and uncertain); is afflicted
with worms; spreads its madness; grows blind with
ago ; sape gonorrhad infectus ; driven as unclean from
the houses of the Mahometans ; yet the same people
CKtablish hospitals for, and allow them daily food.

The dog, says Buffon, like every other animal
wliicli produces above one or two at a time, is not per-
fectly formed immediately after birth. Dogs are al-
ways brought forth blind; the two eyelids are not
simply glued together, but shut up with a membrane^
whicli is torn off, as soon as the muscles of the upper
eyelids acquire strength sufficient to overcome thii
obstacle to vision, which generally happens the tenth
or twelfth day. At this period, the bones of the head
are not completed, the body and muzzle are bloatedi
and the whole figure is ill defined; but in less than
two months, they learn to use all their aenaes; their

INTBODUCTION* 75

growth is rapid, and they soon gain strength. In the
fourth month, they lose some of their teeth, which, as
in other animals, are soon replaced, and never again fall
out : they have six cutting and two canine teeth in each
jaw, and fourteen grinders in the upper, and twelve in
the under, making in all forty-two teeth; but the
number of grinders sometimes varies in particular
dogs.

The time of gestation is nine weeks, or sixty-three
days : sometimes sixty-two or sixty-one, but never less

The bitch produces six, seven, and even so far
as twelve puppies, and generally has more at the
subsequent litters than she has at the first; but the
observation of BuflFon, that a female hound, covered
by a dog of her own kind, and carefully shut up
from all others, has been known to produce a mixed
race, consisting of hounds and terriers, is totally
void of foundation. A curious circumstance, in the
account of the setter, will be mentioned, of an im-
pression made upon the mind of a bitch of that
sort by the attention of a cur, which never had
access to her, and yet her whelps were always like
him, and possibly this hound bitch had a violent
hankering after some terrier.

Dogs continue to propagate during life, which is
commonly limited to fourteen or fifteen years, yet some
have been known to exceed twenty, but that is rare. The
duration of life in this, as in other animals, bears propor-

76 ANECDOTES OF BOGS.

tion to the time of his growth^ which in the dog is not
completed in less than two years, and he generally lives
fourteen. His age may be discovered by his teeth;
when young, they are white, sharp, and pointed ; as he
increases in years, they become black, blunt, and un-
equal : it may likewise be known by the hair, which
turns grey on the muzzle, front, and round the eyes.

The manner in which the shepherds of the Pyre-
nees employ their peculiar breed of dogs, which are
large, long-haired, of a tawny white colour, and a very
strong build, with a ferocious temper, exhibits a vivid
instance of the trust they repose in the courage and
fidelity of these animals, and of the virtues by which
they merit and reward it. Attended by three or more
dogs, the shepherds will take their numerous flocks at
early dawn to the part of the mountain side which is
destined for their pasture. Having counted them, they
descend to follow other occupations, and commit the
guardianship of the sheep to the sole watchfulness of
the dogs. It has been frequently known, that when
wolves have approached, the three sentinels would
walk round and round the flock, gradually compressing
them into so small a circle that one dog might with
ease overlook aud protect them, and that this measure
of caution being executed, the remaining two woold
set forth to engage the enemy, over whom, it is saidi
they invariably triumph.

The following interesting remarks are extracted
from Chambers : —

INTRODUCTION. 77

The educability of the dog^s perceptive faculties has
been exemplified in a remarkable manner by his ac-
quired knowledge of musical sounds. On some dogs
fine music produces an apparently painful effect^ causing
them gradually to become restless^ to moan piteously^
and^ finally^ to fly from the spot with every sign of
suffering and distress. Others have been seen to sit
and listen to music with seeming delight, and even to
go every Sunday to phurch, with the obvious purpose
of enjoying the solemn and powerful strains of the
organ. Some dogs manifest a keen sense of false notes
in music. Mrs. Samuel Carter Hall, at Old Bromp-
ton, possesses an Italian greyhound, which screams in
apparent agony when a jarring combination of notes is
produced, accidentally or intentionally, on the piano.
These opposite and various manifestations show what
might be done by education to teach dogs a critical
knowledge of sounds. A gentleman of Darmstadt, in
Germany, as we learn, has taught a poodle dog to
detect false notes in music. We give the account of
this remarkable instance of educability as it appears in
a French newspaper.

Mr. S , having acquired a competency by com-
mercial industry, retired from business, and devoted
himself, heart and soul, to the cultivation and enjoy-
ment of music. Every member of his little household
was by degrees involved more or less in the same occu*
pation, and even the housemaid could in time bear a
part in a chorus, or decipher a melody of Schubert.

78 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

One individual alone in the family seemed to resist this
musical entrancement ; this y/bs a small spaniel^ the
sole specimen of the canine rade in the mansion. Mr.

S felt the impossibility of instilling the theory of

sounds into the head of Poodle, but he firmly resolved
to make the animal bear some part or other in the
general domestic concert ; and by perseverance, and the
adoption of ingenious means, he attained his object.
Every time that a fake note escaped either from the
instrument or voice — as often as any blunder, of what-
ever kind, was committed by the members of the musi-
cal family (and such blunders were sometimes com-
mitted intentionally) — down came its master's cane on
the back of the unfortunate poodle, till she howled and
growled again. Poodle perceived the meaning of these
unkind chastisements, and instead of becoming sulky,
showed every disposition to howl on the instant a false
note was uttered, without waiting for the formality of a

blow. By and by, a mere glance of Mr. S ^s eye

was sufficient to make the animal howl to admiration.
In the end. Poodle became so thoroughly acquainted
with, and attentive to, false notes and other musical
barbarisms, that the slightest mistake of the kind was
infallibly signalised by a yell from her, forming the
most expressive commentary upon the misperformanoe.
A\Tien extended trials were made of the animal's
acquirements, they were never found to fail, and Poodle
became^ what she still is, the most famous, impartialj
and conscientious connoisseur in the Duchy of Hesae.

INTBODUCTION* 79

Bat, as may be imagmed, her musical appreciation is
entirely negative; if you sing with expression, and
play with ability, she will remain cold and impassible.
But let your execution exhibit the slightest defect, and
you will have her instantly showing her teeth, whisking
her tail, yelping, barking, and growling. At the pre-
sent time, there is not a concert or an opera at Darm-
stadt to which Mr. S and his wonderful dog are

not invited; or, at least, the dog. The voice of the
prima donna, the instruments of the band — whether
violin, clarionet, hautbois, or bugle — all of them must
execute their parts in perfect harmony, otherwise Poodle
looks at its master, erects its ears, shows its grinders,
and howls outright. Old or new pieces, known or un-
known to the dog, produce on it the same effect.

It must not be supposed that the discrimination of
the creature is confined to the mere execution of mu-
sical compositions. Whatever may have been the case
at the outset of its training, its present and perfected
intelligence extends even to the secrets of composition.
Thus, if a vicious modulation, or a false relation of
parts, occur in a piece of music, the animal shows
symptoms of uneasy hesitation; and if the error be
continued, will infallibly give the grand condemnatory
howl. In short, Poodle is the terror of all the mid-
dling composers of Darmstadt, and a perfect nightmare
to the imagination of all poor singers and players.

Sometimes Mr. S and his friends take a pleasure

in annoying the canine critic, by emitting all sorts of

80 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

discordant sounds from instrument and voice. On
such occasions the creature loses all self-command^ its
eyes shoot forth fiery flashes^ and long and frightful
howls respond to the immelodious concert of the mis-
chievous bipeds. But the latter must be careftil not to
go too far; for when the dog's patience is tried to
excess^ it becomes altogether wild, and flies fiercely at
the tormentors and their instruments.

This dog's case is a very curious one^ and the at-
tendant phenomena not very easy of explanation.
From the animal's power of discerning the correctness
of musical composition, as well as of execution, one

would be inclined to imagine that Mr. S , in

training his dog, had only called into play faculties
existing (but latent) before, and that dogs have in
them the natural germs of a fine musical ear. This
seems more likely to be the case, than that the animal's
perfect musical taste was wholly an acquirement, re-
sulting from the training. However this may be, the
VarmHtadt dog is certainly a marvellous creature^ and
we are surprised that, in these exhibiting times^ its
powerH have not been displayed on a wider stage. The
o])eratic establishments of London and Paris might be
greatly the better, perhaps, for a visit from the critical
Po()(ll(;.

It iH now settled, as a philosophical question^ that
the instruction communicated to dogs, as well as va-
riouK other anirnalH, has an hereditary effect on the
progeny. If a dog be taught to perform certain feati|

INTRODUCTION. 81

the young of that 'dog will be much easier initiated in
the same feats than other dogs. Thus^ the existing
races of English pointers are greatly more accomplished
in their required duties than the original race of
Spanish pointers. Dogs of the St. Bernard variety
inherit the faculty of tracking footsteps in the snow.
A ^gentleman of our acquaintance^ and of scientific ac-
quirements^ obtained some years ago a pup^ which had
been produced in London by a female of the celebrated
St. Bernard breed. The young animal was brought to
Scotland, where it was never observed to give any par-
ticular tokens of a power of tracking footsteps until
winter, when the ground became covered with snow.
It then showed the most active inclination to follow
footsteps; and so great was its power of doing so
under these circumstances, that, when its master had
crossed a field in the most curvilinear way, and caused
other persons to cross his path in all directions, it
nevertheless followed his course with the greatest pre-
cision. Here was a perfect revival of the habit of its
Alpine fathers, with a degree of specialty as to external
conditions at which, it seems to us, we cannot suf-
ficiently wonder.

Such are some of the qualities of dogs in a state of
domestication, and let me hope that the anecdotes
related of them will tend to insure for them that love
and gratitude to which their own fine disposition and
noble character give them a claim from us.

It is pleasing to observe that men of the highest

82 ANECDOTES OF D008.

acquirements and most elevated minds have bestowed
their Hincere attachment upon their favourite eanineoom-
panions ; for kindness to animals is, perhaps, as strong
an indication of the possession of generous sentiments
as any that can be adduced* The late Lord Grcnville,
a diHtin^uished statesman, an elegant scholar, and an
amiabl(; man, affords an illustration of the opinion:
It in thuM that he eloquently makes his favourite
Zcpliyr Kpcak : —

" (Japtum oculis, senioque hebetem, morboqne graTattun,

DulciH here, antiquo me quod amore fovei,
Suave habet et carum Zepbynu tuiM, et leviore

Se Hentit mortiN conditione pn;nii.
Iritcric^re quidem, tibi qu« placuiiuie lolebant,

Kt forms dotes, et facile ingenium :
Deficiunt HcniiUH, tremulw itcintillula vitae

Vix mhuit, in cinerem mox abitura brevem.
Sr>la manet, vetuli tibi uec despccta ministri,

MeuH grata, ipaaque in morte memor dominl.
Hunc tu igitur, pro blanditiiii moUique lepore,

Et prompta ad nutu« nedulitate tuo§,
Pro Haltu curMuquc levi, lujiuque protervo,

I fane iioHtri extremum pigniM amorii babe.
Jaiiif|ue vale ! Klysii nuImso loca Ueta, piorum

(^uie dat Fentephonc maniboi ewe canum."

In t.h<; previous pagcH I have endeavoured to gi*^*
tny r(;a(J(*rM Home idea of the general character of tl^-*
dofr, and I will now pro(M;edto illuHtrate it more fully 1^^
an(H!dot(!rt peculiar to different brcicds. These animifc >^
wili t}i<;n be found to deserve the encomiums bestow&^
upon tlicin by Uuffon, " as possessing such an ardo^i''
of H(;ntiineiit, with fidelity and constancy in their afec-

{

83

tioD, that Deither ambition, interest, nor desire of re-
venge, can corrupt them, and that they have no fear
but that of displeasing. They are, in fact, all zeal,
ardour, and obedience. More inclined to remember
beneEta than injuries; more docile and tractable than
any other animal, the dog is not only instructed, but
conforms himself to the manners, movements, and
habits of those who govern him. He ia always eager
to obey his master, and will defend his property at the
risk of his own life." Pope says, that history is more
full of examples of fidelity in the dog than in friends;
and Lord Byron characterises him as —

" ia ]ik the firmest Mend,
The lirat to velcome, fbremoat to defend ;
Whose honest heart is still his maater's own;
Who laboars, lighta, Uvea, breathes for him alone ; "

and truly indeed may he be called

" The rich mui'e gnardian, and the poor msn's friend."

THE IRISH AND HIGHLAND WOLF-D^G.
A CESTAiN degree of TOnumce will always be attached
to the history of the Iriah wolf-dog, but bo contradic-
tory are the accotuta handed down to ua respecting it.

86 ANECDOTES OF DOG8.

that^ with every disposition to do justice to the charac-
ter of this noble animal^ the task is one of no small
difficulty.

This dog seems to have flourished, and to have be-
come nearly extinct, with the ancient kings of Ireland,
and, with the harp and shamrock, is regarded as one of
the national emblems of that country. When princely
hospitality was to be. found in the old palaces^ castles,
and baronial halls of fair Erin, it is hardly possible to
imagine anything more aristocratic and imposing than
the aspect of these dogs, while attending the banquets
of their masters. So great, indeed, was their height,
that it has been affirmed, that when their chieftain was
seated at table these dogs could rest their heads on
his shoulders. However this may have been^ it* is cer-
tain that the bold, majestic, and commanding appear-
ance of the animal, joined to the mild and softened
look with which he regarded those to whom he was
attached, and whom he was always ready to defend^
must have rendered him worthy of the enthusiasm with,
which the remembrance of him is still cherished by the
warm-hearted people of Ireland.

The following anecdote, which has been commiuii«-
("dU'.d to me by an amiable Irish nobleman, will at all
events serve to show the peculiar instinct whidi the
Irish «v'olf-dog was supposed to possess.

A gentleman of an ancient family, whose name it
is unnecessary to mention, from his having been en-
gaged in the troubles which agitated Ireland about SOf

THE IRISH AND HIGHLAND WOLF-DOO. 87

or sixty years since, went into a coffee-room at Dublin
during that period, accompanied by a noble wolf-dog,
supposed to be one of the last of the breed. There was
only one other gentleman in the coffee-room, who, on
seeing the dog, went up to him, and began to notice
him. His owner, in considerable alarm, begged him to
desist, as the dog was fierce, and would never allow a
stranger to touch him. The gentleman resumed his
seat, when the dog came to him, showed the greatest
pleasure at being noticed, and allowed himself to be
fondled. His owner could not disguise his astonish-
ment. " You are the only person,^^ he said, *^ whom
that dog would ever allow to touch him without show-
ing resentment. May I beg of you the favour to tell
me your name?^^ — mentioning his own at the same
time. The stranger announced it, (he was the last
of his race, one of the most ancient and noble in
Ireland, and descended from one of its kings.) " I do
.not wonder,'' said the owner of the dog, " at the homage
this animal has paid to you. He recognizes in you the
descendant of one of our most ancient race of gentle-
men to whom this breed of dogs almost exclusively be-
* longed, and the peculiar instinct he possesses has now
been shown in a manner which cannot be mistaken by
me, who am so well acquainted with the ferocity this
dog has hitherto shown to all strangers.''

Few persons. Sir Walter Scott excepted, would
perhaps be inclined to give credit to this anecdote.
So convinced was he of the extraordinary instinct

88 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

exhibited by dogs generally^ that he has been he
to declare that he would believe anything of a d
The anecdote^ however, above related, was commt
cated to me with the strongest assurance of its st
accuracy.

In a poem, written by Mrs. Catherine Fhili
about the year 1660, the character of the Irish w<
hound is well portrayed, and proves the estimation
which he was held at that period.

** Behold tbif creatare'f form snd state !
Him Nature surely did create,
That to the world might be ezprest
What mien there can be in a beast ;
More nobleness of form and mind
Than in the lion we can i&nd :
Yea, this heroic beast doth seem
In majesty to rival him.

Yet he vouchsafes to man to show
His service, and submission too —
And here we a distinction have ;
That brute is fierce — the dog is brave.

He hath himself so well subdued,
That hunger cannot make him rude ;
And all his manners do confess
That courage dwells with gentleness.

War with the wolf he loves to wage.

And never quits if he engage ;

But praise him much, and you. maj chanoe

To put him out o( countenance.

And having done a deed so brave.

He looks not sullen, yet looks grave.

THE IRISH AND HIGHLAND WOLF-DOG. 89

No fondling play-fellow is he ;

His master's spiard he wills to be :

Willing for him his blood be spent,

His look is never insolent.
Few men to do such noble deeds have leam'd,
Nor having done, could look so unconcerned.*'

This is one of the finest descriptions of a noble
dog which I have yet met with in English poetry.
Courage and modesty are well portrayed, and con-
trasted.

The following anecdotes relate to an animal which
must have strongly resembled the Irish wolf-dog : —

Plutarch mentions a certain Roman in the civil
wars, whose head nobody durst cut off for fear of the
dog that guarded his body, and fought in his defence.
The same author relates that King Fyrrhus, in the
course of one of his joumies, observed a dog watching
over a dead body ; and hearing that he had been there
three days without meat or drink, ordered the body to
be buried, and the dog taken care of and brought to
him. A few days afterwards there was a muster of the
soldiers, so that every man had to march in order
before the king. The dog lay quiet for some time;
but when he saw the murderers of his late master pass
by, he- flew upon them with extraordinary fury, bark-
ing, and tearing their garments, and frequently turning
about to the king; which both excited the king's
suspicion, and that of all who stood about him. The
men were in consequence apprehended, and though
the circumstances which appeared in evidence against

90 ANECDOTES OF D008.

them were very slight, they confessed the crime^ and
were accordingly punished.

Montfaucon mentions a similar case of attachment
and revenge which occurred in France, in the reign of
CharleH V.* The anecdote has been frequently related,
and is as follows : — A gentleman named Macaire, an
officer of the king^s body-guard, entertained, for some
reason, a bitter hatred against another gentleman,
named Aubry de Montdidier, his comrade in service.
These two having met in the Forest of Bondi, near
Paris, Macaire took an opportunity of treacherously
murdering his brother-officer, and buried him in a
ditch. Montdidier was unaccompanied at the moment,
excepting by a dog (probably a wolf-hound), with
which he had gone out, perhaps to hunt. It is not
known whether the dog was muzzled, or from what other
cause it permitted the deed to be accomplished without
its interference. Be this as it might, the hound lay
down on the grave of its master, and there remained
till hunger compelled it to rise. It then went to the
kitchcji of one of Aubry de Montdidier^s dearest friendly
wh(TC it was welcomed warmly, and fed. As soon as
its hunger was appeased the dog disappeared. For
several days this coming and going was repeated, till
at last the curiosity of those who saw its movements
was excited, and it was resolved to follow the animal,

ff

* Hallet, in hifi " Difisertations nur la Mjthologie
showH that thiB popular story of the dog of Montargii ia nmch okkr
than th<; time of Charles V. ; and that Albericas, an old monkiih diroBi-
cler, reoonlf) it as happening in the reign of CbarlemagiM, anno 780.

THE IRISH AND HIOHIJLND WOLF-DOG. 91

and see if anything could be learned in explanation of
Montdidier's sudden disappearance. The dog was ac-
cordingly followed^ and was seen to come to a pause on
some newly-tumed-up earthy where it set up the most
mournful wailings and howlings. These cries were so
touching, that passengers were attracted; and finally
digging into the ground at the spot, they foimd there
the body of Aubry de Montdidier. It was raised and
conveyed to Paris, where it was soon afterwards interred
in one of the city cemeteries.

The dog attached itself from this time forth to the
friend, already mentioned, of its late master. While
attending on him, it chanced several times to get a
sight of Macaire, and on every occasion it sprang upon
him, and would have strangled him had it not been
taken off by force. This intensity of hate on the part f
of the animal awakened a suspicion that Macaire had
had some share in Montdidier^s murder, for his body
showed him to have met a violent death. Charles Y.,
on being informed of the circumstances, wished to
satisfy himself of their truth. He caused Macaire and
the dog to be brought before him, and beheld the
animal again spring upon the object of its hatred. The
king interrogated Macaire closely, but the latter would
not admit that he had been in any way connected with
Montdidier's murder.

Being strongly impressed by a conviction that the
conduct of the dog was based on some guilty act of
Macaire, the king ordered a combat to take place

r

02 ANECDOTEH OP DOOM.

h(!tw(u;n the oiRcctr and bin dumb Rccnnrr, according to
th(; pnirticc in tboM: dayH bcdwc^n human plaintiffii
and d(!r('.ndantH. ThiH remarkable c^imbat t^K>k plact;
on the JMle of Notre Dame at I'ariH^ in prcmcncf; of thf;
whole eoiirl. The king allowed Macairc U} have a
hiron^ elub^ aH a defejiHive wea|Hm ; while^ on the
()t.)i(!r hurid, the only m^lf-pre.Hervative meann allowed to
the, (lo^ cfjnHJHted of an empty cank^ intf> which it
eon Id retreat if hard prcHfUid. The ermdjatantii appeared
in the lintH. The dog Hcemed perfectly aware of itK
Hiiuation and duty. For a ithort time it leapt actively
round Ma(;aire^ and th(;n, at one, Hpring, it faittcnerl
il.Helf npfin bin throaty in no finn a manner that hn
eon Id not dJHentangle hiniMrlf. lie would have been
Klrarifrled had he not cried for mercy^ and avowed hi«
eriine. The dog wan pulled from off him; but he WM
only liberated from itn fangH to periffh by the handu of
the, law. The fidelity of thin dog htm hi^m celebrated
in many a drama and lUH'.m, and there im a monument
f)f hirn in bnsHo relievo NtiJI to be mum in thecaNtleof
Montar^HH. The dog which attracted Much celebrity bai
been uHually called 'the dog of Montargin/ from the
eornbal having taken place at the chAt<:au of that name.
^riie Htrength of them; dogH muNt have been nrj
ffrciii. A nobleman informed me, that whim he WW
a boy, and Hiaying on a viHit with the Knight of Kerrji
two IriHh wf)lf-dogN made their cNca|)C fnim the plice
in w)iif;h they were confined, and pulled down uul
killed a horHe, which waM in an adjoining paddock.

THE IRISH AND HIGHLAND WOLF-DOO. 93

The following affecting anecdote of an Irish wolf-
dog^ called ^^ the dog of Aughrim/^ affords a proof of
the extraordinary fidelity of these animals to their
masters^ and puts to shame the vaunted jsuperiority of
many human brutes.

At the hard-fought battle of Aughiim^ or Yidconnel^
an Irish officer was accompanied by his wolf-hound.
This gentleman was killed and stripped in the battle^
but the dog remained by his body both by day and
night. He fed upon some of the other bodies with
the rest of the dogs^ yet he would not allow them or
anything else to touch that of his maste^r. When all
the other bodies were consumed^ the other dogs de-
parted, but this used to go in the night to the adjacent
villages for food, and presently to return again to the
place where his master's bones were only then left.
This he continued to do from July, when the battle
was fought, until the January following, when a
soldier being quartered near, and going that way by
chance, the dog, fearing he came to disturb his master's
bones, flew upon the soldier, who, being surprised at
the suddenness of the thing, unslung his carbine^ he
having been thrown on hb back, and killed the noble
animal* He expired with the same fidelity to the
remains of his unfortunate master, as that master had
shown devotion to the cause of his unhappy country.

In the '' Irish Penny Journal " there is an inte-
resting account of the Irish wolf-dog, from which the
following anecdote is taken.

94 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

In the mountainous parts of the county Tyrone^
the inhabitants suffered much from the wolves^ and
gave from the pubUc fund as much for the head of one
of these animals^ as they would now give for the cap-
ture of a notorious robber on the highway. There
lived in those days an adventurer^ who^ alone and un-
assisted^ made it his occupation to destroy these
ravagers. The time for attacking them was in the
nighty and midnight was fixed upon for doing so^ as
that was their wonted time for leaving their lairs in
search of food^ when the country was at rest and all
was still ; then^ issuing forth^ they fell on their defence-
less prey^ and the carnage commenced. There was a
species of dog for the purpose of hunting them, called
the wolf-dog; the animal resembled a rough, stout,
half-bred greyhound, but was much stronger. In the
county Tyrone there was then a large space of ground
enclosed by a high stone wall, having a gap at each of
the two opposite extremities, and in this were seemed
the flocks of the surrounding farmers. But, aeciire
as this fold was deemed, it was offcen entered by tlie
wojves, and its inmates slaughtered. The neighbour-
ing proprietors having heard of the noted wolf-huntff
above mentioned, by name Rory Carragh, sent for him,
and offered the usual reward, with some addition, if he
would undertake to destroy the two remaining wolves
that had committed such devastation. Carragh, under-
taking the task, took with him two wolf-dogs, and a
little boy twelve years of age, the only person who

THE IRISH AND HIGHLAND WOLF-DOG. 95

would accompany Lim^ and repaired at the approach of
midnight to the fold in question. ^^Now/' said
Carragh to the boy, ^^ as the two wolves usually enter
the opposite extremities of the sheep-fold at the same
time, I must leave you and one of the dogs to guard
this one while I go the other. He steals with all the
caution of a cat, nor will you hear him, but the dog
will, and will give him the first fall. If, therefore, you
are not active when he is down to rivet his neck to the
ground with this spear, he will rise up and kill both
you and the dog. So good night.^^

^^ ni do what I can," said the little boy,-as he took
the spear from the wolf-hunter's hand.

The boy immediately threw open the gate of the
fold, and took his seat in the inner part, close to the
entrance, his faithful companion crouching at his side,
and seeming perfectly aware of the dangerous business
he was engaged in. The night was very dark and cold,
and the poor little boy, being benumbed with the chilly
air, was beginning to fall into a kind of sleep, when at
that instant the dog, with a roar, leaped across, and
laid his mortal enepay upon the earth. The boy was
roused into double activity by the voice of his com-
panion, and drove the spear through the wolfs neck as
he had been directed, at which time Carragh appeared,
bearing the head of the other.

This anecdote is taken from a biography of a Tyrone
family, published in Belfast in 1829.

It is now time to attempt a description of this

eddmrted Aog, sai ben our XMeu)tim

Some wribn hsn Aflfined dut it wm iDogh-eoMad,

ad Iwd tW ippaMMM of • gnj^oond^

"ntpwfhtmtH A§$mthmulHkapaiM of lusbi

whil^ otbtgn aMflrt ditt it im 0/ » awtilf-iike f.
peanaee, ud nnootliy wtnag, aai tilL All «c ran ilu
is to bring Ibnrard the difinat erideoM *e tuve been
Me to cdlec^ end ^mi to let oar neda* jwl;^ for
tbemtelvw.

In ao <dd pntit ol Pitiid SenAdd, Itrl of I^co,
there ne two wtAl'dogf, wludi m nprucntcd «
mwuth, pridt-entdf nd widi eomewliiC \>m\iy tak.
Lord Lucid dittbgnuhcd hniMelf io eercral a>gip>>
ments, •odcommeiidedtlieHeotidfemiperfruli Hum
Goivds, to wliidi be ww ^pointed bj^ Jftun 11., and
received bu deeth wonnd^ bdgniif molt g»U«it)y n
the head of bis eouDtrjrmMi, id 1608^ wktn ttic tlhiv
nnder WAUmb IIL, wm ddbted bjr Maihhsl Ijaxn»-
bonrg st tbe bit^ of Z4BideD. He irs* protiiUr 1
attended bjr bis tufbM W(it4ogt on tli»t 'Tixm,
when be ottered tbose nbliioe word* irfdc-li uo tri^
man will ever forget — "Oh tbit tku wu IW
Ireland I" Ana showing his love end affftrtkm for
hia native eoantry as be was ezpiniig m the anu ^U
victory. jfl

An old and amiable aapiMBtaattt Mr. AiM^I
Bourke Lambert, now, abw I no moM^ torn
m aceonnt of tbe wcdf-boimd to dM

THE IRISfi AND HIGHLAND WOLF-DOG. 97

which may be found in the third volume 6( their
^^ Tnmsaetionfi/' He had in his possession an old picture
of €it!ie of these dogs^ which^ at the sale of his effects^
Was purdiased by the Earl of Derby ; tlie dog is repr^^
sie&ted as smooth-haired^ with a somewhat wide fore-
head^ and having i^ aippearance of the greyhound^ but
more of that of the mastiff.

In February, 1841, Mr. Webber presented to thi6
Royal Irish Academy an ancient stone, on which Wasi
curved a rude bas-relief,. supposed to be the representa-
tioti of a dog killing a wolf. Mr. Webber aeeompanied
the present with a commfunic^ation, to the effect that
the stone wias taken from tlie castle of Ardnaglass, in
the haroay of Tireragh,. and county of Sligo, and Wa»
said to eommemorate the destruction of the last wolf
in Ireland. The current tradition in the place from
whence it came was, that some years after it was sup-
posed that the race of wolves was extinct, the flocks in
the county of Leitrim were aittacked by a wild animal,
whidi turned out to be a wolf; that thereupon the
chieftains of Leitrim applied to O'Bowd, the chieftain
of Tireragh (who possessed a celebrated dog of the
breed of the ancient Irish wolf-dog), to come and hunt
the wolf. This application having been complied with
by O^Dowd, there ensued a chase, which forms the
subject of an ancient Irish legend, detailing the various
districts through which it was pursued, until at length
the wolf waa overtaken and killed in a small wood of
pine-trees, at the foot of one of the mountains of

98 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

Tireragh. The quarter of land on which the wolf was
killed is to this day called Carrow na Madhoo, which
means " the dog's quarter/' In commemoration of the
events O'Dowd had! a representation of it carved, on
stone^ and placed in the wall of his baronial resi-
dence. It is difficult to form an opinion of the shape
of a dog from so rude a representation^ except that
it appears to have had a wide forehead and pricked
ears.

A gentleman^ who in his youth saw one of these
dogs, informs me that it was smooth, strong, and par-
taking somewhat of the character and appearance of a
powerful Danish dog. This agrees with the account
given of it by some writers, especially in '^ The Sports-
man's Cabinet," a work more remarkable for the truth
and fineness of its engravings, than for the matter con-
tained in it. Buffon also forms much the same opinion.
That great strength must be necessary to enable a d(^
to compete with a wolf, cannot be doubted, and perhi4)8
there is no breed of the rough greyhound now known
capable of competing with a wolf single-handed. Ha
Majesty has now in her possession one of the finest
specimens of the Highland deer-hound. He has great
strength and height, is rough-coated, wide across the
loins, and altogether a noble animal. Powerful, how-
ever as he is, it may be questioned whether such a dog
would be a match for a wolf, which the Irish hounds
undoubtedly were. This circumstance alone would
lead us to suppose, that we must look to a difiierent

THE IRISH AND HIGHLAND WOLF-DOO. 99

breed than that of greyhounds as the antagonists of
the wolf.

But it is time to turn to the other side of the
question.

In a very agreeable^ well-written article .in the " Irish
Penny Journal '' of May^ 1841^ the author brings for-
ward strong evidence to prove that the celebrated
Irish wolf-dog resembled a greyhound in form. He
will^ I hope^ allow me to quote some of his arguments,
which show considerable research and historical in-
formation. He says : —

'^ Public opinion has long been divided respecting
the precise appearance and form of this majestic
animal, and so many different ideas have been con-
ceived of him, that many persons have been induced
to come to the conclusion that no particular breed of
dogs was ever kept for wolf-hunting in Ireland, but
that the appellation of * wolf-dog ' was bestowed upon
any dog swift enough to overtake and powerful enough
to contend with and overcome that formidable animal.
While some hold this opinion, others suppose that
though a particular breed was used, it was a sort of
heavy mastiff-like dog, now extinct. It is the object of
the present paper to show, that not only did Ireland
possess a peculiar race of dogs, exclusively devoted to
wolf-hunting, but that those dogs, instead of being of
the mastiff kind, resembled the greyhound in form ;
and instead of being extinct are still to be met with,
although they are very scarce. I myself was ODce in a

100 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

very gross error respecting this dog, for I eonceiyed
him to have been a mastiff, and implicitly believed that
the dogs of Lord Altamont, described in the third
volume of the Linnean ' Transactions ' by Mr. Lambert,
were the sole surviving representatives of the Lish
wolf-dog. An able paper, read by Mr. Haffield aixmt
a year ago, before the Dublin Natural History Society,
served to stagger me in my belief, and subsequent care-
ful inquiry and research have completed my conversioa^
I proceed to lay before my readers the result of that
inquiry, and I feel confident that no individual, after
reading the evidence which I shall adduce, will con-
tinue to harbour a doubt respecting the true appearance
and form of the ancient Irish wolf-dog.

" We are informed by several disjointed scraps of
Celtic verse, that in the times of old, when Fionn Mac
Cumhaill, popularly styled Pinn Mac Cool, wielded the
sceptre of power and justice, we possessed a prodigioos
and courageous dog, used for hunting the deer and wild
boar, and also the wolf, which ravaged the folds and
slaughtered the herds of our ancestors. We lean
from the same source that these dogs were also fre-
quently employed as auxiliaries in war, and that they
were ' mighty in combat, their breasts like plates of
brass, and greatly to be feared.' We might adduce
the songs of Ossian, where the epithets ' hairy-footed,'
' white-breasted,' and ^ bounding,' are singularly charac-
teristic of some of the striking peculiarities of the dog
in question, and strangely coincide with the descrip-

THE IRISH AMD HIGHLAND WOLF-DOG. 101

tioiifi fdmidied by other writers respecting him. Mac
Pherson must^ at all events^ have been at the pains of
ooHsideraUe research if he actually forged the beauti*-
tfjl poems^ which he put forth to the world under
Ossian's name. The w(»*d ^ Bran/ the name given to
Fingal's noble hound^ employed by others than Ossian^
18 Celtic^ and signifies ' Mountain Torrent/ implying
that impetuosity of course and headlong courage
wUdi the dog possessed. I have said that many assert
Ae Irish wolf-dog to be no longer in existence. I have
Tentuied a denial of this^ and refer to the wolf-dog or
deer-dog of the Highlands of Scotland^ as his actual
and jhithfol living representative. Perhaps I am wrong
in saying representative. I hold that the Irish wolf-
dog and the Highland deer-dog are one and the same^
and I now proceed to cite a few authorities in support
of my position.

'^ The Venerable Bede^ as well as the Scotch his-
torian John Major, informs us that Scotland was
originally peopled &om Ireland under the conduct of
Benda^ and that one half of Scotland spoke the Irish
language as their mother-tongue. Many persons^ also^
•re doubtless aware that^ even at this present time^ the
Gaelic and Erse are so much alike, that a Connaught
man finds no difficulty in comprehending and con-
versing with a Highlander. Scotland also was called
by the early writers Scotia Minor, and Ireland, Scotia
Major. The colonization, therefore, of Scotland from
Ireland admits of little doubt. As the Irish wolf-dog

102 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

was at that time in the enjoyment of his most extended
fame^ it was not to be expected that the colonists
would omit taking with them such a fine description of
dog^ and which would prove so useful to them in a
newly established settlement^ and that, too^ at a period
when hunting was not merely an amusement^ but one
of their main occupations, and also their main source
of subsistence. The Irish wolf-dog was thus carried
into Scotland, and became the Highland or Scottish
wolf-dog, changing in process of time his name with
his country; and when wolves disappeared from the
land, his occupation was that of deer-huntings and thus
his present name.

" In Ireland the wolves were in existence longer
than in Scotland, but as soon as wolves ceased to exist
in the former country, the dogs were suffered to be-
come extinct also, while in Scotland there was still
abundant employment for them after the days of wolf-
hunting were over — the deer still remained; and use-
ful as they had been as wolf-dogs, they proved them-
selves, if possible, still more so as deer-hounds.

'' That the Irish wolf-dog was a tall, rough grey-
hound, similar in every respect to the Highland dog
of the present day (of which an engraving is given)
cannot b(; doubted from the following authorities.
Strabo mentions a tall greyhound in use among the
Pictish and Celtic nations, which he states was held
in hi^h esteem by our ancestors, and was even im-
ported into Gaul for the purposes of the chase.

THE IBI8H AND HIGHLAND WOLF-DOG. 103

Campion expressly speaks of the Irish wolf-dog as a
^ greyhound of great bone and limb/ Silaus calls it
also a greyhound^ and asserts that it was imported into
Ireland by the Belgie^ and is the same with the re-
nowned Belgic dog of antiquity^ and that it was^ during
the days of Roman grandeur^ brought to Rome for the
combats of the Amphitheatre. Pliny relates a combat
in which the Irish wolf-dog took a pai-t : he calls them
'Canes Graii Hibemici/ and describes them as much
taller than the mastiff. Holinshed^ in speaking of
the Irish^ says^ "They are not without wolves^ and
greyhounds to hunt them.' Evelyn, speaking of the
bear-garden^ says, ' The bull-dogs did exceeding well,
but the Irish wolf-dog exceeded; which was a tall grey-
hound, a stately creature, and beat a cruel mastiff.'

''Llewellyn, prince of Wales, was presented by
Ejng John with a specimen of this kind of dog.
These animals were in those days permitted to be kept
only by princes and chiefs ; and in the Welsh laws of
the ninth century we find heavy peualties laid down
for the maiming or injuring of the Irish greyhound, or,
as it was styled in the code aUuded to, ' Cauis Graius
Hibemicus;' and a value was set on them, equal to
more than double that set on the ordinary greyhound.

"Moryson, secretary to Lord-deputy Mountjoy,
says, ' The Irishmen and greyhounds are of great
stature.' Lombard remarks, that the finest hunting
dogs in Europe were produced in Ireland : 'Greyhounds
useful to take the stag, wild boar, or wolf.' Pennant

104 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

describes these dogs as scfurce^ and as being led to the
chase in leather slips or thongs^ and calls them 'tlie
Irish greyhound/ Bay mentions him as the greatest
dog he had ever seen. Buffon says, he saw an Iiisb
greyhound, which measured five feet in height when in
a sitting posture, and says that all other sorts of grey-
hounds are descended froip him, and that in Scotknd
it is called the Highland greyhound: that it is very
large, deep-chested, and covered with long rough hair.
'^ Scottish noblemen were not always content with
such specimens of this dog as their own country fifth
duced, but frequently sent for them to Ireland, ccm-
ceiving, doubtless, that they would be found, better mi
purer in their native land. The following is a copy of
a letter addressed by Deputy Falkland to the Earl of
Cork, in 1623: —

' My Lord,

I have lately received letters from my Loid
Duke of Buccleuch and others of my noble fnendii
who have entreated me to send them some greyhound
dogs and bitches, out of this kingdom, of the largest
sort, which I perceive they intend to present unts
divers princes and other noble persons ; and if yoa
can possibly, let them be white, which is the colonr
most in request here. Expecting your answer by the
bearer, I commit you to the protection of the Almightyi
and am your Lordship's attached friend,

' Falkland/

THB IKTSH AND HIGHLAND WOLF-DOG. 105

t€

Smith, in his ' Hbtoy of Waterford/ says^ ' the
Irish greyhound is nearly extinct: it is much taller
than a ntaatiff, but more like a greyhound^ and for
flixe, strength, and shape, cannot be equalled. Roderick,
king of Connaught, was obliged to furnish hawks and
greyhounds to Henry 11. Sir Thomas Rue obtained
great favour from the Great* Mogul in 1615, for a
hnec of Irish greyhounds presented by him. Henry
YIII. presented the Marquis of Dessarages, a Spanish
grandee, with two goshawks and four Irish grey-
hounds.'

'' Perhaps sufBeient evidence has now been adduced
to demonstrate the identity of the Irish wolf-dog with
the Highland deer-hound. I may, however, in con-
clusion, give an extract from the excellent paper of
Mr. Haffield, already alluded to, as having been read
before the Dublin Natural History Society, and which
was received by that gentleman from Sir William
Betham, Ulster King-at^Arms, an authority «f very
high importance on any subject connected with Irish
antiquities. Sir William says, — ^ From the mention
of the wolf-dogs in the old Irish poems and stories,
and also from what I have heard from a very old
person, long since dead, of his having seen them at
' The Neale,' in the county of Jf ayo, the seat of
Sir John Browne, ancestor to Lord Kilmaine, I have
no doubt they were a gigantic greyhound. My de-
parted friend described them as being very gentle,
and says that Sir John Browne allowed them to come

106 ANECDOTES OF D008.

into his dining-room^ where they put their headi
over the shoulders of those who sat at table. They
were not smooth-skinned^ like our greyhounds^ bat
rough and curly- haired. The Irish poets call the
wolf-dog 'Cu/ and the common greyhound 'Ghiyer,''
a marked distinction^ the word ' Cu^ signifying a
champion.^

" The colour of these dogs varies^ but the moit
esteemed arc dark iron-grey^ with white breast. Thejr
are^ however^ to be found of a yellowish or sandy \m,
brindled^ or even white. In former times^ as will be
seen from Lord Falkland's letter quoted above^ this
latter colour was by many preferred. It is described
as a stately^ majestic animal^ extremely good-tempered
and quiet in his disposition^ unless when irritated or
excited^ wh(;n he becomes furious; and is^ in come-
quenc(; of his tremendous strength^ a truly formidable
animal.''

GoldHmith asserts that he had seen a dozen of theie
dogH^ and infonns us " that the largest was about {bur
feet high^ or as tall as a calf of a year old. They are
generally of a white or cinnamon colour^ and moie
robust than the greyhound — their aspect mild, and
their dis[)OHition gentle and peaceable. It is said that
their Htrcngth is so great, that in combat the mastiff
or bull-dog is far from equal to them. They com'-'
monly seize their antagonists by the back and sliak0
thcrn to death. These dogs were never senrioeahlc
for hunting, either the stag, the fox, or the hare-

THE IBI8H AND HIGHLAND WOLF-DOO. 107

Their chief ntility was in hunting wolves^ and to thi&
breed may be attributed the £nal extirpation of those
ferociouB animals in England and Wales in early times
in the woody districts/'

Having thus given these different accounts of the
Irish wolf-dog, I may add that some persons are of
Q]Hiiion that there were two kinds of them — one par-
taking of the shape and disposition of the mastiff, and
die other of the Highland deer-hound. It is not im-
probable that a noble cross of dogs might have been
made from these two sorts. At all events I have
fidrly stated the whole of the information I have been
able to obtain respecting these dogs, and my readers
orast form their own opinions. The following anec-
ifAe, recently commimicated to me, is given in the
words of the writer : —

" Two whelps were made a present to my brother
by Harvey Combe, of a breed between the old Irish
wolf-dog and the blood-hound. My brother gave them
to Robert Evatt, of Mount Louise, county Monaghan.
One died young, but the other grew to be a very
noble animal indeed. Unfortunately he took to chasing
■keep, and became an incorrigible destroyer of that
inoffensive but valuable stock. Evatt found he could
not afford to keep such a marauder, and as he was
gobg to Dublin he took up the sheep-killer, in order
to preaent him to the Zoological Society as a fine
■pccimen of the breed. His servant was holding him
•t the door of the hotel when a gig drove up, and

108 ANECDOTES OF D008.

the gentleman alighted. The dog sprung from the
servant's hold, and jumping into the gig with one
bounds seized the mat at the bottom of the gig^ which
was made of sheepskin^ and with another bound made
away with his woolly prize^ and was brought back with
difficulty^ after a long and fatiguing pursuit/'

This is one of the most desperate cases of sheep-
hunting in dogs I ever met with. It is said, that this
propensity may be got rid of by tying a cord .covered
with wool to the dog's lower jaw^ so that the wool
may be kept in the mouth.

I should mention, that in a manuscript of Frrassart
in the British Museum, which is highly illuminated^
there is a representation of the grand entrance of
Queen Isabel of England into Paris, in the year 1824
She is attended by a noble greyhound, who has
a flag, powdered with fleurs-de-lys, bound to his
neck.

Greyhounds were a favourite species of dog in the
middle ages. In the ancient pipe-rolls, payments aie
frequently made in greyhounds. In Hawes' ^* Pastime
of Pleasure,'' (written in the time of Henry VII.)
Fame is attended by two greyhounds, on whose goldoa
collars, " Grace" and " Govemaunce" are inscribed in
diamond letters.

In the pictures of Rubens, Snyders, and other old
masters, some of the powerful dogs there represented
would appear to be a breed between the greyhoimd
and mastiff. Nothing can exceed the majestic and

THB IRISH AND HIGHLAND WOLF-DOG. 109

oommaiidiiig appearance of these dogs, and such a
bceed would be most likely to produce the sort of
ammal most citable of contending with the wol£

The Irish wolf-dogs were formerly placed as the
inpporters of the arms of the ancient Monarchs of
Ireland. They were collared or, with the motto^

" GentlB when stroked — fierce when provoked."

Hr. Scrope^ in. his. agreeable book on deer-stalking
m Scotland, has communicated an account from Mr.
Macneill, of Colonsay, of the Highland deer-hound, in
wluch are some interesting remarks relative to the
Laak wolf-dog, and from which I shall make a few
otncts.

In making these extracts, it is impossible not to be
struck with a remark in the work referred to, that from
modem writers we learn nothing further respecting the
huh wolf-dog, than that such a race of dogs at one
time existed in Ireland, that they were of a gigantic
liie, and that they are now extinct

One great obstacle in the way of investigating the
lustory of this dog has arisen from the diflferent ap-
pellations given to it, according to the fancy of the
Datives in different parts of the country, such as Irish
wolf-dog, Irish greyhound, Highland deer-bound, and
Scotch greyhound, and this circumstance may have
produced the confusion in fixing its identity.

In the fourth century a number of dogs, of a great

110 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

size, were sent in iron cages firom Ireland to Borne,
and it is not improbable that the dogs so sent were
greyhounds, particularly as we learn from the autho-
rity of Evelyn and others, that the Irish wolf-dog was
used for the fights of the bear-garden. ^^ Greyhound'^
probably means a ^^ great hound/^

Holinshed, in his ^^ Description of Ireland and the
Irish," written in 1586, has the following notice:—
" They are not without wolves, and greyhounds to
hunt them, bigger of bone and limb than a colt;'^
and in a frontispiece to Sir James Ware^s ^^ History of
Ireland,^^ an allegorical representation is given of a
passage from the Venerable Bede, in which two dogs
are introduced, bearing a strong resemblance to that
given by Gesner, in his '^ History of Quadrupeds,'* pub-
lished in 1560.

The term Irish is applied to Highland dogs, as
everything Celtic (not excepting the language) was
designated in England ; probably in consequence ot
Ireland being, at that period, better known to the
English than Scotland. This is, perhaps, a proof of the
similarity of the Irish and Scotch deer-hounds.

Of the courage of the ancient deer-hound there
can be little doubt, from the nature of the game for
which he was used. If any proof were wanting, an
incident mentioned by Evelyn in his Diary, in 1670,
when present at a bull-fight in the bear-garden, i«
conclusive. He says, '^ The bulls (meaning the bull-
dogs) did exceeding well, but the Irish wolf-dog ex-

THE IKI8H AND HIGHLAND WOLF-DOG. Ill

Geeded^ which was a tall greyhound, a stately creature,

indeed, who beat a cruel mastiff/^

Here, perhaps, is a proof that the Irish wolf-dog

was a greyhound; and there can be little doubt that
it is the same dog we find mentioned under the
name of the Irish greyhound.

Bnffon remarks that " the Irish greyhounds are of
a Ycry ancient race. They were called by the ancients,
dogs of Ephms, and Albanian dogs. Pliny gives an
aceoont of a combat between one of these dogs, first
with a lion, and then with an elephant. In France
they are so rare, that I never saw above one of them,
whieh appeared, when sitting, to be about five feet
hig^. He was totally white, and of a mild and
peaceable disposition.''

The following description of these dogs, translated
from a Celtic poem, is probably an accurate one : —

" An eye of sloe, with ear not low,
With horse's breast, with depth of chest,
With breadth of loin, and curve in groin
And nape set far behind the head —
Such were the dogs that Fingal bred."

It is probable that even in Scotland very few of
4e pure breed of dogs are left, but those which are
Aow a surprising combination of speed, strength,
rift, endurance, courage, sagacity, docility, and it may
kc added, dignity. The purest specimens of the deer-
JHmnd now to be met with are supposed to be those
longing to Captain McNeill of Colonsay, two of

112 AMIClK>TBSOP BOGS.

them being called Boskar and Bran. And liere let
me give an extract from an interesting and grliiiliie
account^ published by Mr. Scrope^ ot the perfomiance
of these dogs in the chase of a stag. Let ns fimcj
a party assembled over-night in a Highland g^en^
consisting of sportsmen^ deer-stalkers^ a piper and
two deer-hounds, cooking their supper, and oonelnding
it with the never-£uling accompaniment id whisky-
toddy. Let us ffmcy them reposing cm a conch of
dried fern and heather, and being awoke in the morn-
ing with the lively air of '' Hey, Johnny Cope.^' While
their breakfast is preparing, th^ wash and refresh
themselves at a pure mountain stream, and are soon
ready to issue fcnrth with Buskar and Bran. The
party proceeds up a rocky glen, where the slaBto
sees a stag about a mile off. He immediately pros-
trates himself on the ground, and in a second Ae
rest follow his example. We will not follow all the
different manoeuvres of the deer-stalker and his follow-
ers, but bring them at once near the unconscious stag.
After performing a very considerable circuit, moving
sometimes forwards and sometimes backwards, the
party at length arrive at the back of a hillock, on the
opposite side of which the stalker said, in a whiq>er,
the deer was lying, and that he was not distant a
hundred yards. The whole party immediatdy moved
forward in silent and breathless expectation, with the
dogs in front straining in the slips. On reaching the
top of the hillock, a full view of the noble stag jne-

ANECDOTE OF DBEK-STALKINO. 118

sented itself^ who^ having heard the footsteps^ had
sprang on his legs^ and was staring at his enemies^ at
the distance of about sixty yards.

'^The dogs were slipped; a general halloo burst
from us all, and the stag, wheeling round, set off at
full speed, with Buskar and Bran straining after
bim.

''The brown figure of the deer, with his noble
antlers laid back, contrasted with the light colour of
the dogs stretching along the dark heath, presented
one of the most exciting scenes that it is possible to
imagine.

'' The deer's first attempt was to gain some rising
ground to the left of the spot where we stood, and
rather behind us, but, being closely pursued by the
dogs, he soon found that his only safety was in speed ;
and (as a deer does not run well up-hill, nor like a roe,
straight down hill) on the dogs approaching him, he
turned, and almost retraced his footsteps, taking, how-
ever, a steeper line of descent than the one by which he
ascended. Here the chase became most interesting —
the dogs pressed him hard, and the deer getting con-
fused, found himself suddenly on the brink of a small
precipice of about fourteen feet in height, from the
bottom of which there sloped a rugged mass of stones.
He paused for a moment, as if afraid to take the
leap, but the dogs were so close that he had no
alternative.

"At this time the party were not above one

X

114 ANECDOTES OF D008.

hundred aud £fty yards distant^ and most anxiously
waited the result^ fearing^ from the ruggedness of the
ground below^ that the deer would not survive the
leap. They were, however, soon relieved from their
anxiety, for though he took the leap, he did so more
cunningly than gallantly, dropping himself in the most
singular manner, so that his hind legs first reached the
broken rocks below ; nor were the dogs long in follow-
ing him. Buskar sprang first, and, extraordina7 to
relate, did not lose his legs. Bran followed, and, on
reaching the ground, performed a complete somerset.
He soon, however, recovered his legs, and the chase wu
continued in an oblique direction down the side of i
most rugged and rocky brae, the deer, apparently more
fresh and nimble than ever, jumping through the rocb
like a goat, and the dogs well up, though occasionaOy
receiving the most fearful falls.

" From the high position in which we were plaoedj
the chase was visible for nearly half a mile. Whfli
some rising ground intercepted our view, wc made with
all speed for a higher point, and, on reaching it, we
could perceive that the dogs, having got upon smooth
ground, had gained on the deer, who was still going it
speed, and were close up with him. Bran was then
leading, and in a few seconds was at his heels, and
immediately seized his hock with such violence of
grasp, as seemed in a great measure to paralyse the
limb, for the deer^s speed was immediately checked.
Buskar was not far behind, for soon afterwardi

ANECDOTE OF DEEB-STALKING. * 115

passing Bran^ he seized the deer by the neck.
Notwithstanding the weight of the two dogs which
were hanging to him^ having the assistance of the
slope of the ground^ he continued dragging them
along at a most extraordinary rate (in defiance of their
utmost exertions to detain him)^ and succeeded more
than once in kicking Bran off. But he became at
length exhausted — the dogs succeeded in pulUng him
down ; and though he made several attempts to rise^ he
never completely regained his legs.

"On coming up, we found him perfectly dead,
with the joints of both his forelegs dislocated at the
knee, his throat perforated, and his chest and flanks
much lacerated.

^'As the ground was perfectly smooth for a con-
siderable distance roimd the place where he fell, and
not in any degree swampy, it is difficult to account for
the dislocation of his knees, unless it happened during
his struggles to rise. Buskar was perfectly exhausted,
and had lain down, shaking from head to foot much
like a broken-down horse ; but on our approaching the
deer he rose, walked round him with a determined
growl, and would scarcely permit us to get near him.
He had not, however, received any cut or injury, while
Bran showed several bruises, nearly a square inch
having been taken off the front of his fore-leg, so that
the bone was visible, and a piece of burnt heather had
passed quite through his foot.

'^Nothing could exceed the determined courage

116 * ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

displayed by both dogs^ particularly by Biiskar,
throughout the chase^ and especially in preserving his
hold^ though dragged by the deer in a most violent
manner/'

It is hoped that this account of the high spirit
and perseverance of the Scotch deer-hound will not be
• found uninteresting. This noble creature was the
pride and companion of our ancestors^ and for a long
period in the history of this country^ particularly in
Ireland^ the only dog used in the sports of the field.
When we consider the great courage^ combined with
the most perfect gentleness of this animal^ his gigantic^
picturesque^ and graceful form^ it must be a subject of
regret that the breed is likely to become extinct
Where shall we find dogs possessing such a combination
of fine and noble qualities?

The following anecdote^ which with the accompany-
ing fine engraving is taken from the New Sportii^
Magazine for January 1839^ presents a striking example
of the same kind : —

^^ The incident which the artist has made the sub-
ject for our embellishment occurred with Lord Ossuls-
ton's stag-hounds^ on Tuesday^ the 1st of May^ when
the stag^ after a fast run of an hour^ jumped over a pre-
cipice^ and broke his neck. The hounds were, at this
time^ close to his haunches^ and a couple and a half of
the leading dogs went over with the stag. Two of the
hounds were so hurt that they could not move, and

THI IBI8H AND HIGHLAND WOLF-DOO. 117

be third was found by tbe greencoat first up^ lying on
be dead deer/'

I am indebted to that clever and intelligent
rathoress^ Mrs. S. Garter Hall^ for her recollections of
m Irish wolf-dog and his master^ which I cannot do
better than give in her ownVords :—

^' When I was a child^ I had a very close friendship
with a genuine old wolf-dog^ Bruno by name. He was
flic property of an old friend of my grandmother^s,
who claimed descent from the Irish kings. His name
118 O'Toole. His manners were the most courtly you
en imagine; as they might well be^ for he had spent
much time and fortune at the French courts when
Marie Antoinette was in her prime and beauty. His
ririts were my jubilees — there was the kind^ dignified
old gentleman^ who told me tales — there was his tall^
gaunt dog, grey with age, and yet with me full of
play; and there were two rough terriers, whom Bruno
^)t in admirable order. He managed the little one
^ simply placing his paw upon it when it was too
fiisky; but Vixen, the large one, like many ladies, had
1 will of her own, and entertained some idea of being
mistress. Bruno would bear a good deal from her,
giving, however, now and then, a low deep growl ; but
when provoked too much, he would quietly lift the dog
off the ground by the strength of his jaws (his teeth
were gone), stand with her in his mouth at the doors
^uttQ they were opened, and then deposit her, half

118 ANECDOT£S OF DOG&

strangled as she was^ in a nettle-bed some distance
from the house. The dog's discrimination was curionSi
If Vixen was thrown upon him, or if we forced her to
insult him, he never punished her ; but if she of her
own accord teazed him more than his patience could
bear, the punishment was certain to follow.

^^ O'Toole and his dogs always occupied the same
room, the terriers being on the bed with their master.
No entreaty, however, ever induced Bruno to sleep on
anything softer than stone. He would remove the
hearth-i*ug and lay on the marble. His master used to
instance the dog's disdain of luxury as a mark of his
noble nature.

'^ I should not omit to tell you, as characteristic of
my old friend, that O'Toole was proud, and never
would submit to be called ^ Mr.' Meeting, one day,
Lord Ame in Dame Street, Dublin, while the old man
was followed by his three wolf-dogs, of which Brono
was the last, the young nobleman, who had also hii
followers in the shape of ' Parhament men,' said to
the descendant of Irish kings, nodding to him fami-
harly at the same time, ^ How do you do, Mf*
O'Toole ?" The old man paused, drew himself upi
lifted his hat, made his courtly bow, and answeredi
' O'Toole salutes Ame.' I can recall nothing more pic-
turesque than that majestic old gentleman and his dog,
both remnants of a bygone age. Bruno was rooghi
but not long-coated, very grave, observant^ enduring
every one, very fond of children, playing with them

THB IRISH AND HIGHLAND WOLF-DOG. 119

gently^ but only crouching and fawning on his master;
'and that/ O^Toole would say, 'is a proof of my royal
blood/ I could fill a volume with memoirs of that
fine old man. He was more than six feet in height,
and his dog always sat with his head on his master's
knee.''

This is altogether a pretty and interesting picture.

The sagacity of this fine breed is well illustrated in
what follows: —

A gentleman w{dking along the road on Kingston
Hill, accompanied by a friend and a noble deer-hound,
which was also a retriever, threw his glove into a ditch ;
and having walked on for a mile, sent his dog back for
it. After waiting a considerable time, and the dog
not returning, they retraced their steps. Hearing loud
cries in the distance, they hastened on, and at last saw
the dog dragging a boy by his coat towards them.
On questioning the boy, it appeared that he had picked
up the glove and put it into his pocket. The sagacious
animal had no other means of conveying it to his
master than by compelling the boy to accompany
him.

The following anecdotes are from Capt. Thomas
Brown's now scarce work, " Biographical Sketches and
Anecdotes of Dogs." He says : —

" Sir Walter Scott has most obligingly furnished
me with the followiQg anecdotes of his celebrated dog
Maida: —

120 ANECDOTES OP DOGS.

t(

I was once riding over a field on which the
reapcrn were at work, the stooks being pkced behind
thcm^ BH \H usual. Maida having found a hare, began
U) chaHc her, to the great amusement of the spectatoni^
an the hare turned very often and very swiftly among
the Ht(H)]iH. At length, being hard prcsMcd, she fairly
bolted into one of them. Maida went in headlong after
her, and the ntook began to be much agitated in various
dircetionH. At length the sheaves tumbled down ; and
the han; and the dog, terrified alike .at their overthrow,
ran difiiTcnt ways, to the great amusement of the
spectators.^'

''Among several peculiarities which Maida pos-
si^sHcd, one was a strong aversion to a certain class of
artJHtH, arising from the frequent restraints he was
subj<^;ted to in having his portrait taken, on aooonnt
of his majestic ap])earance. The instant he saw a
pencil and paper produced he prepared to beat a re-
treat; and, if forced to remain, he exhibited the
strongest marks of displeasure.^

ff

Ranaldsrm Macdonell, Esq. of Glengarry, has most
kindly furnished the following interesting notices and
anecdotes of the Scrjttish Highland greyhound: —

'' Not many yc^rs since one of Glengarry's tenants,
who had some business with his chief, happened to
arrive at Glengarry House at rather an early hour in
the morning. A dej;r-hound perceiving this person
sauntering about before the domestics were astiTj

THB IRISH AND HIGHLAND WOLF-DOG. 121

walked quietly up to him, took him gently by the
wrist with his teeth, and proceeded to lead him off the
ground. The man, finding him forbearing, attempted
resistance; but the dog, instantly seizing his wrist
with redoubled pressure, soon convinced him that his
attempt was in vain. Thus admonished, the man took
the hint, and quietly yielded to his canine conductor,
who, without farther injury, led him to the outside of
the gate, and then left him. The whole of the dogs at
Glengarry House were allowed to go at liberty at all
times.

''The Highland greyhounds, or deer-hounds as
they are called in the Highlands, have a great antipathy
to the sheep-dogs, and never fail to attack them when-
ever an opportunity offers. A shepherd, whose colley
had frequently been attacked by the deer-dogs of Glen-
garry singly, and always succeeded in beating them off
on such occasions, was one day assailed by them in a
body; and his life would have been in considerable
danger, but for one of the keepers, who happened to
pass at the time, and called them off.

"The following circumstance will prove the ex-
quisite sense of smell possessed by the deer-hound.
One of this breed, named Bran, when held in the
leash, followed the track of a wounded stag, and that
in most unfavourable rainy weather, for three successive
days, at the end of which time the game was shot.
He was wounded first within nine miles of Inver-

122 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

garry House^ and was traced that night to the estate
of Glenmoriston. At dusk in the evening the deer-
stalkers placed a stone on each side of the last fresh
print of his hoof^ and another over it ; and this they
did each night fgllowing. On the succeeding morning
they removed the upper stone^ when the dog recovered
the scent^ and the deer was that day traced over a
great part of Glenmoriston's ground. On the third
day he was retraced to the lands of Glengarry, and
there shot.

^'My present dog^ Comhstri, to great courage
unites the quality of a gentle disposition, with much
fidelity and attachment. Though not so large as some
of his kindred, he is nevertheless as high-spirited and
determined as any of his race, which the following cir-
cumstance will testify : ' About three years ago, a
deer from the wood of Derrygarbh, whose previous
hurts had been healed, came out of Glengarry's pasi^
whp wounded it severely in the body with a rifle bullet.
The deer-hounds were immediately laid on the blood-
track. The stag was started in the course of a few
minutes ; the dogs were instantly slipped, and the fine
animal ran to bay in a deep pool of water, below a
cascade, on the Garyquulach bum. Gomhstri im-
mcdiatdy plunged in, and seized the stag by the
throat; both went under water, surrounded with the
white foam, slightly tinged with the deer's blood.
The dog soon came to the surface to recover his breath;

>

THE IRISH AND HIGHLAND WOLV-DOO. 128

and before the other could do so^ Comhstri dived^ and
again seized him by the throat. The stag was soon
after taken out of the pool. dead.

"Comhstri's colour » grey, with a white chest;
but we have had them of different colours at Glen-
garry^ such as pure white^ blacky brindled, and sand-
colour.

'^ When the Highlanders dream of a black dog, it
is interpreted to mean one of the clan of Macdonell ;
but if of a deer-hound, it denotes a chief, or one of the
principal persons of that clan.^'

That the Scottish dogs were much prized in England
from the earhest times, the following interesting ac-
count, taken from Holinshed's Chronicles, ' Historic of
Scotland,' p. 71, printed in 1586, will show. "And
shortlie after the return of these ambassadors into their
countrie, divers young gentlemen of the Pictish nobilitie
repaired unto King Grathlint, to hunt and make merie
with him; but when they should depart homewards,
perceiving that the Scotish dogs did farre excell theirs,
both in faimesse, swiftnesse, hardinesse, and also in
long standing up and holding out, they got diverse
both dogs and bitches of the best kinds for breed to be
given them by the Scotish Lords ; and yet not so con-
tented, they stole one belonging to the king from his
keeper, being more esteemed of him than all the others
which he had about him. The master of the leash
being informed hereof, pursued after them which had

124 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

stoUen that dog^ thinking indeed to have taken him
from them; but they not willing to part with him^
fell at altercation^ and in the end chanced to strike the
maister of the leash through with their horsespeares
that he died presentlie : whereupon noise and ciie
being raised in the countrie by his servants^ diverse of
the Scots^ as they were going home from hunting,
returned^ and^ falling upon the Ficts to revenge the
death of their fellow^ there ensued a shrewd bickering
betwixt them^ so that of the Scots there died three
score gentlemen^ besides a great number of the com-
mons^ not one of them understanding (till all was
done) what the matter meant. Of the Ficts there were
about an hundred slaine. This circumstance led to a
bloody war betwixt the two nations.'*

The following interesting anecdote^ related by Mr.
Carr in his " Stranger in Ireland/' there can be no
doubt, I think, refers to the Irish wolf-dog. Mr. Carr
says, that while on his journey to Ireland he ''wan-
dered to a little church, which owed its elevation to the
following circumstance. Llewelyn the Oreat, who
resided near the base of Snowdon, had a beautiful dog
named Gelert, which had been presented to him by
King John in 1205. One day, in consequence of the
faithful animal, which at night always ' sentinelled hii
master's bed,' not making his appearance in the chaaej
Llewelyn returned home very angry, and met the dog^
covered with blood, at the door of the ehamber of hb

THJB IRISH AND HIGHLAND WOLF-DOG. 125

child. Upon entering it^ lie found the bed overturned^
and the coverlet stained with gore. He called to his
boy; but receiving no answer, he rashly concluded
that he had been killed by Gldert, and in his anguish
instantly thrust his sword through the poor animal's
body. The Hon. Robert Spencer has beautifully told
the remainder of the story.

' His Bappliant looks, as prone he fell,
No pity could impart ;
But still his (relert's dying yell
Passed heavy on his heart.

Arous'd by Gklert's dying yell,

Some slnmb'rer waken'd nigh :
What words the parent's joy could teU,

To hear his infant's cry ?

Nor scathe had he, nor harm, nor dread :

But the same couch beneath.
Lay a gaunt wolf all torn and dead,

Tremendous still in death.

Ah ! what was then Llewelyn's pain ?

For now the truth was clear : —
His gallant hound the wolf had slain,

To save Llewelyn's heir.'*

In order to mitigate his offence^ Llewelyn built this
chapel^ and raised a tomb to poor Gelert ; and the spot
to this day is called Beth-Gelert, or the Grave of
Gdert.'*

I should not omit to mention^ that in Mr. Windless

* See the entire poem in Tomkins' " Beauties of English Poetry."
ISmo. 1847.

126 ANECDOTES OF D0G8.

account of Cork, Kerry, &c., there is the following
notice of the wolf and Irish wolf-dog.

" The last wolf seen in Ireland was killed in the
neighbourhood of Anuascuit, near Dingle, in 1710.
The place is still known by the name of the Wolf'i
Step. The Irish called the wolf-dog Sagh cliun; and
old Campion, speaking of the Irish, says. They are
not without wolves, and greyhounds to hunt them
bigger of bone and limne than a colt/'

This noble animal is also described as " similar in
shape to a greyhound, larger than a mastiff, and tract-
able as a spaniel/'

The following fact will serve to prove that the deer-
hound is possessed of a fine sense of smelling, a cir-
cumstance which has been doubted by many persons.

The head keeper of Richmond Park is possessed of
a famous old deer-hound bitch, remarkable for her
sagacity, and for having taken five bucks in one day.
After a battue in the Park in the winter of 1845, he
directed one of the under-keepers to examine the ground
carefully, which had been shot over the day before.
He was accompanied by the old dog, who was to act as
retriever. She came to a point in one of the coven^
as was her custom when she seemed to find a rabbit ;
but the keeper, finding that it was a hare, called her
off. After going some distance, the dog went back
and pointed the hare a second time. The keeper put
her up, and then found that she had been wounded,
having had her hind leg broken. Here the fine

THE IRISH AND HIOHLAND WOLF-DOG. 127

of UQelliiig was the more remarkable^ as this old dog
will not look &t a hare^ nor indeed can she be induced
to nm after one.

One of her progeny ran a wounded buck into the
luge pond in the Fark^ swam after it^ killed it in the
wster, and then seizing it by the foot^ swam with it to
the shore.

Having now given my reader all the information
I ean gather on this dog of bygone times^ I will gratify
liim with a letter I have received from a lady whose
name is dear to Ireland^ and highly placed in the
nnks of English Literature : —

"Dear Sir,

'' I am much flattered by your compliment to
my national erudition^ a very scanty stock in my best
of times^ and now nearly used up, in ^ furnishing forth '
the pages of many an idle tale, worked out in the
'Iiish Interest,' as the mouse nibbled at the lion's
net, — the same presumption, if not with the same
results I However, I will rub up my old ^ Shannos/
as Elizabeth said of her Latin, and endeavour to recol«
lect the little I have ever known on the subject of the
Irish wolf-dog.

" Natural history is too much a matter of fact to
have ever interested the poetic temperament of the
Irish ; Schools of Poetry, Heraldry, and Music, were
opened (says the Irish historians), ^ time immemorial/
St. Patrick found the Academies of Lismore and

128 ANECDOTM OP DOGS*

Armagh in a flourivhing condition^ when he arrived
on his great misMon ; and the more modem College
of Clonard (founded in the fifth eentury hy Biihop
Finnan)^ had a great reputation for its learning ind
learned profeMHora. But it does not appear that there
was any Chair of Natural History or Philosophy is
thcKf; scholastic Seminaries. Their Transactions it«
corded the miracles of saints rather than the mirada
of nature. And had some daring Cuvicr, or enter-
prising Lyell or Murchison^ opened those spaeioui
cabinets^ once

' In the deep bo«om of the ocean bnried/

or entombed in mountain layers for unnumbered agei^
the Dniid priests would probably have immolated the
daring naturalist under his highest oak. Is it quite
sure that the Prior of Armagh^ or the founder of the
lioyal Academy of Clonard, the g(XKl Saint Finoaa
himself, would have served them much better ? Cer-
tain^ however^ it is, that the Druids, Bards, FiliaH
Senachies and Saints of Ireland, who left such mighty
reputations behind them for learning, have not dropped
one word on the subject of the natural history of thdr
MhIc of Song;' and though they may have dabbled
a little in that prosaic pursuit, they probably soon
discovered its perilous t(;ndeney, and sang with the
last and most charming of Irish Bards, —

' No, SdencCf to you
We haTe long bade a last and careleia

THB IRiaH AND HIOHLAND WOLF-DOG. 129

"Nearly two thousand years after the foundation

of the most learned Academies of Ireland^ a pretty little

Zoological Garden was opened in the capital of the

wontry; but no living type of the Irish wolf-dog is

to be found there^ nor were any ^ fossil remains ' of

the noble animal discovered in the Wicklow Mines^*

which were worked some fifty years back, but which,

fcr want of capital or perseverance, only furnished a

iew Cronobane halfpence, and materials for a musical

&ice to one of the most delightful farcical Irish

writers of his time ; f for in Ireland,

' Tout finis par nn chanson/

(as Figaro had it of the France of his age,) when worse
results do not follow disappointment.

" The Irish wolf-dog, therefore, it may be asserted, !
belongs to the poetical traditions of Ireland, or to its ■
remote Milesian histories. ^ Gomer, the eldest son of
Japhet, and others, the immediate posterity of Noah,
after the dispersion of mankind at Babel, ventured (it
is said), to ^ commit themselves by ships upon the
sea,' to search out the unknown comers of the world,
and thus found out a western land called Ireland.^ —
(Dr. Warner.)

* " I fear this is a sad geological anachronism ; however, I cannot
Wt hope that the Irish wolf-dog will yet be found in some cavern,
uwdated with the prototypes of Ireland^s earliest heroes who peopled
^land soon after it emerged from the deep,

* Great, glorious, and free,
First fiower of the earth and first gem of the sea.'

t O'Keelfe, "Wicklow Gold Mines."

» It

180

" It it prabtble they met lihs fint to disturb ita
tranqnillitjr by the introdoetim of wolves, a fragment
of the maiutgene of the Arlc ; for ill noxiaiu and
dcatmctire Miimala and reptQea wen brought into Ire-
land by her inniden. The loil ud clime of the
'woody Morren/ however, though not genial to their
iiaturalintion, wai long & pray to one of the most
ferodoui uunulB imported by foreigiL aggression to
increaie and mtdt^y. Inland ewviiied with wolres,
uid it» edonicta aai abcntgiiiet wonld in time have
alike shared the fate of 'little Eed Riding Hood;'
when. Id I up started the nobb Ctmtfamiliaris Hiber-
nicus, which, greatly improred by i cross with the
wolf itself, was fooad ererywhen ia fierce antagonism
with foreign ferocity ; and for hit eminent servicea wu
not only speedily adopted by patiiot Idngs and heroes,
as part of their coortly and wtriike parade, but sung
by bards and immortaliied by poete, as worthy of
Boch illustrions companionship. It ii thus Bran, the
famous and beloved hound of Fingal, has become as
I immortal as his master; and a tmek ia still shown on
j a mountain in Tyrone, near New Town Stuart, called
' ' The Track of the Foot of Bran, the Hound of Fionne
Mac Gumhall.' So mnch for poetry and tradition.
Modem naturahsta, however, in their animal biogrqtlg'
and prosaic view of things, hare aiaigned the intie-
duction of the wolf-dog in. Ireland to the Danes,
brought it over in their first
Uance to 'JO grot Dtaioia' of

THE IBISH AND HIGHLAND WOLF-DOG. 181

mipposition. 'When Ireland swarmed with wolves/
Bays Pennant, ' these dogs were confined to the chase ;
but as soon as these animals were extirpated, the
number of the dogs decreased, and from that period
were kept chiefly for state/ Goldsmith mentions
having only seen in his time in Ireland one Irish wolf-
hound that was four feet high. And though the
fiither of the late Marquis of Sligo endeavoured to
preserve the breed, his kennels in latter years exhibited
bat a scanty specimen. These majestic and beautiful
animala are now, I believe, quite extinct in Ireland,
where their scarcity is accounted for by Mr. Pennant
as ' the oonaequence of the late King of Poland having
procored from thence by his agents as many as could
be purchased.' Tlie laat notice taken of the Irish ;
wdf-dog in fictitious narrative may, I believe, be found :
in one of my own national novels, ' O'Donnel,' where
the hero and his hound are first introduced to the
reader together. I borrowed the picture, as I gave it,
bam living originals, which in my earliest youth struck
forcibly on my imagination, in the person of the cele-
brated Archibald Hamilton Rowan, accompanied by
his Irish hound Bran !

'' This is all I know or can recollect of my noble
and beautiful compatriot; but I remember that when
some writer in 'Fraser's Magazine' styled me 'thai
Irish she wolf-dog,' I felt complimented by the epithet,
since to attack the enemies of Ireland, and to worry

132

ANBCDOTBB OF DIMS.

when they could not destroy them, was the pecnUu
attribute of the species.

" I have the honour to be, dear Sir,
" Most truly youra,

" Stdnbt Moroak."
" miliam Slreel, Albert Gait."

THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG.

" Nor nil it leu deligbt th' M

The dog, whom nothiag can mu
MdM b« ■ dug: of puts indeed.
If oftcD wiser than hit muter."

Tbis noble dog may be justly styled the friend and
gnardian of his master. I had some doubts in making
OQt my list of dogs, whether he ought not to take
B of all others ; but, after duly weighing the

134 ANECDOTX8 OF DOGS.

matter in my own mind^ I have given the palm to the
Irish wolf-hound, and the honest Newfoundland im-
mediately follows him. I not only think that this
precedence will gratify some of my friends in Ireland,
who have called upon me to do justice to one of their
favourite and national emblems, but it is, perhaps, due
in strict justice to an animal who proved himself so
great a benefactor to his native country. There is,
moreover, such a degree of romance attached to the
recollection of Ym fine qualities and impoarng appear-
ance, that I should be sorry' to lessen them by ap-
pearing to give the preference to any othcar dog. At
the same time I may be allowed to ftdd> that I have
seen such courage, perseverance, and fidelity in the
Newfoundland dog, and am acquainted with so many
well -authenticated facts of his more than ordinary
sense and utility, that I think him entitled to be con-
sidered as little inferior to the Irish wolf-dog.

When we reflect on the docility of the Newfound-
land dog, his affectionate disposition, his aptitude in
receiving instruction, and his instantaneous sense of
impending danger, we shall no longer wonder at his
being called the friend of his master, whom he is at
all times ready to defend at the risk of his own life.
How noble is his appearance, and at the same time
how serene is his countenance !

'* Sa fiert^, sa beaut^, sa jeunesse agr^abla
Le fit cherir de voos, et il est redoatable
A V08 fiers ennemis i^ la qqqxv^^*

NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 135

No animalj perhaps^ can show more real courage
than this dog. His perseverance in what he under-
takes ia 80 greaty that he never relinquishes an attempt
which haa been enjoined him as long as there is a
chance of success. I allude more particulai*ly to
storms at sea and consequent shipwreck^ when his
lorvioea^ his courage^ and indefatigable exertions, have
been truly wonderful. Numerous persons have been
laved from a watery grave by these dogs, and ropea
have been conveyed by them from a sinking ship to
the shore amidst foaming billows, by which means
idiole crews have been saved from destruction. Their
feet are particularly well adapted to enable them to
iwim^ being webbed very much like those of a duck,
and they are at all times ready to plunge into the water
to save a human being from drowning. Some dogs
delight in following a fox, others in hunting the hare,
or killing vermin. The delight of the Newfoundland
dog appear^ to be* in the preser\'ation of the lives of
the human race. A story is related on good authority
of one of these dogs being in the habit, when he saw
persona swimming in the Seine at Paris, of seizing
them and bringing them to the shore. In the im-
mediate neighbourhood of Windsor a servant was
laved from drowning by a Newfoundland dog, who
seized him by the collar of his coat when he was
ihnost exhausted, and brought him to the banks,
wfaoe some of the family were assembled watching
with great anxiety the exertions of the noble animaL

136 ▲NxdHMM or Ddei. ^

Those who were much at Wind«dr> not many
years since^ must have seen a fine Newficmndlaiid dof^
called Baby^ reposing occasionally in firont of thelVhite
Hart Hotd. Baby was a general finrouritc^ and ba
deserved to be so; for he was toild in hia diapo8Etio%
brave as a lion^ and very sensible* When. be was
thirsty^ and could not procure water at the pomp in
the yard, he has frequently been seen to go to tha
stable^ fetch an empty bucket, and stand wiHi it in bis
mouth at the pump till some one came tot witsBi. He
then, by wagging his tail and expreaaive loolo^ Bude
his want known, and had his bucket filled, "fry*— ^
as Baby was to the attacks of all aorta of cni%.ia
he slumbered in the sun in fincmt of the hotel,. la
seemed to think that a pat with his powofol paw wai
quite sufficient punishment for them^ bat be no?*
tamely submitted to insult fix>m a dc%.approacthing Us
own size, and his courage was only, equalled by Us
gentleness. ^ .. : v

The following anecdote, which is well anthentiaitM^
shows the sagacity as well as the IrindKncaa.of di|», i
position of these dogs. In the city of Woraeatar^-M^
of the principal streets leads by a g^tlie dadifi^r:i|
the river Severn. One day a child, in eroaaiBgilll
street, fell down in the middle of it, and a hodentf.iMiL
cart, which were descending the hill, would haive pmA
over it, had not a Newfoundland di^ roahad tojAi
rescue of the child, caught it up in bia moBili^:4 1
conveyed it in safety to the foot pavements . j

NEWFOUNDLAND DOO. 137

My kind friend^ Mr. T , took a Newfoundland

dog and a small spaniel into a boat with him on the
river Thames, and when he got into the middle of the
river, he turned them into the water. They swam
different ways, but the spaniel got into the current,
and after struggling some time was in danger of being
drowned. As soon as the Newfoundland dog per-
ceived the predicament of his companion, he swam to
his assistance, and brought him safe to the shore.

A vessel went down in a gale of wind near Liver-
pool, and every one on board perished. A Newfound-
land dog was seen swimming about the place where
the vessel was lost for some time, and at last came on
shore very much exhausted. For three days he swam
off to the same spot, and was evidently trying to find
his lost master, so strong was his affection.

I have always been pleased with that charming
remark of Sir Edwin Landseer, that tKe Newfoundland
dog was a ^^ distinguished Member of the Humane So-
ciety •'' How delightfully has that distinguished artist
portrayed the character of dogs in his pictures! and
what justice has he done to their noble qualities ! We
see in them honesty, fidelity, courage, and sense — no
exaggeration — no flattery. He makes us feel that his
dogs will love us without selfishness, and defend us at
the risk of their own lives — that though friends may
forsake us, they never will — and that in misfortune,
poverty, and death, their affection will be unchasgedj

138 ANECDOTES OF DOG8.

and their gratitude unceasing. But to return to the
Newfoundland dog, and we shall again find him acting
his part as a Member of the Humane Society.

A gentleman bathing in the sea at Portsmouth, wu
in the greatest danger of being drowned. Assistance
was loudly called for, but no boat was ready, and
though many persons were looking on, no one oonid
be found to go to his help. In this predicament, a
Newfoundland dog rushed into the sea and conveyed
the gentleman in safety to land. He afterwards pur-
chased the dog for a large sum, treated him as long
as he lived with gratitude and kindness, and had the
following words worked on his table-cloths and n^
kins — '^ Virum exttdi mari/'

A person, in crossing a plank at a mill, fell into the
stream at night, and was saved by his Newfoundhnd
dog, and who afterwards recovered his hat, whidi
had fallen from his head, and was floating down the
stream.

There can be no doubt but that dogs calculatei ind
almost reason. A dog who had been in the habit of
stealing from a kitchen, which had two doors opening
into it, would never do so if one of them was ihnty
as he was afraid of being caught. If both the doon
were open, his chance of escape was greater, and he
therefore seized what he could. This sort of calculi*
tion, if I may call it is so, was shown by a Newfomid-
land bitch. She had suckled two whelps until tbj
were able to take care of themselves. They wM

NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 199

Qiwever, ccmstantly following and distarbing her in
rdor to be Buckled, when she had little or no milk to
Vre them. She was confined in a shed, which was
eparated from another by a wooden partition some feet
k^. Into this shed she conveyed her puppies, and
eft them there while she returned to the other to enjoy
iiii^fa rest unmolested. This shows that the animal
m capable of reflecting to a degree beyond what would
bave been the result of mere instinct.

The late Sev. James Simpson, of the Fotterrow con-
gregation, Edinburgh, had a large dog of the New-
fbimdland breed. At that time he lived at Libberton,
I dirtance of two miles from Edinburgh, in a house to
vbich was attached a garden. One Sacrament Sunday
ibe servant, who was left at home in charge of the
koiue, thought it a good opportunity to entertain her
friends, as her master and mistress were not likely to
letom home till after the evening^s service, about nine
o'dock. During the day the dog accompanied them
through the garden, and indeed wherever they went,
in the most attentive manner, and seemed well pleased.
In the evening, when the time arrived that the party
meant to separate, they proceeded to do so ; but the dog,
the instant they went to the door, interposed, and
plttcing himself before it, would not allow one of them
to touch the handle. On their persisting and attempt-
ing to use force he became furious, and in a menacing
Bttnner drove them back into the kitchen, where he
hept them until the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Simpson,

140 ANECD0T£8 OF DOGS.

who were surprised to find the party at so late an hour,
and more so to see the dog standing sentinel over them.
Being thus detected^ the servant acknowledged the
whole circumstance^ when her friends were allowed to
depart^ after being admonished by the worthy divine
in regard to the proper use of the Sabbath. They
could not but consider the dog as an instrument in the
hand of Providence to point out the impropriety of
spending this holy day in feasting rather than in the
duties of religion.

After the above circumstance^ it became necessary
for Mr. Simpson^ on account of his children's educa-
tion^ to leave his country residence^ when he took a
house in Edinburgh in a common stair. Speaking of
this^ one day, to a friend who had visited him, he
concluded that he would be obliged to part with his
dog, as he was too large an animal to be kept in such ft
house. The animal was present, and heard him say so,
and must have understood what he meant, as he disap-
peared that evening, and was never afterwards heard of.
These circumstances have been related to me by an
elder of Mr. Simpson^s congregation, who had them
from himself.

I am indebted to the late amiable Lord Stowell for
the following anecdote, which has since been verified
by Mr. Henry Wix, brother of the archdeacon : —

A Newfoundland dog belonging to Archdeacon
Wix^ which had never quitted the island, was brought

NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 141

over to London by him in January 1834^ and when
lie and his family landed at Blackwall the dog was
left on board the vessel. A few days afterwards the
Aidideacon went from the Borough side of the Thames in
a boat to the vessel, which was then in St. Katherine's
Bocb, to see about his luggage, but did not intend at that
time to take the dog from the ship; however, on his
kamg the vessel the dog succeeded in extricating him-
KJf from his confinement, jumped overboard, and swam
after the boat across the Thames, followed his master
into a counting-house on Gun-shot Wharf, Tooley Street,
and then over London Bridge and through the City to
St Bartholomew's Hospital. The dog was shut within
the aquare whilst the Archdeacon went into his father's
boose, and he then followed him on his way to Eussell
Square, but strayed somewhere in Holborn ; and as
Beveial gentlemen had stopped to admire him in the
rtreet, saying he was worth a great deal of money,
the Archdeacon concluded that some dog-stealer had
enticed him away. He however wrote to the captain
of the vessel to mention his loss, and made inquiries
^ the following morning at St. Bartholomew's Hos-
pital, when he learnt that the dog had come to the
gates late in the evening, and howled most piteously
for admission, but was driven away. Two days after-
wards the captain of the vessel waited on the Arch-
deacon with the dog, who had not only found his way
Wk to the water's edge, on the Borough side, but,
wbat is more surprising, swam across the Thames,

142 ANECDOTEff OV DOO0.

whc;n; no namt could have directed him, and foond
out the; veswd in St. Kathcrinc's Docks.

ThJH ftagaciou8 and affectionate creature had, pie-
viou8 to hifi leaving Newfoundland, iiaved hit master'i
life by directing hin way home when lout in a inow-
Ktonri many miles from any shelter.

The dog was prcMcntiMl to the Archdeacon's unde,
Thoman Poynder, Esq., Clapham Common, in whoie
poMHf^MKion it continued until its death*

Every particular has been faithfully given of tUi
extraordinary occurrence. Here we sec a dog broof^
for the firat time from Newfoundland, and who cm
Hcarci'Jy be said to have put his fcM^-t on ground in Eng-
land, not only finding his way through a crowded dty
to i\u: bunkH of the river, but tAm finding the ship be
wanted in that river, and in which he evidently thonght
he should dineover his lost master. It is an instance
of M;nHe of ho peculiar a kind that it is difficult to define
it, or the fmMjIty which enables animals U) find their
way to a |ilaee, over ground which they had not pre>
viounly traverw;d.

A gentleman of Suffolk, on an excursion with his
friend, waK atUtnded by a Newfoundland dog, which
wxm became, the subject of conversation. The mister,
after a warm eulogium upon the perfcctiona of his
canine favourite, assured his companion that he wonld,
upon reei;iving the order, return and fetch any artick

NXWFOUNDLAND DOO. 143

he should leare behind^ from any distance. To con-
firm this assertion^ a marked shilling was put under a
Isi^ square stone by the side of the road^ being first
shown to the dog. The gentlemen then rode for three
nules^ when the dog received his signal from the master
to letom for the shilling he had seen put under the
stone. The dog turned back ; the gentlemen rode on^
and reached home; but to their surprise and disap-
pointment the hitherto faithful messenger did not
letnm during the day. It afterwards appeared that he
had gone to the place where the shilling was deposited^
but the stone being too large for his strength to remove,
he had stayed howling at the place till two horsemen
riding by, and attracted by his seeming distress,
•topped to look at him, when one of them alighting,
removed the stone, and seeing the shilling, put it into
\m pocket, not at the time conceiving it to be the
object of the dog^s search. The dog followed their
horses for twenty miles, remained undisturbed in the
room where they supped, followed the chambermaid
into the bedchamber, and secreted himself under one of
the beds. The possessor of the shilling hung his
tfousers upon a nail by the bed-side ; but when the
travellers were both asleep, the dog took them in his
mouth, and leaping out of the window, which was left
open on account of the sultry heat, reached the house
of his master at four o'clock in the morning with the
prise he had made free with, in the pocket of which
were found a watch and money, that were returned

144 ANXCDOTII Of JMNWt'

npont hdng advertiaed, when ihe whole mjttery'ini
mutually unravelled^ to the adiniration of ill Art
parties.*

Many years ago^ I saw s hDne heJonging to «
quartermaster in the 1st Dragoon Ghurds^ when tte
regiment was quartered at Ipswich^ find a ahilfiiii^
which was covered with sawdust, inthoiiding-aehoolit
the Cavalry Barracks at that place, and give it to Ui
owner. I thought this a wonderful instance of mpnatf
as well as docility, but how very hr does this llllitet
of the intellectual faculty of dogs 1 I do nol iili|ri;jlb
assert that they are endowed with mental poiMSrjqid
to those which the human race possess, but touxoBttel
that there is not a faculty of the human mind of mkUk
some evident proofs of its existence may not be &mi
in dogs. Thus we find them possessed of ipemflfji
imagination, the powers of imitation, cnriputy^
ning, revenge, ingenuity, gratitude, devotion, or
tion, and other qualities. They are able to comnyimMf
their wants, their pleasures, and their painsj flieif ;|ftt. ^
prehensions of danger, and their proqpects of M0k
good, by modulating their voices accordingl]!^ tiid )«
significant gestures. They perfectly oompnliend «l||
wishes, and Uve with us as friends and oompMni
When the fear of man and dread of him were iniMlill '
as a curse on the animal creation, the dog-kind tiflffi
seems an exception, and their sagacity and S(U^t^

* A similar instance of canine inteUigenoe wiQ be
the present volome. . . ^ :;i

NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 145

the human race was an incalculable blessing bestowed
upon them. These remarks are fully borne out in a
very interesting article on the dog in the " Quai*terly
Review '' of September, 1843.

A fine^ handsome^ and valuable black dog of the
Newfoundland species, belonging to Mr. Floyd, solicitor,
Holmfirth, committed suicide by drowning itself in the
river which flows at the back of its owner's habitation.
For some days previous the animal seemed less animated
than usual, but on this particular occasion he was
noticed to throw himself into the water and endeavour
to sink by preserving perfect stillness of the legs and
feet. Being dragged out of the stream, the dog was
tied up for a time, but had no sooner been released
than he again hastened to the water and again tried to
sink, and was again got out. This occurred many
times, until at length the animal with repeated efforts
appeared to get exhausted, and by dint of keeping his
head determinedly under water for a few minutes
succeeded at last in obtaining his object, for when taken
out this time he was indeed dead. The case is worth
recording, as affording another proof of the general
instinct and sagacity of the canine race.

Mr. Nicol, late of Pall Mall, told me he saw an old
foxhound deliberately drown itself, and was ready to
make oath of it.

Mrs. Kaye, residing opposite Windsor Park Wall,
Datchet, had a beautiful Newfoundland dog. For the
convenience of the family a boat was kept, that they

146 AirBGDOTW or DOOdt

mi^t at times cfOM the water wilihoiit the II
of going a oonnderable way round to Dalehet ftidgk
The dog was so delighted with the aquatie tn^ Ikk
he very rareljr permitted the boat to go without hnk
It happened that the eoaehmaa^ who had been hot Stde
accustomed to the depths and shaUows ol the walH^
intending a forcible push with the punt pole^ wUA
was not long enough to reach the bottom^ fidl over fb
side of the boat in the deepest part of the water, andia
the central part of the conent, which aeeidsnt wm
observed bjr a part of the fiuiiiljr dien at theAoak
windows of the boose; sodden and dieadftd as fb
alarm was^ they had the consolation ot aesfaig As
sagacioos animal instantaneoosly follow his fmwfaam,
when after divings and making two or three abortne
attempts^ by laying hold of different parts of lus qipsfd^
which as repeatedly gave way or overpowered his »•
ertions^ he then^ with the most determined and encvgriis
fortitude^ seized him by the arm^ and fanrag^hiali
the edge of the banlc^ where the dbmesties of the temlsi^
family were ready to assist in extricating him horn USi
perilous situation.* i

I have mentioned that revenge had bean ahosm Ifi
dogs^ and the following is an instance of it* A gaMl0»
man was staying at Worthing^ where his NewfimndBssii
dog was teased and annoyed by a small ear, wiidk
snapped and barked at him« This he bon^
appearing to notice it^ for some time; but at lesl

NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 147

I*fewfimndlaiid iog seemed to lose his usual patience
and forbearance^ and he one day^ in the presence of
several spectators^ took the cur up by his back^ swam
.with it into the sea, held it under the water, and would
probably have drowned it, had not a boat been put
off and rescued it. There was another instance com-
municated to me. A fine Newfoundland dog had been
constantly annoyed by a small spaniel. The former,
seizing the opportunity when they were on a terrace
under which a river flowed, took up the spaniel in his
mouth, and dropped it over the parapet into the river.

Jukes, in his '^ Excursions in and about Newfound-
knd,'* says, " A thin, short-haired black dog, belonging
to George Harvey, came off to us to-day ; this animal
was of a breed very different from what we understand
by the tehu Newfoundland dog in England. He had
a tUn tapering snout, a long thin tail, and rather thin
but powerful legs, with a lank body, the hair short and
smooth. These are the most abundant dogs of the
country, the long-haired curly dogs being comparatively
nre. They are by no means handsome, but are gene-
nJly more intelligent and useful than the others. This
one caught his own fish ; he sat on a projecting rock
beneath a fish-lake or stage, where the fish are laid to
tby, watching the water, which had a depth of six
w eight feet, the bottom of which was white with.
fiA-bones. On throwing a piece of codfish into the
^>ter, three or four heavy, clumsy-looking fish, called
lu Newfoundland sculpins, with great heads and mouths^

148 ANeCDnTKM Of DOGS*

and many npincii about thc^tn, and generally about ft
toot long^ would Kwiin in to catch it. Thene he would
'tel' atti;ntivclyi and the moment one turned bii
broadHJdc to him^ he dartcul down like a fiNh-hawk, and
Hi'Jdom came up without the finh in bin mouth. Aji he
caught them he carried them regularly to a place a few
yardn off, when; be laid them down ; and they told u
that in the nummer he would wimetimca make a pile of
fifty or NJxty a-day juiit at that place. He never ftt-
tempted U) aai ihtrm, but mscmed to be fbibing ptudjr
for hJH own amuwiment. I watched him for about two
hourM^ and when the fi»h did not come I observed be
onc^; or twice put bin right ftnit in the water^ and paddkd
it ahoiit. Thin foot wan whiU;, and Harvey ftaid he did
it Ut toll or enti(^; the fifth ; but whethi;r it wan for tbit
Hpecific rimmn, or merely a motion of impatience, I
Wiulri not exactly de<;ide/'

FiXtrar)rdinury an the following anf^ote may appear
to Horrir; iu:rwmn, it in Htrictly truCi and strongly Hhowi
th^. Hc.fiMt, and I am almoHt inclined U) add, reason of
i\u: Nc.wfniindlund dog.

A friend of miru;^ while Hhooting wild fowl with hia
hroiUt-r, waH attc.nded by a MagaciouH dog of this breed.
In K'tting nf^ir some reedn by the Hide of a river, thej
thn^w down their hatH, and crept to the edge of the
Wilier, when th(;y fired at wmic birdn. They wxin after-
wunJH Merit the dog to bring their hata, one of which
waK Krriailer than the other. AfU;r several attempts to
bring them l^th tijgether in his mouth, the dog at last

NBWIOUNOLAND DOG. 149

plaeed the smaller hat in the larger one^ pressed it down
with his foot, and thus was able to bring them both at
the same time.

A gentleman residing in Fifeshire^ and not far
from the city of St. Andrews^ was in possession of a
veiy fine Newfoundland dog^ which was remarkable
alike for its tractability and its trustworthiness. At
two other points^ each distant about a mile^ and at the
same distance from this gentleman's mansion^ there
were two dogs of great power^ but of less tractable
breeds than the Newfoundland one. One of these was
a large mastiff^ kept as a watch-dog by a farmer^
and the other a stanch bull-dog^ that kept guard
over the parish mill. As each of these three was
lord-ascendant of all animals at his master's resi-
dence^ they all had a good deal of aristocratic pride
and pugnacity^ so that two of them seldom met with-
out attempting to settle their respective dignities by
a wager of battle.

The Newfoundland dog was of some service in the
domestic arrangements^ besides his guardianship of the
house; for every forenoon he was sent to the bakei'^s
shop in the village^ about half-a-mile distant^ with a
towel containing money in the corner^ and he returned
with the value of the money in bread. There were
many useless and not over-civil curs in the village^ as
there are in too many villages throughout the country ;
but generally the haughty Newfoundland treated this
ignoble race in that contemptuous style in which great

160 AMWCWnEM Of BOfli.

dogs are wont to treat litde ones. Wban the dof
retumed from the baker's shop^ lie used to be legnU^
served with his dinner^ and went peaoeablj on hows*
duty for the rest of die day.

One day, however^ he returned witli bis eoat dirtidi
and his ears scratched, having been sabjecled to a eosi-
bined attack of the ears while he had charge of )k
towel and bread, and so could not deftnd hmsdl
Instead of watting fbr his dinner as UMOtl, he laid dom
his charge somewhat snlkiljr, and mardied off; adl
upon looking alter him, it was observed that he WN
crossing the intervening hollow in a straig^lineflEirflO
house of the farmer, or rather on an embas^ to As
farmer's mastiff. The fivmer's people noticed Ail
unusual visit, whicb they were indnced to do ftoa
its being a meeting of peace between thoae who had
habitually been belligerents. Aflter some intefooani^ qf
which no interpretation could be given, the two aet off
together in the direction of the mill; and hasim
arrived there, they in brief space engaged tlie nillsi^a
bull-dog as an ally.

The straight road to the village whera the "*4^gnfty
had been offered to the Newfoundland dog jmmjl
immediately in front of his master's honse^ bat thfls
was a more private and more circuitous road by the bidk
of the mill. The three took this road, veaellai 1k$
village, scoured it in great wrath, putting to the 4ofl<){|
every cur they could get sight of; and having
their revenge, and washed themsdvea in a difeB||^1$

NEWFOUNDLAND DOO. 151

ntomed, each dog to the ahode of his master; and^
wlien any two of them happened to meet afterwards^
they displayed the same pugnacity as they had done
previous to this joint expedition.

There is a well-authenticated anecdote of two dogs

It Donaghadee^ in which the instinctive daring of the

one hy the other caused a friendship^ and^ as it should

Mem^ a kind of lamentation for the dead^ after one of

them had paid the deht of nature. This happened

while the Government harhour or pier for the packets at

Bonaghadee was in the course of building, and it took

plioe in the sight of several witnesses. The one dog in

this case was also a Newfoundland, and the other was a

mistiff. They were both powerful dogs ; and though

e^h was good-natured when alone, they were very

much in the habit of fighting when they met. One

day they had a fierce and prolonged battle on the pier,

from the point of which they both fell into the sea ;

tnd as the pier was long and steep, they had no means

of escape but by swimming a considerable distance.

Uirowing water upon fighting dogs is an approved

means of putting an end to their hostilities ; and it is

mtural to suppose thiit two combatants of the same

^>ecies tumbling themselves into the sea would have the

lame effect. It had ; and each began to make for the

land as best he could. The Newfoundland being an

eioellent swimmer, very speedily gained the pier, on

which he stood shaking himself ; but at the same time

watching the motions of his late antagonist, which,

\

152 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

being do swimmer^ was straggling exhansted in the
water^ and just about to sink. In dashed the New-
foundland dog; took the other gently .by the collar,
kept his head above water^ and brought him safely
on shore. There was a peculiar kind of recognition
between the two animals; they never fought again;
they were always together : and when the Newfound-
land dog had been accidentally killed by the passage
of a stone waggon on the railway over him^ the otha
languished and evidently lamented for a long time.

A gentleman had a pointer and Newfoundland dog,
which were great friends. The former brok^ his leg,
and was confined to a kennel. During that time the
Newfoundland never failed bringing bones and other
food to the pointer^ and would sit for hours together by
the side of his suffering friend.

During a period of very hot weather^ the Mayor of
Plymouth gave orders that all dogs found wandering in
the public streets should be secured by the police^ and
removed to the prison-yard. Among them was a New-
foundland dog belonging to a shipowner of the port,
who, with several others, was tied up in the yard.
The Newfoundland soon gnawed the rope which con-
fined him, and then hearing the cries of his com-
panions to be released, he set to work to gnaw the
ropes which confined them, and had succeeded in three
or four instances, when he was interrupted by the en-
trance of the jailor.

A nearly similar case has frequently occuned in

NBWrOUNDLAND DOG. 153

the Cmnberland Oaidens^ Windsor Great Park. Two
dogs of the Newfonndland breed were confined in ken-
nels at that place. When one of them was let loose^
he has been frequently seen to set his companion free.

A boatman once plonged into the water to swim
with another man for a wager. His Newfoundland
iog, mistaking the purpose^ and supposing that his
Bister was in danger, plunged after him^ and dragged
kirn to the shore by his hair, to the great diversion of
the spectators.

Mr. Peter Macarthur informs me, that in the year
1821, when opposite to Falmouth, he was at breakfast
widi a gentleman, when a large Newfoundland dog, all
diipping with water, entered the room, and laid a news-
pqier on the table. The gentleman (who was one of
the Society of Friends) informed the party, that this
dog nram regolarly across the ferry every morning, and
went to the post-office, and fetched the papers of the day.
Mr. Blaine, in his " Encyclopaedia of Rural Sports,'^
tdh the following story: — A Newfoundland dog, of
the small, smooth-haired variety, in coming to England
from his native country, was washed overboard during
> tempestuous night. As daylight appeared the gale
ceased, when a sailor at the mast-head descried some-
thing tar in the wake of the vessel, which, by the help
of his glass, he was led to believe was the dog, which
was so great a favourite with the crew that it was
unanimously requested of the captain of the vessel to
He tOj and wait for the chance of saving the poor brute.

154 ANECDOTES OF DOOS.

The captain, who had probably lost some timQ already
by the storm^ peremptorily refused to listen to the
humane proposal. Whether it was the kindly feeling
of the sailors^ or the superstitious dread that if the dog
were suffered to perish nothing would afterwards pros-
per with them, we are not informed ; but we do know
that, as soon as a refusal was made^ the steersman left
the helm^ roundly asserting that he for one would
never lend a hand to steer away from either Christian
or brute in distress. The feeling was immediately
caught by the rest of the crew^ and maintained so
resolutely, that the captain was forced to accede to
the general wish ; and the poor dog eventually reached
the ship in safety, after having been, as we were in-
formed, and implicitly believe, some hours in a tem-
pestuous sea.

Bewick mentions an instance which shows the ex-
traordinary sagacity of these dogs.

In a severe storm, a ship was lost off Yarmouth]
and no living creature escaped, except a Newfoundland
dog, which swam to the shore with the captain'f
pocket-book in his mouth. Several of the bystanden
attempted to take it from him, but he would not pari
with it. At length, selecting one person from thi
crowd, whose appearance probably pleased him, 1m
leaped against his breast in a fawning manner, anc
delivered the book to his care.

After mentioning this anecdote it will not be dia*
pleasing to read Lord Grenville's lines on his ftidifbl

NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 155

iwfoondland^ as they may now be seen at Dropmorej
h the translation of them : —

TIPPO.
In Villa.

Tippo ego hie jaeeo, lapidem ne speme, viator,

Qui tali impositus stat super ossa cani.
Larga mi natura manu dedit omnia, nostrum

Qufecunque exomant nobilitantque genus :
Robnr erat validum, formae concinna venustas,

Ingenui mores, intemerata fides.
Nee pudet invisi nomen gessisse tyranni,

Si tam dissimili vizimus ingenio.
Naufragus in nnda Tenbeiae * ejeetus arena,

Ploravi domino me superesse meo,
Qnem mihi, luctanti frustra, frustraque juvanti,

Abreptum, oceani in gurgite mersit hyems.
Solus ego sospes, sed quas miser ille tabellas

Morte mihi in media eredidit, ore ferens.
Dulci me hospitio Belgae exeepere eoloni,

Ipsa etiam his olim gens aliena plagis ;
£t mihi gratum erat in longa spatiarierf ora,

Et quanqnam infido membra lavare marl ;
Gratum erat sestivis puerorum adjungere turmis

Participem lusus me, comitemque viae.
Yerum ubi, de multis captanti frustula raensis,

Bruma aderat, seniique hora timenda mei,
Insperata adeo illuxit fortuna, novique

Perfugium et requiem cura dedit domini.
Exinde hos saltus, haec inter florea rura,

Et vizi feliz, et tumulum hunc habeo.

' Tenbeia portus est Cambriae meridionalis, ubi Belgarum colonif
IPt nt fertur, Henrico primo locata est. Horum posteri a circum-
ite Celticae originis populo lingua etiam nunc omnino discrepant.
■ Infinitivo, quem vocant, hoc in ier desinente solus credo, inter,
oris notte, quos habemus, elegorum scriptores usus est Catullus :
liuUs ille Poeta ! sed quantus in omni genere Latini carminis et
a elegantiae et magister !

156 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

TIPPO.

TVamlated by a young Lady, a near Helaiion of the Author.

Here, stranger, pause, nor view with soonifiil ejet
The stone which marks where faithful Tippo lies.
Freeljr kind Nature gave each liberal grace,
Which most ennobles and exalts our race,
Excelling strength and beauty joined in me,
Ingenuous worth, and firm fidelity.
Nor shame I to have borne a tyrant's name,
So far unlike to his my spotless fame.
Cast by a fatal storm on Tenby's coast,
Reckless of life, I wailed my master lost.
Whom long contending with the overwhelming wave
In vain with fruitless love I strove to save.
I, only I, alas ! surviving bore.
His dying trust, his tablets,* to the shore.
Kind welcome from the Belgian race I found.
Who, once in times remote, to British ground
Strangers like me came from a foreign strand.
I loved at large along the extended sand
To roam, and oft beneath the swelling wave,
Tho' known so fatal once, my limbs to lave ;
Or join the children in their summer play,
First in their sports, companion of their way.
Thus while from many a hand a meal I sought.
Winter and age had certain misery brought;
But Fortune smiled, a safe and blest abode
A new-found master's generous love bestowed,
' And midst these shades, where smiling flow'rets blooOf

Gave me a happy life and honoured tomb.

Dr. Abcll, in one of his lectures on phienologji
related a very striking anecdote of a Newfoandland

* His master's pocket-book, with which Tippo, the only lMt%
creature saved from the wreck, came ashore.

NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 167

dog at Cork. This dog was of a noble and generous
disposition^ and when he left his master's house was
often assailed by a number of little noisy dogs in the
street. He usually passed them with apparent uncon-
cern, as if they were beneath his notice. One little
cur, however, was particularly troublesome, and at
length carried his ' petulance so far as to bite the
Newfoundland dog in the back of his foot. This
was too much to be patiently endured. He instantly
turned round, ran after the offender, and seized him
by the skin of his back. In this way he carried him
in his mouth to the quay, and holding him some time
over the water, at length dropped him into it. He did
not seem, however, to wish to punish the culprit too
much, for he waited a little while the poor animal, who
was unused to that element, was not only well ducked,
but near sinking, when he plunged in himself, and
brought the other safe to land.

An officer, late in the 15th Hussars, informed me
that he had witnessed a similar occurrence at St. Peters-
burg. These certainly are instances of a noble and
generous disposition, as well as of great forbearance in
not resenting an injury.

I may add the following instance of sagacity from
the same quarter.

A vessel was driven by a storm on the beach of
Lydd, in Kent. The surf was rolling furiously. Eight
men were calling for help, but not a boat could be got

158 ANECDOTES OF D008.

off to their assistance. At length a gentleman came
on the beach^ accompanied by his Newfoundland dog.
He directed the attention of the noble animal to the
vessel^ and put a short stick into his mouth. The
intelligent and courageous dog at once understood his
meaning, and sprung into the sea^ fighting his way
through the foaming waves. He could not, however, get
close enough to the vessel to deliver that with which he
was charged, but the crew joyfully made fast a rope to
another piece of wood, and threw it towards him. The
sagacious dog saw the whole business in an instant ; he
dropped his own piece, and immediately seized that
which had been cast to him ; and then, with a degree
of strength and determination almost incredible, he
dragged it through the surge and delivered it to his
master. By this means a line of communication was
formed, and every man on board saved.

The keeper of a ferry on the banks of the Severn
had a sagacious Newfoundland dog. If a dog was left
behind by his owner in crossing, and was afraid of
taking to the water, the Newfoundland dog has been
frequently known to take the yelping animal in his
mouth and convey it into the river. A person while
rowing a boat, pushed his Newfoundland dog into the
stream. The animal followed the boat for some time,
till, probably finding himself fatigued, he endeavoured
to get into it by placing his feet on the side. His
owner repeatedly pushed the dog away, and in one of

NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 159

his efforts to do so be overbalanced bimself and fell
into tbe river, and would probably have been drowned,
had not the noble and generous animal immediately
seized and held him above water till assistance arrived
firom the shore.

About twelve years ago a fine dog of a cross-breed,
between a Newfoundland and a pointer, had been left
by the captain of a vessel in the care of Mr. Park, of
the White Hart Inn, Greenock. A friend of his, a
gentleman from Argyllshire, took a fancy to this dog ;
and, when returning home, requested the loan of him
for some time from Mr. Park, which he granted. This
gentleman had some time before married a lady .much
to the dissatisfaction of his friends, who, in consequence,
treated her with some degree of coldness and neglect.
While he remained at home, the dog constantly at-
tended him, and paid no apparent attention to the
lady, who, on her part, never evinced any particular
partiality for the dog. One time, however, the gentle-
man was called from home on business, and was to be
absent several days. He wished to take the dog with
kimj but no entreaties could induce him to follow.
The animal was then tied up to prevent his leaving the
house in his absence ; but he became quite furious till
he was released, when he flew into the house and found
his mistress, and would not leave her. He watched
at the door of whatever room she was in, and would
>l]ow no one to approach without her special per-
mission. When the gentleman returned home, the

160 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

dog seemed to take no more notice of the lady^ but
returned quietly to his former lodging in the stable.
The whole circumstance caused considerable surprise;
and the gentleman^ wishing to try if the dog woold
again act in the same manner^ left home for a day or
two^ when the animal actually resumed the faithful
guardianship of his mistress as before; and this he
continued to do whenever his master was absent, all
the time he remained in his possession^ which was two
years.

The following anecdotes of an astonishing dog called
Bandie are related by Captain Brown : —

" Mr. M^Intyre, patent-mangle manufacturer^ Ee-
gent Bridge^ Edinburgh^ has a dog of the Newfoundland
breeds crossed with some other^ named Dandie^ whoie
sagacious qualifications are truly astonishing and almost
incredible. As the animal continues daily to give the
most striking proofs of his powers^ he is well known in
the neighbourhood, and any person may satisfy himself
of the reality of those feats, many of which the wiitff
has himself had the pleasure to witness.

" When Mr. Mintyre is in company, how numenmi
soever it may be, if he but say to the dog, ' Dandi^
bring me my hat/ he immediately picks out the hit
from all the others, and puts it in his master's hand.

^^ Should every gentleman in company throw a pen-
knife on the floor, the dog, when commanded^ will
select his master^s knife from the heap, and bring it to
him.

NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 161

t€

A pack of cards being scattered in the room^ if
bis master have previously selected one of them^ the
dog will find it out and bring it to him.

" A comb was hid on the top of a mantel-piece in
the room, and the dog required to bring it, which he
almoBt immediately did, although in the search he
fbmid a number of articles, also belonging to his
master, purposely strewed around, all which he passed
over, and brought the identical comb which he was
required to find, fully proving that he is not guided
by the sense of smell, but that he perfectly understands
whatever is spoken to him.

" One evening, some gentlemen being in company,
one of them accidentally dropped a shilling on the
floor, which, after the most careful search, could not
be found. Mr. M^Intyre seeing his dog sitting in a
ocHner, and looking as if quite unconscious of what
was passing, said to him, ^ Dandie, find us the shilling,
and you shall have a biscuit.^ The dog immediately
jumped upon the table and laid down the shilling,
.. which he had previously picked up without having
been perceived.

" One time, having been left in a room in the house
of Mrs. Thomas, High Street, he remained quiet for a
considerable time ; but as no one opened the door, he
became impatient, and rang the bell; and when the
servant opened the door, she was surprised to find the
dog pulling the bell-rope. Since that period, which
WIS the first time he was observed to do it, he pulls

162 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

the bell whenever he is desired; and what appears still
more remarkable^ if there is no bell-rope in the room,
he will examine the table^ and if he finds a hand-bellj
he takes it in his mouth and rings it.

" Mr. Mlntyre having one evening supped with a
friend^ on his return home^ as it was rather late^ he
found all the family in bed. He could not find his
boot-jack in the place where it usually lay^ nor could
he find it anywhere in the room after the strictest
search. He then said to his dog^ 'Dandie^ I cannot
find my bootjack; search for it.^ The faithful animali
quite sensible of what had been said to him^ scratched at
the room-door^ which his master opened. Dandie pn^
ceeded to a very distant part of the house^ and soon re-
turned, carryingin his mouth the bootjack, which Mr. M.
now recollected to have left that morning under a sofa.

"A number of gentlemen, well acquainted with
Dandie, are daily in the habit of giving him a pennyj
which he takes to a baker^s shop and purchases bread
for himself. One of these gentlemen, who lives in
Jameses Square, when passing some time ago, wis
accosted by Dandie, in expectation of his usual present.

Mr. T then said to him, ' I have not a penny

with me to-day, but I have one at home.' Having
returned to his house some time after, he heard a noise
at the door, which was opened by the servant, when
in sprang Dandie to receive his penny. In a firolie

Mr. T gave him a bad one, which he, as usosl,

carried to the baker, but was refused his bread, is the

NIWFOUNDLAND DOG. 168

mmiey was bad. He immediately returned to Mr.

T ^'g, knocked at the door, and when the servant

opened it, laid the penny down at her feet^ and walked
off, seemingly with the greatest contempt.

''Although Dandie, in general, makes an immediate
purchase of bread with the money which he receives,
yet the following circumstance clearly demonstrates
that he possesses more prudent foresight than many
who are reckoned rational beings.

"One Sunday, when it was very imlikely that he

eonld have received a present of money, Dandie was

observed to bring home a loaf. Mr. M^Intyre being

Mmiewhat surprised at thisj desired the servant to

ttuch the room to see if any money could be found.

While she was engaged in this task, the dog seemed

quite unconcerned till she approached the bed, when

be ran to her, and gently drew her back from it. Mr.

H. then secured the dog, which kept struggling

lod growling while the servant went under the bed,

ritere she found 7id. under a bit of cloth ; but from

that time he never could endure the girl, and was

frequently observed to hide his money in a comer of a

m-pit, under the dust.

''When Mr. M. has company, if he desire the
dog to see any one of the gentlemen home, it will walk
widi him till he reach his home, and then return to his
mister, how great soever the distance may be.

"A brother of Mr. M.'s and another gentleman
went one day to Newhaven, and took Dandie along

164 jprjciK^BS. or oom.

with them. After having bathed, tfaajr antend a
garden in the town ; and having taken aome laftaA
ment in one of the arbonnii ihojr took a walk aymml
the garden^ the gentleman leaving hja hat and i^om
in the place. In the meantime aome atiangen. cum
into the garden^ and went into the aiboor vrindi the
others had left. Dandie immediatelyj widioat hciai
ordered^ ran to the plaoe and bropg^ oflF the hat. mi:
gloves^ which he preeented to the o^imer* Qua d Ikff.
gloves, however, had been left; but it waa no aoenar
mentioned to the dog than he nuhed to tke plaN^
jumped again into the midst of the aatonishedeopBfiq^
apd brought o£f the glove in tnomph*

'' A gentleman Uving with Mr. Mltttjni^ gpiog ait.
to supper one evening, locked the gardenFgate. bslml;
him, and laid the key on the top of the wall, wUckis,
about seven feet high. When he letomed, inpii|<iuf.
to let himself in the same way, to hia gveat aufrifi.
the key could not be found, and he waa oUigiad to gfti
round to the front door, which wai a eonaidenblai.dSiT.
tance about. The next morning strict seaNk will#
made for the key, but still no trace of it eoold tii
discovered. At last, perceiving that the dog JcBfifmii
him wherever he went, he said to hini, ' Dandia^ yoa
have the key — go, fetch it.' Dandie immadiaMtf'
went into the garden and scratched away the mA
from the root of a cabbage, and produced tluf log^
which he himself had undoubtedly hid in that pinna
• '^ If his master place him o|i a chair, and

NEWVOUNDLANB BOG. 165

him to sing^ he will instantly commence a howling^
which he gives high or low as signs are made to him
with the finger.

^^ About three years ago a mangle was sent by a
cart from the warehouse^ Begent Bridge^ to Portobello^
at which time the dog was not present. Afterwards^
Mr. M.. went to his own house^ North Back of the
Canongate, and took Dandie with him^ to have the
mangle delivered. When he had proceeded a little
way the dog ran off^ and he lost sight of him. He
still walked forward ; and in a little time he found the
cart in which the mangle was^ turned towards Edin-
burgh^ with Dandie holding fast by the reins^ and the
earter in the greatest perplexity ; the man stated that
the dog had overtaken him^ jumped on his cart^ and
examined the mangle^ and then had seized the reins of
the horse and turned him fairly rounds bhA that he
would not let go his hold^ although he had beaten
him with a stick. On Mr. M.'s arrival, however, the
dog quietly allowed the carter to proceed to his place
of destination.^'

The following is another instance of extraordinary
sagacity. A Newfoundland dog, belonging to a
grocer, had observed one of the porters of the house,
and who was often in the shop, frequently take money
from the till, and which the man was in the habit of
concealing in the stable. The dog, having witnessed
these thefts^ became restless, pulling persons by the

166 AXBCDOnS OV DO«k

akirtB of their eo&ltM, md ippaicufly wiaUiig them (o
follow him. At kngtli, m appgmtice had oeeuMito
go to the stable ; the dog fbDowed him, and havng
drawn hu attetotioii to the heup of mUnah mids
which the money was buried, began to aenitdi tDl k
had brought the booty to Yiew. Tlie appwto
brought it to his master, who nudked the mpsj ^
restored it to the plaoe where it had been hiddSt
Some of the marked money was soon afkerwvda Ind4
on the porter, who was taken befine a magiafarati^ sal
convicted of the theft.

A Newfonndlsnd dog, whieh was freqaenlfy to ti
seen in a tayem in the Hig^ Street of Glaiigov^ ky
generally at the door. When any pcmm eame to As
house, he trotted before them into an qpartmenly fang
the bell, and then resumed his statioii at the door.

The great utility and sagacity of the Newfimndbnl
dog, in cases of drowning, were shown in the ftHowipg
instance. Eleven sailors, a woman, and the
had n»ehed a doap of w« in H»>o«e in •
One of the sailors, stooping rather suddenly ofvr.tts
side of the boat to reach hu hat, which had fiDon i
the sea, the boat capsised, and they were all
into the water. A Newfoundland dog, on the
deck of the sloop, seeing the accident, instant^
amongst the unfortunate persons, and sdiing
by the collar of his coat, he supported his bead sfeiik
water until a boat had hastened to the spot ibA asMi
the lives of all but the waterman. After dsimfefal b

NBWPOUNBLAND DOG. 167

burden in safety^ the noble animal made a wide circuit
round the ship in search of another person ; but not
finding one^ he took up an oar in his mouth which was
floating away^ and brought it to the side of the ship.

A sailor, attended by a Newfoundland dog^ became
so intoxicated^ that he fell on the pavement in Picca-
dilly^ and was unable to rise^ and soon fell asleep.
The faithful dog took a position at his master's head^
and resisted every attempt made to remove him. The
man^ having at last slept off the fames of his intoxi-
cating libations^ awoke^ and being told of the care his
dog had taken of him^ exclaimed^ ^'This is not the
first time he h^s kept watch over me.''

On Thursday evening, January 28^ 1858^ as the
play of " Jessie Vere " was being performed at Wool-
wich Theatre^ and when a scene in the third act had
been reached^ in which a " terrific struggle '' for the
possession of a child takes place between the fond
mother and two " hired ruffians/' a large Newfound-
land dog^ which had by some means gained admittance
with its owner into the pit^ leaped over the heads of
the musicians in the orchestra^ and flew to the rescue^
seizing one of the assassins, and almost dragging him
to the ground. It was with difficulty removed, and
dragged off the stage. The dog, which is the property
of the chief engineer of Her Majesty's ship Buffalo,
has been habitually accustomed to the society of chil-
dren, for whom he has on many occasions evinced
strong proofs of affection.

168

Mr. Bewick, in hiihiitoryof Qiuidiiiped%:
some inntjmcCT of the Mgacitj aod inUDeet at M«v>
foundland dogi ; and it may not be nmHiiiiiwiin ti
the admiren of that edehnted wood-cngntfer to k
informed^ on the aathoiily of his i*imgliitftr>. Hut Ab
group on the bridge in his print of the TXemSamaHmk
dog represents Mr. Preston, a Printer of NcwcMd^
Mr. Vint, of Whittingham, Mr. BeD, Honae OkmrnA,
and Mr. Bewick. Their initials, P. V. B. md B, M
introduced in the woodcnL The dog was dncwm it
Eslington, the seat of Mr. lidddQ, tbe eldeat wm d
Lord Ravensworth.*

In Newfoundland, this dog is inrahuUkb ^
answers the purpose of a horse. He is doeik^ e^db
of strong attachment, and is easy to please in Ai
quality of his food, as he will live on scrqw of bsflal
fish^ either salted (x firesh, and on boiled potatoes ai
cabbage. The natural ooloor of this dog is blaiJr,wift
the exception of a very few white spots. Their sagsii^
is sometimes so extraordinary, as on many oeeaaioMto
show that they only want the fiicolty of speech to
themselves fully understood.

The Bev. L. Anspach, in his histofy of the
of Newfoundland, mentions some instaneea of Aii
intelligence.

One of the Magistrates of Harboor-Oxaoi^ tie Igto
Mr. Garland, had an old dog, which was in tba Ult *|
of carrying a lantern before his master at

* See Bewick'! «< Quadropadi/' p. SOi, Islsi..

NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 160

steadily as the most attentive servant could do ; stop-
ping short when his master made a stop^ and proceed-
ing when he saw him disposed to follow him. If his
master was absent from home^ on the lantern being
fixed to his mouthy and the command given^ '^Go^
fetch your master^^^ he would immediately set off and
proceed directly to the town, which lay at the distance
of more than a mile from the place of his master's
residence. He would then stop at the door of every
house which he knew his master was in the habit of
frequenting, and, laying down his lantern, would growl
and strike the door, making all the noise in his power
until it was opened. If his master was not there, he
would proceed farther until he had found him. If he
accompanied him only once into a house, it was suffi-
^ent to induce him to take that house in his round.

The principal use of this animal in Newfoundland,
in addition to his qualities as a good watch-dog and
a faithful companion, is to assist in fetching from the
woods the lumber intended either for repairing the
fish stages, or for fuel ; and this is done by dragging
it on the snow or ice, or else on sledges, the dog being
tackled to it.

These animals bark only when strongly provoked.
They are not quarrelsome, but treat the smaller
species with a great degree of patience and forbear-
ance. They will defend their masters on seeing the
least appearance of an attack on his person. The
well-known partiality of these dogs for the water, in

170 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

which they appear as if in their proper element^ diving
and keeping their heads under the surface for a con-
siderable time^ seems to give them some connexion
v^ith the class of amphibious animals. At the same
time^ the several instances of their superior sagacity,
and the essential services which they have been fre-
quently known to render to humanity^ give them i
distinguished rank in the scale of the brute creation.
I will mention another instance of this.

The Durham packet of Sunderland was^ in 181 6|
wrecked near Clay, in Norfolk. A faithful dog was
employed to use his efforts to carry the lead-line on
shore from the vessel; but there being a very heavy
sea^ and a deep beach^ it appeared that the drawback
of the surf was too powerful for the animal to contend
with. Mr. Parker, ship-builder, of Wells, and Mr.
Jackson, jun., of Clay, who were on the spot, observing
this, instantly rushed into the sea, which was numing
very high, and gallantly succeeded, though at a great
risk, in catching hold of the dog, which was madi
exhausted, but which had all this time kept the line in
his mouth. The line being thus obtained, a conunu^
nication with the vessel was established ; and a wazp
being passed from the ship to the shore, the lives of all
on board, nine in number, including two childreni
were saved.

Some dogs are of an extremely jealous disposition ;
and the following extraordinary instance of it was com-
municated to me by Mr. Charles Davis, the well-known

NBWFOUNDLANB DOG. 171

and highly-respected huntsman of Her Majesty^s stag-
honnda, a man who has gained many friends^ and
peifaapa never lost one, by his well-regulated conduct
and sporting qualifications.

He informed me that a friend of his had a fine
Newfoundland dog, which was a great favourite with
the fiunily. While this dog was confined in the yard,
a pet lamb was given to one of the children, which the
former soon discovered to be sharing a great portion
of those caresses which he had been in the habit of
leoeiving. This circumstance produced so great an
effect on the poor animal, that he refused to eat, and
fretted till he became extremely unwell. Thinking
that exercise might be of use to him, he was let loose.
No sooner was this done, than the dog watched his
opportunity, and seized the lamb in his mouth. He
was seen copveying it down a lane, about a quarter
of a mile from his master's house, at the bottom of
whidi the river Thames flowed. On arriving at it,
he held the lamb under water till it was drowned, and
thus effectually got rid of his rival. On examining
the lamb, it did not appear to have been bitten, or
otherwise injured; and it might almost be supposed
that the dog had chosen the easiest death in removing
the object of his dislike.

The sense of Jthese animals is, indeed, perfectly
wonderfol. A Ueutenant in the navy informed me,
that while his ship was under sail in the Mediterranean,
a &vourite canary bird escaped from its cage, and flew

172 ANECDOTES OF DOOS.

into the sea. A Newfoundland dog on booitl wit-
nessed the circumstance^ immediately jumped into the
sea^ and swam to the bird^ which he seized in hit
mouthy and then swam back with it to the ship. On
arriving on board and opening the dog's mouthy it
was found that the bird was perfectly uninjured, so
tenderly had it been treated^ as though the dog had
been aware that the slightest pressure would have
destroyed it.

Mr. Youatt^ whose remarks on the usefulness and
good qualities of the inferior animals, in his^ work on
Humanity to Brutes, do him so much credit, gives the
following anecdote as a proof of the reasoning power of
a Newfoundland dog.

Wanting one day to go through a tall iron gate,
from one part of his premises to another, he found
a lame puppy lying just within it, so that he could not
get in without rolling the poor animal oyer, and per-
haps injuring it. Mr. Youatt stood for awhile hesi-
tating what to do, and at length determined to go
round through another gate. A fine Newfoundland
dog, however, who had been waiting patiently for hit
wonted caresses, and perhaps wondering why hit
master did not get in as usual, looked accidentally
down at his lame companion. He comprehended the
whole business in a moment — put down his great
paw, and as gently and quickly as possible rolled the
invalid out of the way, and then drew himself back in
order to leave room for the opening of the gate.

NEWFOUNDLAND DOa. 173

We may be inclined to deny reasoning faculties to
dogs ; but if this was not reason^ it may be difficult to
define what else it could be. ,

Mr. Youatt also says^ that his own experience fur-
nishes him with an instance of the memory and grati-
tude of a Newfoundland dog^ who was greatly attached
to him. He says^ as it became inconvenient to him
to keep the dog^ he gave him to one who he knew
would treat him kindly. Four years passed^ and he
had not seen him ; when one day^ as he was walking
towards Kingston^ and had arrived at the brow of the
hill where Jerry Abershaw^s gibbet then stood^ he met
Carlo and his master. The dog recollected Mr. Youatt
in a moment, and they made much of each other.
His master, after a little chat, proceeded towards
Wandsworth, and Carlo, as in duty bound, followed
him. Mr. Youatt had not, however, got half-way
down the hill when the dog was again at his side,
lowly but deeply growling, and every hair bristling.
On looking about, he saw two ill-looking fellows
making their way through the bushes, which occupied
the angular space between Roehampton and Wands-
worth roads. Their intention was scarcely questionable,
and, indeed, a week or two before, he had narrowly
escaped from two miscreants like them. '' I can scarcely
say,'' proceeds Mr. Youatt, "what 1 felt; for pre-
sently one of the scoundrels emerged from the bushes,
not twenty yards from me; but he no sooner saw my
companion, and heard his growling, the loudness and

174 ANECDOTES OF BOOS.

depth of which were fearfully increasing, than he
retreated, and I saw no more of him or of hig
associate. My gallant defender accompanied me to
the direction-post at the bottom of the hill, and
there, with many a mutual and honest greeting, we
parted^ and he bounded away to overtake his right-
ful owner. We never met again; but I need not
say that I often thought of him with admiration and
gratitude.''

It is pleasing to record such instances of kindness
in a brute. Here we see a recollection of, and gra-
titude for, previous good treatment, and that towards
one whom the dog had not seen for four years. There
is a sort of bewilderment in the human mind, when
we come to analyse the feelings, affections, and pe-
culiar instinctive faculties of dogs. A French writer
(Mons. Blaze) has asserted, that the dog most un-
doubtedly has all the qualities of a man possessed of
good feeling, and adds that man has not the fine qua-
lities of the dog. We make a virtue of that gratitude
which is nothing more than a duty incumbent upon us,
while it is an inherent quality in the dog.

'' Canis gratus est, et amidtisB memor."

We repudiate ingratitude, and yet every one is more
or less guilty of it. Indeed, where shall we find the
man who is free from it ? Take, however, the first dog
you meet with, and the moment he has adopted you
for his master, from that moment you are sure of his

NEWVOUNDLAND DOG. 175

gntitude and afiection. He will love you without
dbolatiiig what he shall gain by it — his greatest
pkasore will be to be near you — and should you be
redaoed to beg your breads no poverty will induce him
to abandon you. Tour friends may^ and probably will^
do so — the object of your love and attachment will
not, perhaps^ like to encounter poverty with you. Your
vife, by some possibility (it is a rare case^ however^ if
die has received kind treatment) may forget her vows^
bat your dog will never leave you — he will either die
at your feet, or if he should survive you, will accompany
jwk to the grave.

An intelligent correspondent, to whom I am in-
debted for some sensible remarks on the faculties of
dogi, has remarked that large-headed dogs are ge-
nerally possessed of superior faculties to others.
This tact favours the phrenological opinion that size
of brain is evidence of superior power. He has a dog
possessing a remarkably large head, and few dogs can
match him in intelligence. He is a cross with the
Newfoundland breed, and besides his cleverness in the
field as a retriever, he shows his sagacity at home in
the performance of several useful feats. One consists
b eanying messages. If a neighbour is to be com-
manicated with, the dog is always ready to be the
bearer of a letter. He will take orders to the work-
men who reside at a short distance from the house,
and will scratch impatiently at their door when so
employed^ although at other times, desirous of sharing

176 ANECDOTES OF DOGS,

the warmth of their kitchen fire^ he would wait pa-
tiently^ and then entering with a seriousness befitting
the imagined importance of his mission^ would care-
fully deliver the note^ never returning without having
discharged his trust. His usefulness in recovering
articles accidentally lost has often been proved. As
he is not always allowed to be present at dinner^ he
will bring a hat^ book^ or anything he can find, and
hold it in his mouth as a sort of apology for his in-
trusion. He seems pleased at being allowed to lead
his master's horse to the stable.

Newfoundland dogs may readily be taught to
rescue drowning persons. In France, this forms a
part of their education, and they are now kept in
readiness on the banks of the Seine, where they fcurm
a sort of Humane Society Corps. By throwing the
stu£fed figure of a man into a river, and requiring the
dog to fetch it out, he is soon taught to do so when
necessary, and thus he is able to rescue drowning
persons. This hint might not be thrown away* on onr
own excellent Humane Society.

Many dogs are called of the Newfoundland breed
who have but small relationship with that sensible
animal. The St. John's and Labrador dogs are also
very different from each other. The former is strong
in his limbs, rough-haired, small in the head, and
carries his tail very high. The other, by far the best
for every kind of shooting, is oftener black than of
another colour, and scarcely bigger than a pointer.

1IEWK>UNDLAND DOG. 177

He is made rather long in the head and nose^ pretty
deep in the chesty very fine in the legs^ has short or
imooth hair^ does not carry his tail so much curled
II the other^ and is extremely quick and active in
nmiiingy swimmings or fighting. The St. John's breed
of these dogs is chiefly used on theii* native coast by
Mermen. Their sense of smelling is scarcely to be
credited. Their discrimination of scent^ in following
I wounded pheasant through a whole covert full of
gunCy appears almost impossible.

The real Newfoundland dog may be broken into
my kind of shootings and^ without additional instruc-
tioD, is generally under such command^ that he may
be safely kept in^ if required to be taken out with
pomters. For finding wounded game of every de-
icrfption there is not his equal in the canine race, and
be is a fine qud non in the general pursuit of wild-
finrL These dogs should be treated gently, and much
eneouraged when required to do anything, as their
traits ate easily checked. If used roughly, they are
ipt to turn sulky. They will also recollect and avenge
in injury. A traveller on horseback, in passing
through a small village in Cumberland, observed a
Newfoundland dog reposing by the side of the road,
nd from mere wantonness gave him a blow with his
viiip. The animal made a violent rush at and pur-
loed him a considerable distance. Having to proceed
tbough the same place the next journey, which was
dxmt twelve months afterwards, and while in the act

178 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

of leading his horse^ the dog, no doubt recollecting
his former assailant^ instantly seized him by the boot,
and bit his leg. Some persons, however, coming ixp,
rescued him from further injury.

A gamekeeper had a Newfoundland dog which he
used as a retriever. Shooting in a wood one day, lie
killed a pheasant, which fell at some distance, and he
sent his dog for it. When half way to the bird, he
suddenly returned, refusing to go beyond the place at
which he had first stopped. This being an unusual
circumstance, the man endeavoured more and more to
enforce his command; which being unable to effeet,
either by words or his whip, he at last, in a great
passion, gave the dog a violent kick in the ribs, which
laid it dead at his feet. He then proceeded to pick up
the bird, and on returning from the spot, discoverecl i
man concealed in the thicket. He immediately seiied
him, and upon examination, several snares were found
on his person. This may be a useful hint to llioae
who are apt to take violent measures with their dogt.

A gentleman who had a country house near Lon-
don, discovered on arriving at it one day that he had
brought away a key, which would be wanted by hia
family in town. Having an intelligent Newfoundland
dog, which had been accustomed to carry things, he
sent him back with it. While passing with the keji
the animal was attacked by a butcher's dog, against
which he made no resistance, but got away from hnou
After safely delivering the key, he returned to rejoin

NEWFOUNDLAND DOO. 179

hiB master^ but stopped in the way at the butcher's
ihop, whose dog again sallied forth. The Newfound-
Imd this time attacked him with a fury^ which nothing
Imt revenge could have inspired, nor did he quit the
aggressor till he had killed him.

The follo¥nng fact a£fbrds another proof of the ex-
Inordinary sagacity of these dogs.

A Newfoundland dog of the true breed was brought
fiom that country, and given to a gentleman who re-
sided near Thames Street, in London. As he had no
means of keeping the animal, except in close confine-
ment, he sent him to a friend in Scotland by a Berwick
mack. When he arrived in Scotland he took the
first opportunity of escaping, and though he certainly
Itad never before travelled one yard of the road, he
found his way back to his former residence on Eish-
itreet Hill ; but in so exhausted a state, that he could
only express his joy at seeing his master, and then
died.

So wonderful is the sense of these dogs, that I have
heard of three instances in which they have voluntarily
guarded the bed-chamber doors of their mistresses,
during the whole night, in the absence of their mas-
ters, although on no other occasion did they approach
them.

The Bomans appear to have had a dog, which seems
to have been very similar in character to our New-
foundland. In the Museum at Naples there is an
antique bronze, discovered amongst the ruins of Her-

180 IMICDORS or IXMt.

colaneum, which xepretentt two Inge dogt dngging
from the sea flome apparently drowned peraons. .

The following interesting &et affnrda anoQier m»
stance of the sagaeity and good Ibding of the N«n J
foundland dog:—

In the year 1841, as a labourer, named Baln^ is .
the parish of Botley, near Sonthamptont waa at wA
in a gravel-pit, the top stratom gave way, and he WH
buried up to hia neck by the great cinantity of gmd I
which fell upon him. He waa at the aanie time m '.
much hurt, two of hia ribs being brolcea, that Is ;
found it impossible to make any attempt to cstaests
himself from his perilous situation* Indeed, mthaaf
could be more fearful than the prospect befim haa*
No one was within hearing of his cries^ nor was asf'
one likely to come near the spot. He must alnortl
inevitably have perished, had it not been for m Nev*
foundland dog belonging to his employer. Una s»
mal had been watching the man at his work for
days^ as if he had been aware Ihat hia
would be required ; for no particular attaehmeot W.
each other had been exhibited on either side. AMMMg
however, as the accident occnried, the dog jvnfllf'
into the pit, and commenced removing the gmvel wlk
his paws ; and this he did in so vigorous and tXfA
tious a manner, that the poor man was at length aUa
to liberate himself, though with extreme difled^
What an example of kindness, sensibility, and I ■
add reason, does this instance a£Ebrd nal f»

NEWFOUNDLAND DOG, 181

A gentiieman in Ireland had a remarkably fine and
intelligent Newfoundland dog^ named Boatswain^ whose
sets were the constant theme of admiration. On one
occasion, an aged lady who resided in the house, and
the mother-in-law of the owner of the dog, was indis-
posed and confined to her bed. The old lady was
tired of chickens and other productions of the farm-
yard, and a consultation was held in her room as to
wliat could be procured to please her fancy for dinner.
Various things were mentioned and declined, in the
midst of which Boatswain, who was greatly attached
to the old lady, entered her room with a fine young
rabbit in his mouth, which he laid at the foot of the
bed, wagging his tail with great exultation. It is not
meant to infer that the dog knew anything of the
difficulty of finding a dinner to the lady^s taste, but
teeing her distressed in mind and body, it is not im-
probable that he had brought his offering in the hopes
of pleasing her.

On another occasion, his master found this dog
early one summer's morning keeping watch over an
unfortunate countryman, who was standing with his
back to a wall in the rear of the premises, pale with
terror. He was a simple, honest creature, living in
tbe neighbourhood. Having to attend some fair or
market, about four o'clock in the morning, he made a
short cut through the grounds, which were under the
protection of Boatswain, who drove .the intruder to the
wall, and kept him there, showing his teeth, and giving

182 NBWPOUNDLAND DOG.

a growl whenever hie oflFered to stir from the spot. In
this way he was kept a prisoner till the owner of the
faithful animal released him.

There was a Newfoundland dog on board H.M.S.
Bellona, which kept the deck during the battle of
Copenhagen, running backward and forward with bo
brave an anger, that he became a greater favourite
with the men than ever. When the ship was paid off,
after the peace of Amiens^ the sailors had a parting
dinner on shore. Victor was placed in the chair, and
fed with roast beef and plum-pudding, and the bill
was made out in Yictor^s name. This anecdote is
taken from Southey's " Omniana.'*

I am indebted to a kind correspondent for the
following anecdotes: —

" A friend of mine, who in the time of the war
commanded the Sea Fencibles, in the neighbourhood
of Southend, possessed in those days a magnificent
Newfoundland dog, named Venture. This noble crea-
ture my friend was accustomed to take with him in
the pursuit of wild fowl. One cold evening, after
having tolerable sport, the dog was suddenly missed;
he had been last seen when in pursuit of a winged
bird. As the ice was floating in the river, and the
dog was true to his name, and would swim any
distance for the recovery of wounded game^ it was
feared he must have fallen a victim to the hasards of
the sport, and h^s owner returned home in oonie-
quence much dispirilei. 0\i ^5^^ vtra^ ^\fia^>&s»afc

NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 183

what was his extreme surprise, on entering the draw-
ing-room, to find his wife accompanied by the dog,
and a fine mallard lying on the table : the lady had, on
her part, been overwhelmed with anxiety by the dog^s
having returned alone some time before, knowing the
frequently perilous amusement in which her husband
had embarked. The dog had straight on his return
rushed to the drawing-room where the lady sat, and
had laid the wild duck at her feet, having brought it
safely in his mouth several miles.

** A gentleman once sent a coat to the tailor to be
mended — it was left upon a counter in the shop.
His dog had accompanied the servant to the tailor^s.
The animal watched his opportunity, pulled the coat
down from the counter, and brought it home in triumph
to his master.

" There is a tendency in the pride of man to deny
the power of reasoning in animals, while it is the
belief of some that reason is often a more sure guide
to the brute beast, for the purposes designed by
Providence, than that of their detractors. The fact is,
I think, few pertons who reflect deny the power, in a
degree, to the Ism gifted of Nature^s works. Cer-
tainly not flome of the wisest of our race. Bishop
Butler in his 'Analogy,' I think, assumes it; while
the foQoiring beautiful inscription, designed for the
epitaph of a favourite Newfoundland dog, was penned
by no less a person than the late wise and venerable
Earl of Eldon: firom it his views on this subject may.

ANXCD0TE8 OF D0Q8.

I fency, he easily discerned. They are puUuhed id tl
life of him, written hy Horace Twisa : —

' Yon who wa&dcr hither,
Pui not unheeded
The ipot where poor Cteiar
Ii depouted.

To hii rank amoag created beiogi

The power of reteoDing !i denied I

CKwr manlfeited joj,

For d*js before hii muter

Arrived at Encombe ;

CBiar manifeated grief

For daji before hie mutar left it.

What name ihall be given

To that focultf.

Which thai made eipratatiiHi

A aonrce oTjoj,
Which thoa made eipectation
A ionree of grief! ' "

-K^

THE COLLEY, OK SHEPHERD'S DOG.

" H7 dog (the tnudeat of hii kind)
inth gntitade iaflunM mj mind :
I aiwlc fail true, hit faithful way,
And In 1117 Hrrice cop; Traj." — Gay.

Vao that has seea has not been delighted with the
dmnii^ picture by Mr. Landaeer of the shepherd's
do^ mdng his head on the cofSn which contained the
bo^ of his dead master I Grief, fidelity, and affection
are ao strongly portrayed in the countenance of the
poor dog, that they cannot be mistaken. We may

186 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

fancy him to have been the constant companion of the
old shepherd through many a dreary day of rain, and
frost, and snow on the neighbouring hUls, gathering
the scattered flock with persevering industry, and re-
ceiving the reward of his exertions in the approbation
of his master. On returning to the humble cottage at
night, he partakes of the "shepherd's scanty fare;"
and then, coiled up before the flickering light of a few
collected sticks, cold and shivering with wet, he awakes
to greet his master at the flrst glimmering of mom, and
is ready to renew his toils. Poor dog ! what a lesson do
you afford to those who are incapable of your gratitude,
fidelity, and affection I and what justice has the charm-
ing artist done to these noble qualities ! I trust he
will receive this fanciful description of his dog as a
little tribute paid to his talents, as well as to his good
feeling.

The late Mr. Satterthwaite, grandfather of Thomas
Rogerson, Esq., of Liverpool and Ballamillaghyn, Isle
of Man, who died some years ago at Coulthouse, near
Hawkshead, soon after his marriage, resided near the
Low Wood Inn, on the borders of Windermere Lake.
He left home early one morning, accompanied by his
shepherd^s dog, to look after some sheep on the moun-
tains near Eydal, about four miles distant; and dis-
covering two at the bottom of a precipice between two
rocks he descended, with the view of extricating them;
but when he got to the bottom, he could neither assitt
them nor get up himself, and there he was confined

THE COLLET^ OR SHEPHERD^S DOG. 187

imtQ midnight. The faithful dog remained at the top
)f the precipice watching his master ; but at nightfall
be proceeded home^ scratched the door^ and was let in
bjr his mistress, who expressed her surprise at the
berldng of the dog and non-arrival of her husband.
She had no sooner sat down than the dog ran barking
'owards her, and then went to the door : but as she
lid not follow, the dog ran to her again, seized her
ipion, and endeavoured to pull her to the door ; which
nrcumstance caused her to suppose some accident had
lefallen her husband. She immediately called up the
lenrant-man, and told him she was sure, from the
itrange conduct of the dog, that something must have
lappened to his master. She told the man to take a
antem and some ropes, and foUow the dog, taking
Mure to get assistance at Ambleside; which he did.
Ho sooner had the man opened the -door than the dog
30unded out, leaped up at him, barked, and then ran
forward, but quickly returned, leaped up again, barked,
md then ran forward, as if to hasten the man^s speed.
rhe faithful dog led the man and his companions to
the prison of his master. The ropes were instantly
lowered, and Mr. Satterthwaite was providentially re-
leased from his perilous situation. The sheep also
were recovered.

How well do I recollect the Ettrick Shepherd
descanting on the sagacity and perseverance of his
&voarite sheep-dog I His name was Sirrah, and he

i

1 88 ANECDOTES OF DOOi.

told me the following extraordinary anecdote of him,
which I give in his owil wordn: —

^^ About wiven hundred lambs, which were once
under my care at weaning time, broke up at midnight,
and Kcampered off in three divisions across the hilli,
in Kpite of all that I and an assistant lad could do to
kwip them t^^gether. ' Sirrah, my man I ' said I in
great affliction, Hhey are awa\' The night was so
dark that 1 cr)uld not see Sirrah, but the faithful
animal heard my words — words such as of all otben
v/i'Sit Hure to set him most on the alert ; and withimt
rn ucli ado he silently set off in search of the recreaot
flock. Meanwhile 1 and my companion did not fsil
to do all in our [>ower to recriver our lost charge.
We Kpent the whole night in scouring the hiUs for
miJcK around, but of neither the lambs nor Sirrah could
we obtain tb<; Klight<'.Ht trace. It was the most cxtrt-
ordinary circumstance that had occurred in my pastoral
life. We had nothing for it (day having dawned),
but to ndurn to our mast(;r, and inform him that ve
had JoKt liiH wliole flock of lambs, and knew mit what
had become of tliern. On our way home, however,
we diKCovered a f)ody of lambn at the liottom of a deep
ravine^ caJJcMl the FjcHh Cleucli, and the indefatigable
Sirrah Htanding in front of them, hxiking all around
for K^irrie relief, but Htill standing true to his charge.
Thi; Kun was then up; and when we first came in Tiew
of th(;m, we concluded that it was one of the

THE COLLET^ OR SHEPHERD^S DOG. 189

flions which Sirrah had been unable to manage
until he came to that commanding situation. But
what was our astonishment^ when we discovered by
degrees that not one lamb of the whole flock was
wanting ! How he had got all the divisions collected
in the dark, is beyond my comprehension. The charge
was left entirely to himself^ from midnight until the
rising of the sun ; and if aU the shepherds in the forest
had been there to have assisted him^ they could not
have effected it with greater propriety. All that I can
farther say is, that I never felt so grateful to any
creature below the sun, as I did to my honest Sirrah
that moming.^^

'^ I once sent you,'* says Mr. Hogg, some years later,
in a letter to the Editor of " Blackwood's Edinburgh
Magazine,'' *^ an account of a notable dog of my own,
named Sirrab> which amused a number of your readers
a great deal, and put their faith in my veracity somewhat
to the test ; but in this district, where the singular quali-
ties of the animal were known, so far from any of the
anecdotes being disputed, every shepherd values him-
self to this day on the possession of facts far outstrip-
ping any of those recorded by you formerly. With a
few of these I shall conclude this paper. But, in the
first place, I must give you some account of my own
renowned Hector, which I promised long ago. He
was the son and immediate successor of the faithful old
Sirrah; and though not nearly so valuable a dog as
his fiither^ he was a far more interesting one. He had

190 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

three times more bumoar and whim about him ; and
though exceedingly docile, his bravest acts were moidj
tinctured with a grain of stupidity, which showed hii
reasoning faculty to be laughably obtuse.

" I shall mention a striking instance of it. I wm
once at the farm of Shorthope on Ettrick Head, re-
ci;iving some lambs that I had bought, and was going
to take to market, with some more, the next day.
Owing to some accidental delay, I did not get final
delivtiry of the lambs till it was growing late; and
being obliged to be at my own house that night, I was
not a little dismayed lest I should scatter and lose my
lanibH if darkness overt^x)k me. Darkness did over-
take me by the time I got half-way, and no ordinary
darkness for an August evening. The lambs having
\H%tx\ weaned that day, and of the wild black-fsoed
htiMtA, became exceedingly unruly, and for a good
wh ile 1 lost hopes of mastering them. Hector managed
the point, and we got them safe home; but both he
and IiIh inasti^r were alike sore forefoughten. It had
becotiKi HO dark that we were obliged to fold them with
candlcM ; and, after closing them safely np, I went
homo with my fatlier and the rest to supper. When
Hccior^H HUi)por was M^t down, behold he was awantingi
and as 1 knew we had him at the fold, which wu
with in call of tlie houm;, I went out and called and
wlilNtlf^d on him for a good while, but he did not make
luH :ipp(;arance. I was distresstsd about this; for,
liavin^ to take away the lambs next morning, I knew

THB COLLET^ OR SHEPHERD^S BOG. 191

I ooold not drive them a mile without my dog if it had
been to save the whole drove.

'' The next mornings as soon as it was day^ I arose
and inquired if Hector had come home ? No ; he had
not been seen. I knew not what to do ; but my father
proposed that he would take out the lambs and herd
them, and let them get some meat to fit them for the
nmd, and that I should ride with all speed to Short-
hope to see if my dog had gone back there. Accord-
ingly we went together to the fold to turn out the
Iflonba^ and there was poor Hector^ sitting trembling
in the very middle of the fold-door^ on the inside of the
flake that closed it^ with his eyes still steadfastly fixed
on the lambs. He had been so hardly set with them
after it grew dark^ that he durst not for his life leave
tiiem^ although hungry^ fatigued^ and cold^ for the
night had turned out a deluge of rain. He had never
80 much as lain down ; for only the small spot that he
•at on was dry^ and there had he kept watch the
whole night. Almost any other coUey would have
discerned that the lambs were safe enough in the fold^
bat honest Hector had not been able to see through
this. He even refused to take my word for it ; for he
would not quit his watch^ though he heard me calling
both at night and morning.

"Another peculiarity of his was, that he had a
mortal antipathy to the family-mouser, which was in-
grained in his nature from his very puppyhood; yet so
perfectly absurd was he^ that no impertinence on her

192 ANECBOTES OF D008.

side^ and no baiting on^ could ever induce him to lay
his mouth on her^ or injure her in the slightest degree.
There was not a day and scarcely an hour passed over,
that the family did not get some amusement with these
two animals. Whenever he was within doors^ bis
whole occupation was watching and pointing the cat
from morning to night. When she flitted from one
place to another^ so did he in a moment; and then
squatting down^ he kept his point sedulously^ till he
was either called oflF or fell asleep.

" He was an exceedingly poor eater of meat^ always
had to be pressed to it^ and often would not take it
till we brought in the cat. The malicious looks that
he cast at her from under his eyebrows on aoch
occasions were exceedingly ludicrous^ considering his
utter disinclination to injure her. Whenever he saw
her^ he drew near his bicker and looked angry ; but
still he would not taste till she was brought to it,
and then he cocked his tail^ set up his birses^ and
began lapping furiously as if in utter desperation.
His good nature^ however^ was so immovable^ that
he would never refuse her a share of what was placed
before him; he even lapped close to the one side of
the dish, and left her room, — but mercy! how he
did ply!

^^ It will appear strange to you to hear a dog's rea-
soning faculty mentioned as I have done ; but I dedaie
I have hardly ever seen a shepherd^s dog do anything
without behoving that 1 peTce\\e3L\jiaxt!wraAfejt'^% \.

THE COLLET^ OB SHEPHERD^S DOG. 193

xve often amused myself in calculating what his motives

rere for such and such things^ and I generally found

bem very cogent ones. But Hector had a droll stu-

lidity about him^ and took up forms and rules of his

>wn, for which I could never perceive any motive that

¥88 not even farther out of the way than the action

itself. He had one uniform practice^ and a very bad

tme it was; during the time of family worship, and

just three or four seconds before the conclusion of the

prayer, he started to his feet and ran barking round

the apartment like a crazed beast. My father was so

much amused with this, that he would never suffer me

to correct him for it, and I scarcely ever saw the old

man rise from the prayer without his endeavouring to

aappress a smile at the extravagance of Hector. None

of us ever could find out how he knew that the prayer

was near done, for my father was not formal in his

prayers ; but certes he did know, — and of that we

Ittd nightly evidence. There never was anything for

which I was so puzzled to discover a motive as this,

but £pom accident I did discover it ; and, however

ludicrous it may appear, I am certain I was correct.

It was much in character with many of Hector^s feats,

Mid rather, I think, the most ouirS of any principle he

^er acted on. As I said, his great daily occupation

wag pointing the cat. Now, when he saw us kneel all

tlown in a circle, with our faces couched on our paws,

in the same posture with himself, it struck his ^\i«vvt^

hflrf that we were all engaged in pomtiug^ \!cifc ^'^'

o

194 ANECDOTES OF DO08.

He lay on tenters all the while^ bat the acnteneM of
his ear enabling him^ through time^ to asoertam the
very moment when we wonld all spring to our feet, he
thought to himself^ ' I shall be first after her^ lor
you all/

" He inherited his dad^s unfortunate ear for mrukf
not perhaps in so extravagant a degree^ but he ever
took care to exhibit it on the most untimely and iD-
judged occasions. Owing to some misunderstanding
between the minister of the parish and the session-
clerk^ the precenting in church devolved on my (alihiaf
who was the senior elder. Now^ my father could hire
sung several of the old church-tunes middling well in
his own family-circle; but it so happened that^ when
mounted in the desk^ he never could command the
starting notes of any but one (St. Paul's), which were
always in undue readiness at the root of his tongoe,
to the exclusion of every other semibreve in the whole
range of sacred melody. The minister gave out psalms
four times in the course of every day's service; cwi-
sequently the congregation were treated with St. Paul's
in the morning at great length, twice in the course of
the service, and then once again at the dose. Nothing
but St. FauPs. And it being itself a monotonooi
tune, nothing could exceed the monotony that pr^"
vailed in the primitive chiurch of Ettrick. Out of
pure sympathy for my father alone, I was compelled
to take the precentorship in hand ; and having plenty
of tunes, for a good while I came on as well as cooM

THE COLLET^ OR SHEPHEBD^S DOG. 195

le expected^ as men say of their wives. But^ unfor-
tunately for me^ Hector found out that I attended church
every Sunday^ and though I had him always closed up
carefully at home^ he rarely failed in making his ap-
pearance in church at some time of the day. When-
ever I saw him a tremor came over my spirits^ for I
well knew what the issue would be. The moment
that he heard my voice strike up the psalm ^ with
might and majesty/ then did he fall in with such
overpowering vehemence^ that he and I seldom got
any to join in the music hut our two selves. The
•hepberds hid their heads^ and laid them ■ down on the
baoks of their seats rowed in their plaids^ and the
lilacs looked down to the ground and laughed till
their faces grew red. I despised to stick the tune^
and therefore was obUged to carry on in spite of the
obstreperous accompaniment; but I was^ time after
time^ BO completely put out of all countenance with
the brute^ that I was obliged to give up my office in
disgust^ and leave the parish once more to their old
friendj St. Paul.

*' Hector was quite incapable of performing the
same feats among sheep that his father did; but^ as
£ur as bis judgment served him^ he was a docile and
obliging creature. He had one singular quality^ of
keeping tme to the charge to which he was set. If
we bad been shearings or sorting sheep in any way^
when a division was turned out and Hector got the

196 ANECBOTES OF DOGS.

word to attend to them, he would have done it plea-
santly for a whole day without the least symptom of
weariness. No noise or hurry about the fold, which
brings every other dog from his business, had the least
effect on Hector, save that it made him a little trou-
blesome on his own charge, and set him a-running
round and round them, turning them in at comers,
from a sort of impatience to be employed as well as
his baying neighbours at the fold. Whenever old
Sirrah found himself hard set in commanding wild
sheep on steep ground, where they are worst to ma-
nage, he never failed, without any hint to the purpose,
to throw himself wide in below them, and lay their
faces to the hill, by which means he got the command
of them in a minute. I never could make Hector
comprehend this advantage with all my art, although
his father found it out entirely of himself. The former
would turn or wear sheep no other way but on the
hill above them; and, though very good at it, he
gave both them and himself double the trouble and
fatigue.

" It cannot be supposed that he could understand
all that was passing in the little family circle, but he
certainly comprehended a good part of it. In parti-
cular, it was very easy to discover that he rarely missed
aught that was said about himself, the sheep, the cat,
or of a hunt. When aught of that nature came to be
discussed, Hector^s attention and impatience soon be^

THE COLLEY^ OR SHEFHERB^S BOG. 197

came manifest. There was one winter evening I said
to my mother that I was going to Bowerhope for a
fortnight, for that I had more conveniency for writing
with Alexander Laidlaw than at home; and I added,
' But I will not take Hector with me, for he is con-
stantly quarrelling with the rest of the dogs, singing
music, or breeding some uproar.' ' Na, na,' quoth she,
' leave Hector with me ; I like aye best to have him at
hame, poor fallow.'

" These were all the words that passed. The next
morning the waters were in a great flood, and I did
not go away till after breakfast; but when the time
came for tying up Hector, he was a- wanting. ^The
deil's in that beast,' said I, — 'I will wager that he
heard what we were saying yesternight, and has gone
off for Bowerhope as soon as the door was opened this
morning.'

" ^ If that should really be the case, I'll think the
beast no canny,' said my mother.

•' The Yarrow was so large as to be quite impass-
able, so that I had to walk up by St. Mary's Loch,
and go across by the boat; and, on drawing near to
Bowerhope, I soon perceived that matters had gone
precisely as I suspected. Large as the Yarrow was,
and it appeared impassable by any living creature.
Hector had made his escape early in the morning, had
swam the river, and was sitting, ' like a drookit hen,'
on a knoll at the east end of the house, awaiting my
arrival with great impatience. I had a great attach-

198 ANECBOTES OF BOOS.

ment to this animal, who^ to a good deal of absurdity,
joined all the amiable qualities of his species. He was
rather of a small size^ very rough and shagged, and not
far from the colour of a fox.

" His son Lion was the very picture of his dad, had
a good deal more sagacity, but also more selfishness.
A history of the one, however, would only be an epi-
tome of that of the other. Mr. William Nicholson*
took a fine likeness of this latter one, which be
still possesses. He could not get him to sit for
his picture in such a position as he wanted, till he
exhibited a singularly fine portrait of a small dog, on
the opposite side of the room. Lion took it for a real
animal, and, disliking its fierce and important look
exceedingly, he immediately set up his ears and his
shaggy birses, and, fixing a stem eye on the picture in
manifest wrath, he would then sit for a whole day and
point at it without budging or altering his position.

'^ It is a curious fact in the history of these ani-
mals, that the most useless of the breed have often the
greatest degree of sagacity in trifling and usdefii
matters. An exceedingly good sheep-dog attends ta
nothing else but that particular branch of business to
which he is bred. His whole capacity is exerted and
exhausted on it, and he is of little avail in nusoel-
laneous matters ; whereas, a very indifferent cur, bred

I' A celebrated portrait painter, and Secretary to the Soottiah Aci-
demy of Painting. This gentLemaii iUo ^xceUod in the portniti cf

animals.

THE COLLBY^ OB SHBPHBBD^S DOG. 199

about the house^ and accustomed to assist in every
things will often put the more noble breed to disgrace
in those paltry services. If one calls out^ for instance^
that the cows are in the com^ or the hens in the
garden^ the house*colley needs no other hint^ but runs
and turns them out. The shepherd's dog knows not
what is astir; and^ if he is called out in a hurry for
such work^ all that he will do is to break to the hill,
and rear himself up on end to see if no sheep are
running away. A bred sheep-dog^ if coming hungry
from the hills^ and getting into a milk-house^ would
most likely think of nothing else than filling his belly
with the cream. Not so his uninitiated brother ; he is
bred at home to far higher principles of honour. I
have known such lie night and day among from ten
to twenty pails full of milk^ and never once break the
cream of one of them with the tip of his tongue^ nor
would he suffer cat^ rat^ or any other creature to touch
it. This latter sort^ too^ are far more acute at taking
up what is said in a family.

'^ The anecdotes of these animals are all so much
alike^ that were I but to relate the thousandth part of
those I have heard^ they would often look very much
like repetitions. I shall therefore^ in this paper^ only
mention one or two of the most singular^ which I
know to be well authenticated.,

^^ There was a shepherd lad near Langholm^ whose
name was Scott^ who possessed a bitch famed over all
the 'West B(»rder for her singular tractability. He

200 ANECDOTES OF D008.

could have sent her home with one shecp^ two sheep,
or any given number^ from any of the neighbouring
farms ; and^ in the Limbing season, it was his uniform
practice to send her home with the kebbed ewes juit
as he got them. I must let the town reader under-
stand tliis. A kebbed ewe is one whose lamb dies.
As soon as such is found, she is immediately brought
home by the shepherd, and another lamb put to her;
and Scott, on going his rounds on the hill, whenever
he found a kebbed ewe, immediately gave her in charge
to hin bitch to take home, which saved him from
coining back that way again and going over the same
groiiiid h(! had visited before. She always took them
carefully home, and put them into a fold which was
cloHc by the house, keeping watch over them till she
waH Hitan by some one of the family ; upon which she
itiHtuntly decamped, and hastened back to her master,
who Honuitimes sent her three times home in one
morning with different chargcH. It was the custom of
the furiner to watch her and take the sheep in charge
from her: but this required a gmnl deal of caution;
for UH Hoon us she perceived that she was seen, whether
the hIkm^p were put into the fold or not, she concluded
her chargt; was at an end, and no flattery could induce
her to stay and asKiHt in folding them. There was a
dinplay of accuracy and attention in this that I cannot
say 1 have ever tuutn equalk;d.

^^ The late Mr. SUtel, ilcHher in Peebles, had a bitch
that wiM fully equal to iW ouu \\\vix^\A»yc\KJ^ ^^c)nNt.^vBJ^

THE COLLET^ OR SHEPHERD^S DOG. 201

thatj too^ in the very same qualification. Her feats in
taking sheep from the neighbouring farms into the
Flesh-market at Peebles^ form innumerable anecdotes
in that vicinity. But there is one related of her^ that
manifests so much sagacity with natural affection^ that
I do not think the history of the animal creation
famishes such another.

''Mr. Steel had such impUcit dependence on the
attention of this animal to his orders^ that^ whenever he
pat a lot of sheep before her^ he took a pride in leaving
them to herself^ and either remained to take a glass
with the farmer of whom he had made the purchase^
or took another road to look after bargains or other
baainess. But one time he chanced to commit a drove
to her charge at a place called Willenslee, Tvathout
attending to her condition as he ought to have done.
This farm is five miles from Peebles, over wild hills,
and there is no regularly defined path to it. A^Tiether
Mr. Steel remained behind, or chose another road, I
know not; but, on coming home late in the evening,
he was astonished at hearing that his faithful animal
had not made her appearance with the flock. He and
his son, or servant, instantly prepared to set out by
difiierent paths in search of her; but, on their going
out to the street, there was she coming with the drove,
no one missing; and, marvellous to relate, she was
carrying a young pup in her mouth I She had been
taken in travail on those hills ; and liow \\i^ ^o^xX^^'d^
isd contrived to manage the drove m \et ^\."aX& <^^

202 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

suffering is beyond human calculation^ for her read lay
through sheep the whole way. Her master's heart
smote him when he saw what she had suffered tnd
effected: but she was nothing daunted; and having
deposited her young one in a place of safety^ she again
set out full speed to the hills^ and brought another
and another^ till she removed her whole litter one bj
one ; but the last one was dead.

'^ The stories related of the dogs of sheep-stetloa
are fairly beyond all credibility. I cannot attach credit
to some of them without believing the animals to have
been devils incarnate^ come to the earth for the destroe*
tion both of the souls and bodies of men. I cannot
mention names^ for the sake of families that still re-
main in the country ; but there have been sundry men
executed^ who belonged to this district of the kingdom,
for that heinous crime, in my own daysj and othea
have absconded^ just in time to save their necks.
There was not one of these to whom I allude who did
not acknowledge his dog to be the greatest aggressor.
One young man in particular^ who was^ I believe, over-
taken by justice for his first offence^ stated, that after
he had folded the sheep by moonlight, and selected bit
number from the flock of a former master, he todc
them out^ and set away with them towards Edinburgh.
But before he had got them quite off the fiarm, his
conscience smote him^ as he said (but more likely a
dread of that which soon followed), and he quitted
the sheep, letting them go again to the hilL He

►

THS COLUBT^ OR SHEPHERD^S DOG. 203

called his dog off them^ and mountmg his pony^ he
lode away. At that time he said his dog was caper-
mg and playing around him^ as if glad of having got
free of a troublesome business ; and he regarded him
no more, till^ after having rode about three miles^ he
thought again and again that he heard something
coming up behind him. Halting^ at lengthy to as-
certain what it was^ in a few minutes there comes his
dog with the stolen animals^ driving them at a furious
rate to keep up with his master. The sheep were all
smoking^ and hanging out their tongues^ and their
guide was fully as warm as they. The young man
was now exceedingly troubled^ for the sheep having
been brought so far from home^ he dreaded there
would be a pursuit^ and he could not get them home
again before day. Resolving^ at all events^ to keep his
hands clear of them^ he corrected his dog in great
wrath^ left the sheep once more^ and taking coUey
with him^ rode off a second time. He had not rid-
den above a mile, till he perceived that his assistant
had again given him the slip ; and suspecting for what
purpose^ he was terribly alarmed as well as chagrined ;
far daylight now approached^ and he durst not make
a noise calling on his dog^ for fear of alarming the
neighbourhood, in a place where they were both well
known. He resolved therefore to abandon the animal
to himself^ and take a road across the country which
he was sure the other did not know, and could not
fallow. He took that road, but being on horseback^ he

204 ANECDOTES OF D008.

could not get across the enclosed fields. He at length
came to a gate^ which he shut behind him^ and went
about half a mile farther^ by a zigzag course^ to a fiurm-
house^ where both his sister and sweetheart lived ; and
at that place he remained until after breakfast time.
The people of this house were all examined on the trial,
and no one had either seen the sheep or heard them
mentioned^ save one man^ who came up to the aggressor
as he was standing at the stable-door^ and told him
that his dog had the sheep safe enough down at the
Crooked Yett^ and he needed not hurry himself. He
answered, that the sheep were not his — they were
young Mr. Thomson's, who had left them to his
charge, and he was in search of a man to drive them,
which made him come off his road.

" After this discovery, it was impossible for the poor
fellow to get quit of them ; so he went down and took
possession of the stolen drove once more^ carried them
on, and disposed of them ; and, finally, the transactioD
cost him his life. The dog, for the last four or fife
miles that he had brought the sheep, could have no
other guide to the road his master had gone but the
smell of his pony^s feet. I appeal to every unprejudiced
person if this was not as like one of the deil's tricks as
an honest colley^s.

^^ It is also well known that there was a notorioos

shcep-stealer in the county of Mid-Lothian, who, had

it Dot been for the akm^ ^xv^ t\ve, heada^ would never

have been condemned, «c& \ife ewiJA, ^Viis^ ^^

THE COLLVTj OB BHEPHERD's DOO. 205

eaae^ have proved an alibi every time suspicions were
entertained against him. He always went by one
road^ calling on his acquaintances^ and taking care
to appear to everybody by whom he was known, while
his dog went by another with' the stolen sheep ; and
then, on the two felons meeting again, they had nothing
mare to do than turn the sheep into an associate's en-
dosure, in whose house the dog was well fed and enter-
tained, and would have soon taken all the fat sheep on
the Lothian edges to that house. This was likewise a
female, a jet-black one, with a deep coat of soft hair,
hut smooth-headed, and very strong and handsome in
her make. On the disappearance of her master she lay
about the hills and places where he had frequented, but
die never attempted to steal a drove by herself, nor the
smallest thing for her own hand. She was kept some
time by a relation of her master's, but never acting
heartily in his service, soon came privately to an un-
timely end. Of this there is little doubt, although
Bome spread the report that one evening, after uttering
two or three loud howls, she instantly vanished ! From
such dogs as these, good Lord deliver us ! ''

The following is, perhaps, a still more extraordinary
anecdote of the fidelity shown by a sheep-dog to its
chai^. It was communicated by Robert Murray,
shepherd to Mr. Samuel Richmond, Path of Coudie,
near Dunning, in Perthshire.

Murray had purchased for his maalet fe\xi ^^ot^ ^i
sibeep at the Falkirk Tryst, but having occ«i«vavi \» ^\Rr^

206 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

another day^ and confident in the faithfulness and saga-
city of his coUey^ which was a female, he conmiitted the
drove to her care, with orders to drive them home,—
a distance of about seventeen mUes. The poor animal,
when a few miles on thfe road, dropped two whelps, bat,
faithful to her charge, she drove the sheep on a mile or
two further — then, allowing them to stop, returned for
her pups, which she carried for about two miles in
advance of the sheep. Leaving her pups, the cdlej
again returned for the sheep^ and drove them onwards
a few miles. This she continued to do, altematdj
carrying her own young ones and taking charge of the
flock, till she reached home. The manner of her acting
on this occasion was afterwards gathered by the shep-
herd from various individuals^ who had observed thaK
extraordinary proceedings of the dumb animal on the
road. However, when the oolley reached her homi^
and delivered her charge, it was found that the two
pups were dead. In this extremity, the instinct of thi
poor brute was, if possible, still more remarkable. Ska
went to a rabbit-brae in the vicinity, and dug out of thi
earth two young rabbits, which she deposited on some
straw in a bam, and continued to suckle for some time,
until one of the farm servants unluckily let down a fiiB
sack upon them and smothered them.

The following anecdote is related by Captain
Brown : —

A shepherd had driven a part of his flock to ft
neighbouring farm, leaving his dog to watch the re-

THE COLLET, OR SHBPHERO's DOG. 207

mainder during that day and the next night, expecting
to revisit them the following morning. Unfortunately,
however, when at the fair, the shepherd forgot both his
dog and his sheep, and did not return home till the
morning of the third day. His first inquiry was,
whether his dog had been seen ? The answer was, No.
''Then he must be dead,'' replied the shepherd in a
tone of anguish, ''for I know he was too faithful to
desert his charge.'' He instantly repaired to the heath.
The dog had sufficient strength remaining to crawl to
Ik master's feet, and express his joy at his return, and
«d dmort immediately after expired.

Mr. Blaine relates the following circumstance : —
I lemember watching a shepherd boy in Scotland,
who was sitting on the bank of a wide but shallow
itream. A sheep had strayed to a considerable dis-
tance on the other side of the water ; the boy, calling
to his dog, ordered him to fetch that sheep back, but to
do it gently, for she was heavy in lamb. I do not affect
to say that the dog understood the reason for which he
VIS commanded to perform this office in a more gentle
manner than usual ; but that he did understand he was
to do it gently was very evident, for he immediately
mvched away through the water, came gently up to
die side of the sheep, turned her towards the rest, and
tlien they both walked quietly side by side to the
flock. I was scarcely ever more pleased at a trifling
incident in rural scenery than this.

208 ANECDOTES OF D008.

The sense and recollection of the sheep-dog were
shown in the following instance : —

When I occupied a small farm in Surrey^ I was in
the habit of joining with a friend in the purchase of
two hundred Cheviot sheep. The first year we had
them^ the shepherd who drove them from the North
was asked by us how he had got on. ''Why, very
badly/^ said the man; ''for I had a young dog, and
he did not manage well in keeping the sheep from
running up lanes and out-of-the-way places.^' The
next year we had the same number of sheep brought
up, and by the same man. In answer to our question
about his journey, he informed us that he had got on
very well, for his dog had recollected all the turnings
of the road which the sheep had passed the previous
year, and had kept them straight the whole of the
way.

It has always appeared to me that the patriarchal
flocks, the shepherds and their dogs, are seen to more
advantage on the wild hills of Cumberland and West-
morland, than in any other situation. When I have
wandered along the sides of some of the beautiful lakes
of those counties, and have witnessed the effects of
light and shade at different times of the day, on the
water and distant hills and valleys, and seen the nu-
merous sheep scattered over the latter, how delightful
has been the prospect ! During the early morning
the bright beams of the sun did not produce too

TU COLLET^ OB SHEPHEBD^S BOO. 209

madi glare and heat, but served to give a charming
gutter to the dew-drops as they besparkled the grass
and flowers. The tracts of the sheep might be seen
by the disappearance of the ^^ gentle dew '' from their
path as they proceeded to their pasture^ driven by the
vitchfiil colley. It was a scene of cheerfulness^ which
every lover of nature would admire.

In the evening the calmness of the lake was de-
lightful. The Ught hovered over it^ and the reflection
of the trees in the transparent water beautified the
Kene. The beams of the setting sun glowed first over
the valleys^ and then illumined the tops of the hills ;
then gradually disappeared: but the grey tints of
evoiing still had their beauty^ and a diversity of them
VI8 preserved long after the greater efiects of the set-
ting sun had vanished. Deep shade was contrasted
with former splendour^ till at last the lovely moon
Speared with her modest Ught^ and formed a streak
•cross the lake^ which was occasionally broken as a
ifple^ raised by a breeze of the gentlest kind^ passed
o?erit.

While the sun still gleamed on the mountain's side
the shepherd might be observed resting at its foot^
^lile his patient dog ranged about collecting the flock^
and bringing them towards his master.

Dear^ lovely lake! — Never shall I forget your
beauteous scenery. Seated in the cool of the evening
ttnder one of the noble trees on your shoie, \Xi^ witj
foaada I heard were the soft ripple oi t\ieNV^\,ex,«rA

210 ANSCDOTSS OF D008.

the late warbling of the redbreast — Yes^ I forget the
humming beetle as it rapidly passed^ and the owl callmg
to its mate in the distant wood. How peacefdl were
my feelings! —

'* Happy the man whose tranquil mind
Sees Nature in her changes kind,

And pleased the whole snnreys ;
For him the mom benignly smiles,
And evening shades reward the toils

That measure out his days.

The varying year may shift the scene.
The sounding tempest lash the main.

And heaven's own thunder roll ;
Calmly he views the bursting storm,
Tempests nor thunders can deform

The quiet of his soul."— C. B.

Nor is the scenery from the Lakes the only thing
to be admired in this delightful country. Lanes may
be traversed sheltered by the oak^ the ash^ and the hazel|
and only those who have seen the Cumberland hazeb
can form an idea of the beauty of their silvery badL
and luxuriant growth. From these lanes there are
occasional openings^ through which a placid lake or a
distant range of hills may be seen. And what pic-
turesque and rugged hills they are ! Huge^ project-
ing rocks and verdant lawns^ and deep channels of
rugged stone^ over which a foaming torrent forces its
way in the rainy season^ and is succeeded in dry weather
by a sparkling rivulet^ which trickles down to swell a
little brooklet at the ioot oi \\i<&\i^)^ \t ^^irinds its way

THE COLLET; OR SHEPHERD^S DOO. 211

0 the neighbouimg lake. These may be seen^ and the
latches of heather^ and the patient coUey watching for
. signal to ^llect the scattered flock^ dotted^ as it ap-
)ear8 to be^ over the almost inaccessible heights. At
ome distance it is difficult to see the sheep^ at least
yj a stranger, partly on account of the dark colour of
their fleeces (for they have not the whiteness of our
flocks in the midland downs), and partly from the
shadow on the hills. Separated as they are from each
other, as the evening closes in the sagacious dog re-
eeives a hint from his master, and the sheep are
qmckly collected from places to which the shepherd
ooold with difficulty make his way. Snow and frost
tte no check to the labours of the coUey dog. His
oertions are indefatigable, and the only reward he ap-
pears to expect is the approbation of his master.

The following amusing anecdote of a sort of sheep-
dog was communicated to me by its owner. The dog^s
name was Hero. His habits were odd enough, and he
gave many instances of his sagacity. The following
was one of them : —

Hero was in the constant habit of accompanying
^ fjEurm-horses in their daily labour, pacing the
ploughed field regularly aside the team, and returning
vidi them to and from his meals, always taking care
0 scamper home at a certain hour for a more dainty
Knrtion when his mistrq^s dined.

During one of these hasty visits he met a young
romaa, whom he had never seen before, wearing his

212 ANECDOTES OV DOCW.

mistresses cloak. After looking at her with a scmti-
nising cye^ he turned round, and followed her closely,
to her great dismay, to a neighbouring village four
miles off, where the brother of his mistress lived,
and into whose house the woman entered. Probably
concluding from this circumstance that she was a pri*
vilcgcd person, he returned quietly back again. Had
she passed the house, the dog would most probably
have seized the cloak, in order to restore it to hii
mistress.

I trust my readers will begin to feel some intereit
in this sagacious and useful animal, and I will add
one or two more well-authenticated anecdotes of
him.

Captain Brown says that his friend, Mr. Peter
Mucarthur, related to him the following anecdote of a
shcphcrd^s dog, which belonged to his grandfather,
who at that time resided in the Island of Mull:—
Upon one occasion a cow had been missed for some
days, and no trace of it could be found ; and a ahep-
herd's dog, called Drummer, was also absent. On
the H(icond or third day the dog returned, and taldng
Mr. Macarthur^s father by the coat, pulled him towardi
the door, but he did not follow it ; he then went to hii
grandfather, and pulled him in the same way by the
coat, but without being attended to ; he next went to
one of the men-servants, and tugged him also by the
coat. Conceiving at last there was something partieolar
which the dog wanted, they agreed to follow him: thii

THE COLLET^ OR SHEPHBBD^S DOG. 218

nemed to give him great pleasure^ and he ran barking
md frisking before them^ till he led them to a cow-
shed, in the middle of a field. There they found the
oow fixed by the horns to a beam, from which they
immediately extricated her and conducted her home,
much exhausted for want of food. It is obvious, that
but for the sagacity of this faithful animal she certainly
would have died.

Mr. John Cobb, farmer at Tillybimie, parish of
Lethnot, near Brechin, during a severe snow-storm
in the year 1798, had gone with his dog, called Caesar,
to a spot on the small stream of Paphry (a tributary
of the North Esk), where his sheep on such occasions
used to take shelter beneath some lofty and precipitous
locks called Ugly Face, which overhung the stream.
While employed in driving them out, an immense ava-
lanche fell from these rocks, and completely buried him
and his dog. He found all his endeavours to extricate
himself from this fearful situation in vain ; and at last,
worn out, fell asleep. However, his dog had contrived
to work his way out, and returned home next day about
noon. The dog, by whining and looking in the faces
of the family, and afterwards running to the door,
showed that he wished them to follow him ; they ac-
cordingly did so, accompanied by a number of men
provided with spades. He led them to the spot where
his master was, and, after scraping away the snow which
had fallen from the time he had quitted the spot, he
quickly disappeared in the hole by which he had effected

214 ANECDOTES OF POGS.

his escape. They began to dig^ and by nightfall they
found Mr. Cobb quite benumbed^ standing in an up-
right posture ; but as life was not quite extinguished
he was rolled in warm blankets^ and soon recovered.
As may well be conceived^ he felt the greatest ie«
gard for his preserver^ and treated him ever afterwards
with much tenderness. The colley lived to a great
age^ and when he died, his master said it gave him as
much pain as the death of a child; and he would have
buried him in a coffin, had he not thought that hit
neighbours would turn it into ridicale.

A gentleman of my acquaintance had a sheep-dog,
which was generally kept in a yard by the side of his
house in the country. One day a beggar made his
way into the yard armed with a stout stick, with which
he defended himself from the attacks of the dog, who
barked at and attempted to bite him. On the appear-
ance of a servant the dog ceased barking, and watching
his opportunity, he got behind the beggar, snatched
the stick from his hand, and carried it into the road,
where he left it.

A shepherd named Clark, travelling home to Hunt-
Law, parish of Minto, near Jedburgh, with some tibeef,
had occasion to pass through a small village, where he
went into a public-house to take a dram with some
cronies whom he had met on the road, leaving the
sheep in charge of the dog. His friends and he had
indulged in a cracik. {ot ^n^t^ houra^ till he entirely
forgot his drove. In XScL'ft TBJe»si\5safc ^Owsk ^is%>iBd^

THE COLLET; OR SHBPHSRD^S DOO. 215

wearied, and determined to take the sheep home him-
self; « distance of about ten miles. The shepherd^ on
coming to the spot where he had left the animals^
found they were gone^ but knowing well that he might
depend on the fidelity of his dog^ he followed the
straight way to Hunt-Law. On coming to a gateway
which had interrupted their progress^ he perceived the
dog and sheep quietly reposing; and had it not been
for that bar to their course he would have taken them
home. Two miles of their way was by a made road^
and the rest through an open moor.

*'One of the most interesting anecdotes I have
known,'' says Sir Patrick Walker, who related this
anecdote to Captain Brown, and the one which follows,
''relates to a sheep-dog. The names of the parties
kave escaped me just now, but I recollect perfectly
that it came from an authentic source. The circum-
stances were these : — A gentleman sold a considerable
flock of sheep to a dealer, which the latter had not
hands to drive. The seller, however, told him he had
a very intelligent dog, which he would send to assist
him to a place about thirty miles off; and that when
he reached the end of his journey, he had only to feed
the dog, and desire him to go home. The dog accord-
ingly received his orders, and set off with the flock and
the drover ; but he was absent for so many days that
his master began to have serious alarms about him,
when one morning, to his great surprise, \i^iQ»>\\A\b&
dog returned with a very large flock oi ^ee^^mfi^^^^

216 ANECDOTES OF BOOS.

the whole that he had lately sold. The fact turned oat
to be, that the drover was so pleased with the colley
that he resolved to steal him^ and locked him up until
the time when he was to leave the country. The dog
grew sulky^ and made various attempts to escape^ and
one evening he fortunately succeeded. Whether the brute
had discovered the drover's intention^ and supposed the
sheep were also stolen^ it is difficult to say ; but by his
conduct it looked so, for he immediately went to the
field, collected the sheep, and drove them all back to
his master.^'

" A few years ago, when upon a shooting party in
the Braes of Ranoch, the dogs were so worn out as to
be unfit for travel. Our guide said he knew the shep-
herd, who had a dog that perhaps might help us. He
called, and the young man came with his little black
coUey, to which, as soon as he had conversed with the
guide, he said something in Erse. The dog set off in
a sneaking sort of manner up the hill, and, when he
showed any degree of keenness, we hastened to foIloVj
lest he should set up the birds; but the lad advised ni
' to be canny, as it was time eneuch when Lud came back
to tell.' In a short space Lud made his appearance on
a knoll, and sat down, and the shepherd said we might
go up now, for Lud had found the birds. The dog
waited till we were ready, and trotted on at his mas-
ter's command, who soon cautioned us to be on the
alert, for Lud signified n7^ yfete in the midst of the
covey. We imined\ate\Y iovm-fti ^^& ^a ^» ^^fifc ^*fc\

THE COLLET^ OR SHEPHEBd's DOO. 217

and in the coarse of the day the same thiDg occurred
^ipequently/'

The following anecdote will serve to show the
strong affection of the sheep-dog ; I will give it in the
words of a gentleman who witnessed the fact in the
north of England.

''The following instance of canine affection came
under my observation at a farm-steadings where I
happened to be. A oolley belonging to the shepherd
on the farm appeared very restless and agitated : she
frequently sent forth short howls, and moaned as if in
great agony. ' What on earth is the matter with the
dog VI asked. 'Ye see^ sur/ said the shepherd, 'au
drownt a' her whelps i' the pond the day^ and she's
busy greeting for them.' Of course^ I had no ob-
jection to offer to this explanation^ but resolved to
watch her future operations. She was not long in
setting off to the pond and fishing out her offspring.
One strong brindled pup she seemed to lament over the
most. After looking at it for some time, she again
set off at a quick rate to a new house then in the
course of erection, and scooped out a deep hole among
the rubbish. She then^ one by one^ deposited the
remains of her young in it^ and covered them up most
carefully. After she had fulfilled this task^ she resumed
her labours among her woolly charge as usual/'

In the winter of the year 1795, as Mr. Boulstead's
son, of Great Salkeld, in Cumberland, yf^.% ^.tieividsxv^
the sheep of Ma father upon Great SaSk^di C)WSiHvssvi>

218 ANECDOTES OV DOG&.

he had the misfortuDe to fall and break his leg. He
was then at the distance of three miles from home —
there was no chance of any person's coming in so
unfrequented a place within call, and evening was fast
approaching. In this dreadful dilemma, suffering ex-
treme pain from the fracture, and laying upon the
damp ground at so dreary a season of the year, his
fearful situation suggested to him the following expe*
dient. Folding one of his gloves in his pocket-hand-
kerchief, he fastened it round the neck of the dog,
and rather emphatically ordered him 'home/ These
dogs, trained so admirably to orders and signals during
their attendance upon the flock, are well known to be
under the most minute subjection, and to execute the
commands of their masters with an alacrity scarcely to
be conceived.

Perfectly convinced of some inexplicable disquietude
from the situation in which his master lay, he set off
at a pace which soon brought him to the house, where
he scratched with great violence at the door for imme-
diate admittance. This obtained, the parents were in
the utmost alarm and consternation at his appearance,
especially when they had examined the handkerchief
and its contents. Instantly concluding that some
accident had befallen their son, they did not delay a
moment to go in search of him. The dog, apparently
conscious that the principal part of his duty was yet to
be performed, anxiously led the way, and conducted
the agitated parents to \)Ei<b ^^'^X. "vW^ their son lay

THE COLLET^ OB SHEPHERD^S DOG. 219

oveirwhelmed with pain, increased by the awful uncer-
tainty of his situation. Happily he was' removed just
at the close of day ; and the necessary assistance being
procured, he soon recovered. He was never more
pleasingly engaged than when reciting the sagacity
and aflfection of his faithful follower, who then became
his constant companion.

Mr. Hawkes, farmer of Hailing, returning much
intoxicated from Maidstone market, with his dog, when
the whole face of the country was covered with snow,
mistook his path, and passed over a ditch on his right*
hand towards the river ; fortunately he was unable to
get up the bank, or he must have fallen into the Med-
way, at nearly high water. Overcome with the liquor,
Hawkes fell amongst the snow, in one of the coldest
nights ever remembered : turning on his back, he was
soon asleep ; his dog scratched the snow about him, and
then mounted upon the body, rolled himself round, and
laid him on his master's bosom, for which his shaggy
hide proved a seasonable covering. In this state, with
snow falling all the time, the farmer and his dog laj
the whole of the night ; in the morning, a Mr. Finch,
who was out with his gun, perceiving an uncommon
appearance, proceeded towards it ; at his approach, the
dog got off the body, shook the snow from him, and
by significant actions encouraged Mr. Finch to advance.
Upon wiping the snow from the face, the person was
immediately recognised, and was conveyed to the first
house^ when a pulsation in the lieatt \yem^ ^Vvddso^^'^*^

220 ANECDOTES OF D008.

necessary means to recover him were employed^ and in
a short time Hawkes was able to relate his own story.
In gratitude for his faithful friend^ a silver collar was
made for his wearing^ and thus inscribed : —

^* In man, true friendship I long strove to find, but missed mjaiiii;
At length I found it in my dog most kind : man ! blush for sbamSi"

The following tale is copied from the ^'Olasgow
Post:''—

" A few days since^ while Hector Macalister was on
the Aran Hills looking after his sheep, six miles from
home or other habitation, his two coUey dogs started
a rabbit, which ran under a large block of granite.
He thrust his arm under the stone, expecting to catdi
it ; but instead of doing so, he removed the support!
of the block, which instantly came down on his arm,
holding him as fast as a vice. His pain was grett;
but the pangs he felt were greater when he thought of
home, and the death he seemed doomed to die. In
this position he lay from ten in the morning till four
in the afternoon ; when, finding that all his efforts to
extricate himself were unavailing, he tried several timei^
without effect, to get his knife out of his pocket to cot
his arm off.

" His only chance now was to send home his dogSf
with the view of alarming his friends. After mnek
difficulty, as the faithful creatures were most unwiDiDg
to leave him, he succeeded; and Mrs. Macalister
seeing them return alone, took the alarm, and eo

THB COIiUBT^ OB SHJSFHERD^S DOG. 221

kctmg the neighbours^ went in search of her husband^
led on by the fEuthful colleys. When they came to the
^oty poor Macalister was speechless with crying for
assistance. It required five strong men to remove the
block firom his arm.

''A further instance of reason and seK-judgment
was shown in the coUey^ which^ having to collect some
sheep from the sides of a gorge^ through which ran
a morass^ saw one of the animals precipitate itself into
the shifting mass^ where it sank immediately up to the
neck^ leaving nothing but its small black head visible*
The dog looked at the sheep and then at its master
with an embarrassed^ what-shall-I-do kind of expres-
sion; but the latter^ being too far off to notice the
difficulty or to assist^ the dog^ with infinite address^
seized the struggling animal by the neck^ and dragged
it by main force to the dry land^ and then compelled it
to join the fiock he was collecting.^'

The care a sheep-dog will take of the sheep com-
mitted to his charge is extraordinary^ and he will readily
diastise any other dog which happens to molest them.
Col. E^amilton Smith relates that a strange cur one day
bit a sheep in rear of the fiock, unseen by the shepherd.
The assault was committed by a tailor's dog, but not
lumoticed by the other, which immediately seized the
ddmquent by the ear and dragged him into a pud-
dle, where he kept dabbling him in the mud with
tbe utmost gravity. The cur yelled. The tailor came
dipshod with his goose* to the rescue^ and fiung it at

222 ANECDOTES OT DOOfl.

the sheep-dog^ but missed him^ and did not ventnre to
pick it up till the castigation was over.

And here I cannot do better than introduce Dr.
Walcot's (Peter Pindar) charming lines on " The Old
Shepherd's Dog:'' —

'' The old shepherd's dog, like his master, wu grey,
His teeth all departed, and feeble his tongue;
Yet where'er Corin went be was followed by Tray:
Thus happy through life did they bobble along.

When fatigued on the grass the shepherd would lie
For a nap in the sun, 'midst his slumbers so iweet
His faithful companion crawl'd constantly nigh,
Placed his head on his lap, or laid down at his fiset.

When winter was heard on the hill and the plain.
When torrents descended, and cold was the wind ;
If Corin went forth 'mid the tempest and rain,
Tray scom'd to be left in the chimney behind.

At length, in the straw. Tray made his last bed —
For vain against death is the stoutest endeavour —
To lick Corin's hand he rear'd up his weak head,
Then fell back, closed his eyes, and ah ! closed them finreiv*

Not long after Tray did the shepherd remain.
Who oft o'er his grave with true sorrow would bend;
And when dying, thus feebly was heard the poor swain,
' O bury me, neighbours, beside my old firiend ! '

tt

There can be little doubt but that the dog I hsve
been describing is possessed of almost human sagacity*
The following is an extraordinary instance of it. It ii
related by Dr. Anderson: —

A young farmer m \ii^ xi^saj^^s^ws^K^tM^AL A "NaaB^

THE COLLEY^ OR SHEFHERD^S BOG. 228

leithen^ whose circumstances were supposed to be goqd^
and who was connected with many of the best store-
farming families in the county^ had been tempted to
commit some extensive depredations upon the flocks of
his neighbours^ in which he was assisted by his shep-
herd. The pastoral farms of Tweeddale, which gene-
rally consist each of a certain range of hilly ground^
had in those days no enclosures: their boundaries
were indicated only by the natural features of the
country. The sheep were, accordingly, liable to wan-
der, and to become intermixed with each other ; and at
every reckoning of a flock a certain allowance had to
be made for this, as for other contingencies. For some
time Mr. William Gibson, tenant in Newby, an exten-
sive farm stretching from the neighbourhood of Peebles
to the borders of Selkirkshire, had remarked a sur-
prising increase in the amount of his annual losses.
He questioned his shepherds severely, taxed them with
carelessness in picking up and bringing home the dead,
and plainly intimated that he conceived some unfair
dealing to be in progress. The men, finding them-
selves thus exposedrto suspicions of a very painful kind,
were as much chagrined as the worthy farmer himself,
and kept their minds alive to every circumstance which
might tend to afford any elucidation of the mystery.
One day, while they were summering their lambs, the
eye of a very acute old shepherd, named Hyslop, was
caught by a black-faced ewe which they had formerly
missed (for the shepherds generaWj 'kiiO\9 ^n^t^ ^<»s^c^-

224 ANECDOTES OF BOOS.

cular member of their flocks)^ and which was now
suckling its own lamb as if it had never been absent
On inspecting it carefully, it was found to bear an ad^
ditional bim upon its face. Every farmer^ it most be
mentioned^ impresses with a hot iron a particular letter
upon the faces of his sheep^ as a means of distinguish-
ing his own from those of his neighbours. Mr. 63)-
son^s bim was the letter T^ and this was found dis-
tinctly enough impressed on the face of the ewe. Bat
above this mark there was an 0^ which was known to
be the mark of the tenant of Wormiston^ the individnsl
already mentioned. It was immediately suspected tbt
this and the other missing sheep had been abstracted
by that person; a suspicion which derived strength
from the reports of the neighbouring shepherds^ bj
whom^ it appeared^ the black-faced ewe had bea
tracked for a considerable way in a direction leading
from Wormiston to Newby. It was indeed ascertained
that instinctive affection for her lamb had led this
animal across the Tweedy and over the lofty heights
between Cailzic and Newby; a route of very con-
siderable difficulty^ and probably quite different firoo
that by which she had been led away^ but the nxMt
direct that could have been taken. Mr. Gibson only
Ht(>pp(;d to obtain the concurrence of a neighbooring
farmer^ whose losses had been equally great^ befoR
])r()ce(;ding with some of the legal authorities to Wor-
miston, where Millar the shepherd, and his mastCTj
were taken into cu^toOi^, Wi^ w«sAajAR^\ft

THE COLLET^ OB SHEPHERB's BOG. 225

of Peebles. On a searcli of the farm^ no fewer than
thirty-three score of sheep belonging to various indi-
viduals were founds all bearing the condemnatory 0
above the original bims; and it was remarked that
there was not a single ewe returned to Grieston, the
farm on the opposite bank of the Tweedy which did
not minny her lambs — that is^ assume the character
of mother towards the offspring from which she had
been separated.

The magnitude of this crime, the rareness of such
offences in the district, and the station in life of at least
one of the offenders, produced a great sensation in
Tweeddale, and caused the elicitation of every minute
circumstance that could possibly be discovered respect-
ing the means which had been employed for carrying
on such an extensive system of depredation. The most
surprising part of the tale is the extent to which it ap-
pears that the instinct of dumb animals had been
instrumental, both in the crime and in its detection.
While the farmer seemed to have deputed the business
chiefly to his shepherd^ the shepherd seemed to have
deputed it again, in many instances, to a dog of extra-
ordinary sagacity, which served him in his customary
and lawful business. This animal, which bore the
name of "Yarrow,'^ would not only act under his
immediate direction in cutting off a portion of a flock,
and bringing it home to Wormiston, but is said to have
been able to proceed solitarily, and by night, to a sheep-
walk, and there detach certain ixidi\\d\]La\<& Y^^^^^

226 ANECDOTES OF DOOS.

pointed out by its master^ which it would drive home
by secret ways^ without allowing one to straggle. It
is mentioned that^ while returning home with their
stolen droves^ they avoided^ even in the nighty the roads
along the banks of the river^ or those that descend to
the valley through the adjoining glens. They chose
rather to come along the ridge of mountains that sepa-
rate the small river Leithen from the Tweed. But evea
here there was sometimes danger^ for the shepherds
occasionally visit their flocks even before day; and
often when Millar had driven his prey from a distance,
and while he was yet miles from home^ and the
weather-gleam of the eastern hills began to be tinged
with the brightening dawn^ he has left them to the
charge of his dog^ and descended himself to the banks
of the Leithen^ off his way^ that he might not be seen
connected with their company. Yarrow, although be-
tween three and four miles from his master, would con-
tinue, with care and silence, to bring the sheep onward
to Wormiston, where his master's appearance could be
neither a matter of question nor surprise.

Near to the thatched farmhouse was one of those
old square towers, or peel-houses, whose picturesque
ruins were then seen ornamenting the course of the
Tweed, as they had been placed alternately along the
north and south bank, generally from three to six
hundred yards from it — sometimes on the shin, and
sometimes in the hollow of a hill. In the vault of this
tower it was the practice of these men to conceal the

THE COLLET^ OR SHEFHERD^S DOG. 227

sheep they had recently stolen ; and while the rest of
their people were absent on Sunday at the churchy they
used to employ themselves in cancelling with their
knives the ear-marks^ and impressing with a hot iron a
large O upon the face^ that covered both sides of the
animal's nose^ for the purpose of obliterating the
brand of the true owner. While his accomplices were
so busied^ Yarrow kept watch in the open air^ and gave
notice^ without fail^ by his barkings of the approach of
strangers.

The farmer and his servant were tried at Edinburgh
in January 1773, and the proceedings excited an extra-
ordiiiary interest^ not only in the audience^ but amongst
the legal officials. Hyslop^ the principal witness^ gave
M> many curious particulars respecting the instincts of
iheep^ and the modes of distinguishing them both by
oatural and artificial marks^ that he was highly compli-
tnented by the bench. The evidence was so complete,
diat both culprits were found guilty and expiated their
crime on the scafibld.

The general tradition is, that Yarrow was also put
to death, though in a less ceremonious manner ; but
this has probably no other foundation than a jeu
tetpritf which was cried through the streets of Edin-
burgh as his dying speech. We have been informed
that the dog was in reality purchased, after the execu-
tion of Millar, by a sheep-farmer in the neighbourhood,
but did not take kindly to honest courses, and his new
cnaster having no- work of a difierent kind in which to

228 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

engage him^ he was remarked to show rather less
sagacity than the ordinary shepherd's dog.

An instance of shrewd discrimination in the shep-
herd's dog^ almost as remarkable as that of poor
Yarrow^ was mentioned a few years ago in a Greenock
newspaper. In the course of last summer^ says the
narrator^ it chanced that the sheep on the farm of a
friend of oors^ on the water of Stinchar^ were, hke
those of his neighbours^ partially affected with that
common disease, maggots in the skin, to cure which
distemper it is necessary to cut off the wool over the
part affected, and apply a small quantity of tobacco
juice, or some other liquid. For this purpose the
shepherd set off to the hill one morning, accompanied
by his faithful canine assistant, Ladie. Arrived among
the flock, the shepherd pointed out a diseased animal;
and making the accustomed signal for the dog to cap-
ture it, "poor Mailie" was speedily sprawling on her
back, and gently held down by the dog till the arrival
of her keeper, who proceeded to clip off a portion of
her wool, and apply the healing balsam. During the
operation, Ladie continued to gaze on the operator with
close attention ; and the sheep having been released, he
was directed to capture in succession two or three more
of the flock, which underwent similar treatment. The
sagacious animal had now become initiated into the
mysteries of his master's vocation, for off he set unbid-
den through the flock, and picked out with unerring
precision those aheeip N?\iid[i -^eca effected with mag-

THE COLLET^ OR BHEFHERD^S BOG. 229

goU in their skiii^ and held them down nntil the
arrival of his master; who was thus^ by the extraor-
dinary instinct of Ladie^ saved a world of trouble^
while the operation of chpping and smearing was also
greatly facilitated.

Often as I have attempted to make acquaintance
with a colley-dog^ I have never been able to succeed in
producing any degree of familiarity. On the contrary,
he has always regarded me with looks of shyness and
suspicion. His master appears to be the only being
to whom he is capable of showing any degree of at-
tachment ; and coiled up on his great-coat, or reposing
at his feet, he eyes a stranger with distrust, if not
with anger. At the same time there is a look of
eitraordinary intelligence, which perhaps is possessed
by no other animal in a greater degree. It has been
said of him, that although he has not the noble port
of the Newfoundland dog, the affectionate fondling
cf the spaniel, nor the fierce attachment which renders
the mastiff so efficient a guard, yet he exceeds them all
in readiness and extent of intelligence, combined with a
d^ree of dociUty unequalled, perhaps, by any other
uiimal in existence. There is, if the expression may
be osed^ a philosophic look about him, which shows
thought^ patience, energy, and vigilance. During a
recent visit in Cumberland, I took some pains to make
myself acquainted with the character of this dog, and
I am now convinced that too much cannot be said of
his wonderful properties. He protects with indefatigable

280 AJTECBOTES OF DOGS.

exertions the flock committed to his charge. When we
consider the dreary wilds^ the ahnost inaccessible
heights^ the rugged hills and lofty mountains to which
sheep have access^ and to which man could scarcely
penetrate — that some sheep will stray and intermix
with other flocks — that the dog knows the extent of
his walk as well as every individual of his flock^ and
that he will select his own as well as drive away
intruders, we must admit his utility and admire 111.
sagacity.

Let me give another instance of this in the words
of the Ettrick Shepherd. It was related to me by
himselfj, and has since been published in the ''Percy
Anecdotes.''

" I once witnessed a very singular feat performed
by a dog belonging to John Graham^ late tenant in
Ashiesteel. A neighbour came to his house after it
was dark^ and told him that he had lost a sheep on
his farm^ and that if he (Graham) did not secure her in
the morning early^ she woidd be lost^ as he bsd
brought her far. John said he could not possibly get
to the hill next mornings but if he would take him to
the very spot where he lost the sheep^ perhaps his dog
Chieftain would find her that night. On that they
went away with all expedition^ lest the traces of the
feet should cool; and I^ then a boy^ being in the
house^ went with them. The night was pitch daiki
which had been the cause of the man losing his ewe;,
and at length he pointed out a place to John by the

THE COLLEY^ OR SHEPHERD's DOO. 231

side of the water where he had lost her. ^ Chieftain,
fetch that ! * said John. ' Bring her back, sir ! ^ The
dog jumped around and around, and reared himself
up on end ; but not being able to see anything, evi-
dently misapprehended his master, on which John feU
to scolding his dog, calling it a great many hard names.
He at last told the man that he must point out the
very track that the sheep went, otherwise he had no
chance of recovering it. The man led him to a grey
stone, and said he was sure she took the brae (hill
side) within a yard of that. ^ Chieftain, come hither
to my foot, you great numb'd whelp 1 ^ said John.
Chieftain came — John pointed with his finger to the
ground, ^ Fetch that, I say, sir — bring that back —
away 1 ' The dog scented slowly about on the ground
for some seconds, but soon began to mend his pace,
and vanished in the darkness. ^ Bring her back ! ^ —
away, you great calf 1 ' vociferated John, with a voice
of exultation, as the dog broke to the hill ; and as all
these good dogs perform their work in perfect silence,
we neither saw nor heard any more of him for a long
time. I think, if I remember right, we waited there
about half an hour, during which time all the conversa-
tion was about the small chance which the dog had to
find the ewe, for it was agreed on all hands that she
must long ago have mixed with the rest of the sheep
on the farm. How that was, no man will ever be
able to decide. John, however, still persisted in wait-
ing until hiB dog came back, eitliei mWi ^^ ^^^ ^"^

232 ANECDOTES OF ]>008.

without her. At last the trusty animal brought the
individual lost sheep to our very feet^ which the man
took on his back^ and went on his way rejoicing/'

The care the shepherds of the north of England
take in preserving a pure breed of these dogs is very
great^ and the value set upon them is proportionably
high. Nor must the shepherds themselves be passed
over without notice. They are a shrewdy sagacious set
of men^ many of them by no means uneducated^ as is
the case generally with the peasantry in the north d
England. Indeed^ it is from this class that many
scholars and mathematicians have done so much credit,
and I may add honour^ to the counties of Cumberland
and Westmoreland. An anecdote is related of a shep-
herd^ who was found by a gentleman attending hii
flock, and reading a volume of Milton. ^^What are
you reading?^' asked the gentleman. '^Why," re-
plied the shepherd, " I am reading an odd sort of a
poet ; he would fain rhyme, but does not quite luKW
how to set about it.^^

The valleys, or glens, which intersect the Grampian
mountains, are chiefly inhabited by shepherds. Hie
pastures over which each flock is permitted to range
extend many miles in every direction. The shepherd
never has a view of his whole flock at once, except when
they are collected for sale or shearing. His occapa-
tion is to make daily excursions to the different ex-
tremities of his pastures in succession, and to tun
back, by means of Ids dog, any stragglers that may be

THE COLLET^ OB SHEPHERD^S BOO. 238

approaching the boundaries of his neighbours. In one
of these excursions^ a shepherd happened to carry
along with him one of his children^ about three years
old. This is a usual practice among the Highlanders^
who accustom their children from their earliest infancy
to endure the rigours of the climate. After traversing
his pasture for some time^ attended by his dog^ the
shepherd found himself under the necessity of ascend-
ing a sTimmit at some distance^ in order to have a
more extensive view of his range. As the ascent was
too fatiguing for the child^ he left him on a small
plain at the bottom, with strict injunctions not to stir
froxn, it tUl his return. Scarcely, however, had he
gained the summit, when the horizon was suddenly
darkened by one of those impenetrable mists which
frequently descend so rapidly amidst these mountains^
as almost to turn day into nighty and that in the course
of a few minutes. The anxious father instantly has-
tened back to find his child^ but^ owing to the unusual
darkness^ he missed his way in the descent. After a
search of many hours amongst the dangerous morasses
and cataracts with which these mountains abound^ he
was at length overtaken by night. Still wandering on
without knowing whither^ he at length came to the
verge of the mist^ and^ by the light of the moon^ dis-
covered that he had reached the bottom of his valley^
and was within a short distance of his cottage. To
renew the search that night was equally fruitless and
dangerous. He was^ therefore, obU^^&di \x^ xcX?oxa\s^\£i&

234 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

cottage^ having lost both his child and his dog, who
had attended him faithfully for years.

Next morning by daybreak^ the shepherd, accom-
panied by a band of his neighbours, set out in search
of the child, but, after a day spent in firuitless taXigOBf
he was at last compelled, by the approach of night, to
descend from the mountain. On returning to his
cottage he found that the dog, which he had lost the
day before, had been home, and on receiving a piece of
cake, had instantly gone o£f again. For several soe-
cessive days the shepherd renewed the search for hii
child, but still, on returning at evening disappointed to
his cottage, he found that the dog had been hom^ aodi
on receiving his usual allowance^ of cake, had instandy
disappeared. Struck with this circumstance, he re-
mained at home one day, and when the dog, as nraal,
departed with his piece of cake, he resolved to folloir
him, and find out the cause of his strange procedure.
The dog led the way to a cataract, at some distance
from the spot where the shepherd had left his child.
The banks of the cataract almost joined at the top, yet
separated by an abyss of immense depth, presenting
that appearance which so often astonishes and appab
travellers who frequent the Grampian Mountains, and
indicates that these stupendous chasms were not the
silent work of time, but the sudden effect of some
violent convulsion of the earth. Down one of theie
rugged and almost perpendicular descents, Ae dog
began, without hesitation, to make his way, and at last

THE COLLET^ OR SHEFHERD^S DOG. 235

distppeared into a cave^ the moutli of which was almost
on a level with the torrent. The shepherd with some
difficolty followed, but upon entering the cave, what
were his emotions when he beheld his lost child eating
with mnch satisfaction the cake which the dog had just
brought to him, while the faithful animal stood by,
eyeing his young charge with the utmost complacence.

From the situation in which the child was found,
it appears that he had wandered to the brink of the
precipice, and then either fallen or scrambled down till
he reached the cave, which the dread of the torrent had
probably prevented him from quitting. The dog had
traced him to the spot, and afterwards prevented him
from starving by giving up to him the whole, or the
greater part of his own daily allowance. He appears
never to have quitted the child by night or day, except
when it was necessary to go for food, and then he was
always seen running at full speed to and from the
cottage.

This extraordinary and interesting anecdote is taken
from the "Monthly Magazine '^ of April, 1802, and bears
every appearance of authenticity. It affords an instance
of the sense, affection, and self-denial of a faithful
animal, and is recorded to his honour, and as an ex-
ample to the whole race of human beings.

Mr. Daniel, in the Supplement to his "Rural Sports,'*
gives the following account of the shepherds' dogs in

286 AW ECDOTES OF voon.

Nurili WalcH. He nfiyn, ^'Tlie sheep in thin oonntry
am llic arici(;rjt Alpine nort, (how excellent the mutton
in I) and that rom their varying rncnle of life tbcj
aHKurne very different habitH to the nbeep of an inland
eotiniry, while thoMe of the nhepherdis' df>gN are no lew
eijnHjiicuoiJH. The exaJlency of theMe animalii renden
Nhe^;p-IK;nH in a great degr^; ijnnec<;fMary. IfaHhep-
herd wiMhcfH to inH[K!Ct bin ito<:k in a cumory way, be
pla<;eH biniMelf in the middle of the field, or the piece of
ground they are depasturing, and giving a whiatleori
uliout^ the dogH and the Hh<^p are fsqtially oliedient to
the Kound, and draw towards the shepherd, and are Icept
within reaidi by one or more dogs, until the bunrnw
which required th(;m to br; aHw;mbled is finished* In
such estimation was this bre<^ of dogs, when cattk
c^Histiliiied one of the grand sources of w<»lth to the
country, that in the laws of Ilywell i>da, the legal priee
of one pr;rfe(;tly broken in for conducting the il'jcks or
herds t^^ or from their pasturage, was equal to thit
of an ox, vi^ sixty denarii, while the price of the
house-dog was estimati;d at only four, which was the
value of a she^^p. If any doubt arose as to the
genuineness of the breed, or bis having Ijcen patt$'
rally trained, th(;n the owner and a neigblxiur were to
mak(; oath that he went with the flocks or herds in the
morning, and drove them, with the stragglers, home in
the evening/'

I delight in seeing a shepherd's dog in full actifityi

THE COLLET^ OR SHEFHERD^S DOO. 287

•

anxious to obey the directions of his master. He rons
with his utmost speedy encompassing a large space of
open country in a short time^ and brings those sheep
that are wanted to the feet of his master. Indeed the
natural talents and sagacity of this dog are so great^
partly by being the constant companion of his master^
and partly by education^ that he may almost be con-
sidered a rational being. Mr. Smellie says, '^ that he
reigns at the head of his flock, and that his languagCy
whether elxpressive of blandishment or of conffnand, is
better heard and better understood than the voice of his
master. Safety, order, and discipline are the effects of
his vigilance and activity. Sheep and cattle are his
subjects. These he conducts and protects with prudence
and bravery, and never employs force against them,
except for the preservation of peace and good order.
He not only understands the language of his master,
but, when too distant to be heard, he knows how to act
by signals made with the hand.^^ How well Delille
describes this faithful animal ! —

'* Aimable autant qu'utile,
Superbe et caressant, courageux et docile,
Form^ pour le condoire et pour le proteger.
Du troupeau qu'il gouverne il est le vrai berger ;
Le Ciel Ta fait pour nous ; et dans leur cours rustique,
II fiit des rois pasteurs le premier domestique.^'

Mr. Charles Darwin, in his interesting travels in
South America, informs us, that when riding it is a

238 ANECDOTES OF D008.

common thing to meet a large flock of sheep^ guarded
by one or two dogs, at the distance of some miles from
any house or man. He often wondered how so firm a
friendship had been established, till he found that the
method of education consisted in separating the puppy,
while very young, from the mother, and in accustoming
it to its future companions. In order to do this, a ewe is
held three or four times a-day for the little thing to
suck, and a nest of wool is made for it in the sheep-pen.
At no time is it allowed to associate with other dogs, or
with the children of the family. From this educatimii
it has no wish to leave the flock, and just as another
dog will defend his master, so will these the sheep. It
is amusing to observe, when approaching a flock, how
the dog immediately advances barking, and the sheep
all close in his rear, as if round the oldest ram. These
dogs are also easily taught to bring home the flock at a
certain hour in the evening. Their most troublesome
fault, when young, is their desire of playing with the
sheep ; for, in their sport, they sometimes gallop their
poor subjects most unmercifully. The shepherd dog
comes to the house every day for some meat, and
immediately it is given him he skulks away as if
ashamed of himself. On these occasions the house-
dogs are very tyrannical, and the least of them will
attack and pursue the stranger. The minute, however,
the latter has reached the flock, he turns round and
begins to bark, and then all the house-dogs take very

TBI COLL£T, OB BHEFBERS B C

quietly to their heels. In a simOar manner, a whole
pack pf hungry wild dogs will scarcely ever venture to
attack a flock when under the protection of even one of
these fiiithful shepherds.

THE ST. BERNARD DOG.

" Thrill loaiul) ftre broking o'er tlw ttutled ttx.
The shriak of •gony, the cry of fear j —
And the ud tones of childhood in diitreu,
Are echoing tbroagh the inov-cUd wildemMi!
And who the fint to waken to the nund,
And (juicklf down the icy pnth to bound ;
To dare tho dtorm with aniiotu itep uul gnTOi
The firat to aniver and the flnt to §m J—
'Til he — Che bravo nld dog, who many a day
Hath tSTed loat wand'ren in thiit dreary way t
And now, with head clnu cmached along Ih* gnu
If watching eagerly each coming lonnd.
Sudden lie atirtu — the ccy in near —
On, galUnt Bruno !— know no fear I
On !— (or fl»l crj mttj \it ttit\»it.
And humnn We "w tWiiw^ (wX \

THE ST. BERNARD DOG. 241

And now he hurries on with heaving side,
Dashing the snow from off its shaggy hide ; —
He nears the child ! — he hears his gasping sighs,
And, with a tender care, he bears away the prize. '^

Mrs. Houstoun.

Sir Walter Scott said that lie would believe anything
cf a St. Bernard dog. Their natural sagacity is, indeed,
so sharpened by long practice and careful training, that
a sort of language is established between them and the
good monks of St. Bernard, by which mutual com-
munications are made, such as few persons living in
situations of less constant and severe trials can have
any just conceptions of. When we look at the extra-
ordinary sagacity of the animal, his great strength, and
his instinctive faculties, we shall feel convinced how
admirably he is adapted to fulfil the purpose for which
he is chiefly employed, — that of saving lives in snow-
storms.

The peculiar faculty of the St. Bernard dogs is
shown by the curious fact, that if a whelp of this breed
is placed upon snow for the first time, it will begin to
scratch it, and sniff about as if in search of something.
When they have been regularly trained, they are gene-
rally sent out in pairs during heavy snow-storms in
search of travellers, who may have been overwhelmed
by the snow. In this way they pass over a great extent
of country, and by the acuteness of their scent discover
if any one is buried in the snowdrift. When it is con-
sidered that Mount St. Bernard is situated about 8000
feet above the level of the sea, and that it is the highest

242 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

habitable spot in Europe, and that the road which
passcH across it is constantly traversed^ the great utility
of the dogs is sufficiently manifest. Neither is tbc
kindness^ charity, and hospitality of the good monh
less to be admired than the noble qualities of tbeie
dogs.

" Under every circumstance/' says Mr.^BrockedoDi
'' in which it is possible to render assistance, the worthy
rcligicuscs of St. Bernard set out upon their fearful
duty unawed by the storm, and obeying a higher
Power ; they seek the exhausted or overwhelmed tri^
veller, accompanied by their dogs, whose sagacity will
generally detect the victim though buried in the snow.
The dogK, alHO^ as if conscious of a high duty, will
roam alone through the day and night in these desolate
rcgion.s, and if they diHcover an exhausted traveller will
lie on him to impart wannth, and bark and howl for
assiHtance/'*

M r. MathewH, in his " Diary of an Invalid,'' givei
this testimony in praise of the inmates of St. Bernard.
" The approach/' he says, " to the convent for the lait

* '' SometimeH the members or dometiticH of the convent hmve ben
KuffcrcrH in their effortH to Have othen. On the 17th of Deeenber,
1K25, three dorneKticH of the convent with two dog^ descended to the
vacheric, on the PiedrnonteHe (side of the mountain, and were retoniiiig
with a traveller, when an avalannhe overwhelmed them. All periihed
except one of the do^H, which escaped by itu prodigioua stren^, tfter
having been thrown over and over. Of the poor victims, nonevcft
found until the Know of the avalanche liad melted in the retnniDf
Kummer, when the firnt was discovered on the 4th of June, and tk
laiit on the 7th of July."

THE ST. BERNARD DOG. 248

hoar of the ascent is steep and difficult. The convent
is not seen till you arrive within a few hundred yards of
it; when it breaks upon the view all at once^ at a turn in
the rock. Upon a projecting crag near it stood one of
the celebrated dogs, baying at our advance, as if to give
notice of strangers. These dogs are of a large si2e,
particularly high upon the legs, and generally of a milk
white, or of a tabby colour. They are most extra-
ordinary creatures, if all the stories the monks tell of
them are true. They are used for the purpose of search-
ing for travellers who may be buried in the snow ; and
many persons are rescued annually from death by their
means. During the last winter, a traveller arrived at
the convent in the midst of a snow-storm, having been
compelled to leave his wife, who was unable to proceed
further, at about a quarter of a mile^s distance. A
party of the monks immediately set out to her Assistance,
and found her completely buried under the snow. The
sagacity of the dogs alone was the cause of her de-
liverance, for there was no risible trace, and it is difficult
to understand how the scent can be conveyed through
a deep covering of snow.

'' It is stated that the monks themselves, when out
upon search for travellers, have frequently owed their
preservation to their dogs, in a manner which would
seem to show that the dogs are endued with a presen-
timent of danger.

" Many stories of this kind have been told^ and I
was anxious to ascertain their tt\x\\i. '^V^ tms^^

244 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

stated two or three cases where the dogs had actualljr
prevented them from returning to the convent by their
accustomed route^ when it afterwards turned out^ that
if they had not followed the guidance of their dog in
his deviation, they would have been overwhelmed by an
avalanche. Whether the dog may be endued with an
intuitive foreboding of danger, or whether he may have
the faculty of detecting symptoms not perceptible to cor
duller senses, must be deteimined by philosophers/'

That dogs and other animals, especially elephants,
have this faculty, cannot be doubted. There is an in-
stance on record of a dog having, by his importunity
and peculiar gestures, induced his mistress to quit a
washhousc in which she was at work, the roof of which ,
fell in almost immediately afterwards. Dogs have been
known to give the alarm of fire, by howling and other
signs, before it was perceived by any of the inmates
of the house. Their apprehension of danger is
indeed very acute and very extraordinary, and may
serve to account for and prove the accuracy of what has
]>ecn stated respecting the instinct of the St. Bemaid
dogs.

These dogs, however, do not always escape bemg
overwhelmed by a sudden avalanche, which fallsy as is
most usual, in the spring of the year. Two of the
domestics of the convent, with two or three dogs, were
(iscorting some travellers, and were lost in an avalanche.
One of the prcdeceaaox^ o? tkeae dogs, an intelligent
aniirm], which had served \\ve \iQ«^\\A W "Ccais^^m.^.

THE St. BERNARD DOG. 245

twelve years, had, duiing that time, saved the lives of
many individuals. Whenever the mountain was enve-
kped in fogs and snow, he set out in search of lost
travellers. He was accustomed to run barking until he
kwt his breath, and would frequently venture on the
most perilous places. When he found his strength was
insufficient to draw from the snow a traveller benumbed
with cold, he would run back to the hospital in search
of the monks.

One day this interesting animal found a child in a
frozen state between the Bridge of Drouaz and the Ice-
house of Balsora. He immediately began to lick him,
and having succeeded in restoring animation, and the
perfect recovery of the boy, by means of his caresses, he
induced the child to tie himself round his body. In
this way he carried the poor little creature, as if in
triumph, to the hospital. When old age deprived him
of strength, the prior of the convent pensioned him at
Berne by way of reward. He is now dead, and his
body stuffed and deposited in the museum of that town.
The little phial, in which he carried a reviving liquor
for the distressed travellers whom he found among the
mountains, is still suspended from his neck.

The story of this dog has been often told, but it
cannot be too frequently repeated. Its authenticity
is well established, and it affords another proof of the
utility and sense of the St. Bernard dogs. Neither can
the benevolence of the good monfe \ie \.oo \i\^s^^
praised. To those accustomed to behold t\ve\\^\\.»N-^sv^^

246 ANECDOTES OF D008.

of man, surrounded by flowery gardens, green and
pleasing meadows^ rivulets winding and sparkling over
their pebbly bottoms, and groves in which songsten
haunt and warble, the sight of a large monastery,
situated on a gigantic eminence, with clouds roUing at
its foot, and encompassed only by beds of ice and snow,
must be awfully impressive. Yet amidst these boand-
Icss Libyrinths of rugged glens and precipices, in the
very rudest seasons, as often as it snows or the weather
is foggy, do some of those benevolent persons go forth,
with long poles, guided by their sagacious dogs. In
this way they seek the high road, which these animals,
with their instinctive faculty, never miss, how difficult
soever to find. If an unfortunate traveller has sunk
beneath the force of the falling snows, or should he
immersed among them, the dogs never fail to find the
place of his interment, which they point out by scratch-
ing^ and snufEng ; when the sufferer is dug out, and
carried to the monastery, where means are used for
his recovery.

The Count de Monte Veccios had a St. Bernard
dog, which, as his master always had reported, could
understand whatever he said to him ; and the following
short account deserves to be recorded, as it at once
indicates memory, compassion, love, gratitude, and re-
sentment in the faithful animal, even if we do not
allow it to make good his master's opinion. The atory
is this : —

The Count had served long in the wars, and alwsyi

THI «T. BERNABD DOG. 247

had this fidthful attendant with him. The republic of
Venice had been signally indebted to his courage^ but
had not rewarded him. He had a favour to ask of the
then General Morosini ; and as that commander was a
man of singular pride and arrogance, he was obliged to
wait a favourable opportunity of presenting his suit.
One day when the General himself had a favour to ask
of the Doge (who was a person of high elegauce, and
celebrated for his love of expensive entertainments), he
laid out half his fortune on a cold collation, to which
he had invited the Doge, to put him in humour for his
rait. Thinking this the most suitable time for his
purpose, as he who was about to ask a favour for
himself would hardly at that instant deny one to
another, the Count went to him some hours before
the Doge was expected, and was graciously received in
the room where the table was prepared. Here he
began to make his court to the General, by praising
the elegance and pomp of the preparation, which
consisted of many thousands of finely-cut vessels of
Venetian glass, filled with the richest sweetmeats
and cold provisions, and disposed on fine tables, all
covered with one vast cloth, with a deep gold fringe,
which swept the ground. The Count said a thou-
sand fine things about the elegance and richness of
the dessert, and particularly admired the profusion of
expense in the workmanship of the crystal and the
weight of the gold fringe. Thus far he was very
courteously treated ; and the lord of the feast pompously

248 . ANECDOTES OF DOGS,

told him that all the workmen in Venice had been M
a year employed about them. From this he proceeded
to the business of his suit ; but this met with a very
diflferent reception, and was not only refused, but the
denial attended with very harsh language. The Count
was shocked at the ill-nature of the. General, and went
away in a very melancholy mood. As he went out, he
patted his dog upon the head, and, out of the fhheH
of his heart, said to him with an afflicted air, " Tu wit,
mon ami, comme Von nous traite, — You see, my friend,
how I am used.^^ The dog looked up wistfully in hit
face, and returned him an answer with his tears. He
accompanied him till he was at some distance from the
GeneraPs, when, finding him engaged in company, he
took that opportunity of leaving him with people who
might justify him if accused. Upon which the do(
returning back to the house of the haughty officer,
entered the great room, and taking hold of the gold
tassel at one of the comers of the cloth, ran forciUj
back, and drew after him the whole preparation, which .,
in a moment lay strewed on the ground in a vast beip
of broken glasses ; thus revenging his master's quand,
and ensuring as unexpected a reception to the Genenl'i
requests as the latter had given to those of the
Count.

One of the St. Bernard dogs, named Barry, had »
medal tied round his neck as a badge of honourable
distinction, for he had saved the lives of forty perKHii'
He at length died nobly in his vocation. In tlw winter

THE ST. BERNARD DOO. 249

of 1816^ a Piedmbntese courier arrived at St. Bernard
on a very stormy day, labouring to make his way to the
little village of St. Pierre, in the valley beneath the
mountain, where his wife and children lived. It was
in vain that the monks attempted to check his resolu-
tion to reach his family. They at last gave him two
guides, each of whom was accompanied by a dog, one
of which was the remarkable creature whose services
lad been so valuable. They set forth on their way
down the mountain. In the mean time the anxious
family of the poor courier, alarmed at his long absence,
iDommenced the ascent of the mountain, in hopes of
meeting him, or obtaining some information respecting
him. Thus at the moment he and his guides were de-
wending, his family were toiling up the icy steep,
crowned with the snows of ages. A sudden crackling
noise was heard, and then a thundering roar echoing
tirough the Alpine heights — and all was still. Courier,
wd guides, and dogs, and the courier^s family, were
it the same moment overwhelmed by one common
Jestraction — not one escaped. Two avalanches had
>roken away from the mountain pinnacles, and swept
nth impetuous force mto the valley below.

TIIK BLOODHOUND.

" ]li> muffling noae, hii Kctiie tail,
Atti^Ht his j<i<r : then with deep oji'Dlng mouth.
Thnt makpH th« wiilkin tremble, be proclums
Th' ludiriiint felon ; foot by foot be mirki
Ilia winding my, vhile all Ibe Uatening crowd
Applaud hit msonitigi. O'er the wuoT fiird,

THE BLOODHOUND. 251

Dry sandy heaths, and stony barren hills,

O'er beaten paths, with men and beasts distain'd,

Unerring he pursues ; till at the cot

ArrivM, and seizing by his guilty throat

The caitiflf vile, redeems the captive prey:

So exquisitely delicate his sense ! '* — Someryille.

These noble dogs were also called " Slough dogs/^ in
consequence of their exploring the sloughs, mosses, and
bogs, in pursuit of offenders, called Moss-troopers.
They were used for this purpose as late as the reign of
James the First. In Scotland they are called the
Sleuth-hound. It is the largest of any variety of
hound, some of them having measured from twenty-six
to twenty-eight inches to the top of the shoulder.
They are beautifully formed, and have a noble expres-
sion of countenance, so finely portrayed in Sir Edwin
Landseer's well-known and beautiftd picture of " Dig-
nity and Impudence.^^ There is, as Colonel Hamilton
Smith has observed, a kind of sagacious, or serious,
solemn dignity about him, admirably calculated to im-
press the marauder with dread and awe. Indeed, so
much is this the case, that I knew an instance of a
bloodhoimd having traced a sheep-stealer to his cottage
in Bedfordshire ; and so great was the dread afterwards
of the peculiar instinct of this dog, that sheep-stealing,
which had before been veiy common in the neighbour-
hood, was put an end to. It has^ therefore, often
occurred to me, that if bloodhoimds were kept for
the general good in different districts, sheep-stealing
would be less frequent than it i^ «t\, y^*^^"^* ^^l^«^

252 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

might also be usefully employed in the detection of
rick-burners. At all events the suggestion is worth
some consideration^ especially from insurance offices.
In 1803, the Thrapston Association for the Prose-
cution of Felons in Northamptonshire, procured and
trained a bloodhound for the detection of sheep-
stealers. In order to prove the utility of the dog, a
man was dispatched from a spot where a great con-
course of people were assembled, at ten o^clock in the
forenoon, and an hour afterwards the hound "was laid
on the scent. After a chase of an hour and a half, the
hound found him' secreted in a tree many miles from
the place of starting. The very knowledge that farmers
could readily have recourse to the assistance of such a
dog, would serve to prevent the commission of much
crime.

To try whether a young bloodhound was well
instructed, a nobleman (says Mr. Boyle) caused one of
his servants to walk to a town four miles off, and then
to a market- town three miles from thence. The dog,
without seeing the man he was to pursue, followed him
by the scent to the above-mentioned places, notwith-
standing the multitude of people going the same road,
and of travellers that had occasion to cross it. When
the hound came to the chief market-town, he passed
through the streets, without noticing any of the people
there, till he got to the house where the man he sought
was^ and there found \i\m m «.tl M^i^er room.

A sure way of sto^p^vu^ XXve. ^q^ ^-m^ nj^ ^

THE BLOODHOUND. 25$

blood upon the tracks which destroyed the discrimi-
nating fineness of his scent. A captive was sometimes
. sacrificed on such occasions. Henry the Minstrel tells
us a romantic story of Wallace, founded on this circum-
stance. The heroes little band had been joined by an
Irishman named Fawdon, or Fadzean, a dark, savage,
and suspicious character. After a sharp skirmish at
Black Emeside, Wallace was forced to retreat with
only sixteen followers. The English pursued with a
border sleuth-bratch, or bloodhound. In the retreat,
Fawdon, tired, or affecting to be so, would go no
farther. Wallace having in vain argued with him,
in hasty anger struck off his head, and continued the
retreat. When the English came up, their hound
stayed upon the dead body.

To the present group has been referred by some
naturalists a dog of Spanish descent, termed the Cuban
bloodhound. A hundred of these sagacious but savage
dogs were sent, in 1795, from the Havanna tt) Ja-
maica, to extinguish the Maroon war, which at that time
was fiercely raging. They were accompanied by forty
Spanish chasseurs, chiefly people of colour, and their
appearance and that of the dogs struck terror into the
negroes. The dogs, muzzled and led in leashes, rushed
ferociously upon every object, dragging along the
chasseurs in spite of all their endeavours. Dallas, in
his " History of the Maroons,^^ informs us that
General Walpole ordered a review of these dogs and
the men, that he might see in -wVxal TCk^Miet '^i^^^^

254 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

would act. He set out for a place called Seven
Rivers^ accompanied by Colonel Skinner^ whom be
appointed to conduct the attack. " Notice of his
coming having preceded him^ a parade of the clias-
seurs was ordered^ and they were taken to a distance
from the house^ in order to be advanced when the
general alighted. On his arrival^ the commissioner
(who had procured the dogs), having paid his respects,
was desired to parade them. The Spaniards soon
appeared at the end of a gentle acclivity drawn out
in a line, containing upwards of forty men, with their
dogs in front unmuzzled, and held by cotton ropes.
On receiving the command, 'Frre!^ they discharged
their fusils, and advanced as upon a real attack.
This was intended to ascertain what eflFect would ie
produced on the dogs if engaged under a fire of the
Maroons. The volley was no sooner discharged than
the dogs rushed forward with the greatest ivaj,
amid the shouts of the Spaniards, who were dragged
on by them with irresistible force. Some of the dogs,
maddened by the shout of attack while held back by
the ropes, seized on the stocks of the guns in the hands
of their keepers, and tore pieces out of them. Their
impetuosity was so great that they were with difficulty
stopped before they reached the general, who found it
necessary to get expeditiously into the chaise from .
which he had alighted; and if the most strenuous
exertions had not been made, they would have seiied
upon his horses." This terrible exhibition produced

THE BLOODHOrND. 255

the intended effect — the Maroons at once capitu-
lated^ and were subsequently sent to Halifax^ North
America.

Mr. John Lawrence^ says that a servant^ discharged
by a sporting country gentleman^ broke into his stables
by nighty and cut off the ears and tail of a favourite
hunter. As soon as it was discovered^ a bloodhound
was brought into the stable^ who at once detected the
scent of the miscreant^ and traced it more than twenty
miles. He then stopped at a door, whence no power
could move him. Being at length admitted, he ran to
the top of the house, and, bursting open the door of a
garret, found the object that he sought in bed, and
would have torn him to pieces, had not the huntsman,
who had followed him on a fleet horse, rushed up after
him.

Colonel Hamilton Smith says, that he was favoured
with the following interesting notice of this dog from
Sir Walter Scott, and which agrees exactly with some
I have seen bred by Lord Bagot at Blithfield in
Staffordshire, and some belonging to Her present
Majesty.

'' The only sleuth-hound I ever saw was one which
was kept at Keeldar Castle. He was Uke the Spanish
pointer, but much stronger, and untameably fierce, —
colour, black and tawny, long pendulous ears, — had
a deep back, broad nostrils, and vaa %\xo\i^'^ \jia.^^>

250 ANECDOTKH OF DOGS.

something like thr- old English inaHtiif; now no

ran:.''

\\iiu\(;y, in h\n "\Vondf;r» of the Little World/'
rc\iiUH i\u: following anecdote : —

''Anno IJoni. 807. — Lothbroke, of the bl^^^xl-nAal
of I)(;nrriark, ;ind father to I lumbar and Hubba^ entered
vvitli his hawk into a boat alone, and by tempest w»
drivr-n upon the coast of Norfolk in England; whw
h(;jn;r found, he was detained, and preHi^'iiU^d U) Ed-
mund, at that time King of the Eant Anghrii. Tk
kin^ enteilained him at bin court; and perceiving
his sin^ruhir dexterity and activity in hawking and
[luntin^^, hore him particular favour. By thifi meaoK
\ui fell into the envy of Beriek, the king's falconer, who
(}i\i'. day, as they hunt<;d together, privately murdered
and threw him into a bunh. It was not long before bf
was rriis-ied at court. M'hen no tidingK could be heard
of hiiiij his dog, who had continued in the wood with
thf corpsf; of hi.s ma-.ter, till famine forcf;d him thencr,
at sundry times eame to court, and fawned on the
king; so that the king, HUHpecting H^irne ill matter, at
lerijrth followed the trace of the hound, and was led bj"
him to t.lie )>laee where (jOthbroke lay. Inquisition w»
rrijuie ; and fiv circumstance of words, and other hu»-
pjfrions, Bt-rifk, the king'- fahroner, was pronounced to
he his murderer. The king commanded hirn to be Mft
iiUtfic in liOthhroke's boat, and comniittf;d to the merer
of tljr- ^rrfl, bv the workinjr of which he was carried to

THE BLOODHOUND. 257

the same coast of Denmark from whence Lothbroke
came. The boat was well known^ and the occupant^
Berick^ examined by torments. To save himself, he
asserted that Lothbroke had been slain by King
Edmund. And this was the first occasion of the
Danes^ arrival in this land.^'

A planter had fixed his residence at the foot of the
Bine Mountains^ in the back settlements of America.
One day the youngest of his family^ a child of about
four years old^ disappeared. The father^ becoming
alarmed^ explored the woods in every direction^ but
without success. On the following day the search was
renewed^ during which a native Indian happened to
pass^ accompanied by his dog^ one of the true blood-
hound breed. Being informed of the distress of the
planter^ he requested that the shoes and stockings last
worn by the child might be brought to him. He made
the dog smell to them^ and patted him. The intelli-
gent animal seemed to comprehend all about it^ for he
began immediately to sniff around. The Indian and
his dog then plunged into the wood. They had not
been there long before the dog began to bay; he
thought'that he had hit upon the scent^ and presently
afterwards^ being assured of it^ he uttered a louder and
more expressive note^ and darted off at full speed into
the forest. The Indian followed^ and after a consider-
able time met his dog bounding back^ his noble coun-
tenance beaming with animation. The hound turned
again into the wood^ his master not \^e\vi^ W \^^c^^

258 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

and they found the child lying at the foot of a tree,
fatigued and exhausted, but otherwise unhurt.

Some of these dogs are kept by the keepers in the
royal parks and forests, and are used to trace wounded
deer. An officer in the 1st Life Guards has two noble
dogs of this description, for one of which, I am informed,
he gave fifty pounds. In fact, they are by no means
uncommon in England. One distinguishing trait of
purity in the breed is the colour, which is almost
invariably a reddish tan, progressively darkening to
the upper part, with a mixture of black upon the
back.

'^ In the Spanish West India Islands,'* says Bingley,
^^ there are officers called chasseurs, kept in continual
emplojmaent. The business of these men is to tra-
verse the country with their dogs, for the purpose of
pursuing and taking up all persons guilty of murder,
or other crimes ; and no activity on the part of the
offenders will enable them to escape. The following is
a very remarkable instance, which happened not many
years ago.

^^A fleet from Jamaica, under convoy to Great
Britain, passing through the Gulf of Mexico, beat
upon the north side of Cuba. One of the ships,
manned with foreigners (chiefly renegado Spaniards),
in standing in with the land at night, was run on
shore. The officers, and the few British seamen on
board, were murdered, and the vessel was plundered by

THE BLOODHOUND. 259

the renegadoes. The part of the coast on \vhich the
vessel was stranded being wild and unfrequented^ the
assassiTis retired with their booty to the mountains^
intending to penetrate through the woods to some
remote settlements on the southern side^ where they
hoped to secure themselves^ and elude all pursuit.
Early intelligence of the crime had^ however^ been
conveyed to Havanna. The assassins were pursued
by a detachment of the Chasseurs del Rey^ with
fheir dogs; and in the course of a very few days
they were every one apprehended and brought to
justice.

'' The dogs carried out by the Chasseurs del Rey
are all perfectly broken in. On coming up with the
fdgitive^ they bark at him till he stops; they then
crouch near him, terrifying him with a ferocious growl-
ing if he attempts to stir. In this position they con-
tinue barking, to give notice to the chasseurs, who come
up and secure their prisoner.

''Bach chasseur can only hunt with two dogs.
These people live with their dogs, and are inseparable
from them. At home the animals are kept chained ;
and when walking out with their masters, they are
never unmuzzled nor let out of ropes, but for attack.

'' Bloodhounds were formerly used in certain dis-
tricts lying between England and Scotland, that were
much infested by robbers and murderers ; and a tax
was laid on the inhabitants for keeping and maintaining
a certain number of these animals. But as the arm of

260 ANECDOTES OF D008.

justice is now extended over every part of the country^
and as there are now no secret recesses where villasy
can be concealed^ their services in this respect are
become no longer necessary. ^

'^ Some few of these dogs^ however, are yet kept in
the northern parts of the kingdom, and in the lodges of
the royal forests, where they are used in pursuit of deer
that have been previously wounded. They are also
sometimes employed in discovering deer-stealers, whom
they infallibly trace by the blood that issues from the
wounds of their victims.

'* A very extraordinary instance of this occurred in
the New Forest, in the year 1810, and was related to
me by the Right Hon. G. H. Rose. A person, in get-
ting over a stile into a field near the Forest, remarked
that there was blood upon it. Immediately afterwards
he recollected that some deer had been killed, and seve-
ral sheep stolen in the neighbourhood ; and that this
might possibly be the blood of one that had been killed
in the preceding night. The man went to the nearest
lodge to give information ; but the keeper being from
home, he was under the necessity of going to Rhinefidd
Lodge, which was at a considerable distance. Toomer,
the under-keeper, went with him to the place, accom-
panied by a bloodhound. The dog, when brought to
the spot, was laid on the scent; and after following
for about a mile the track which the depredator hid
taken, he came at last to a heap of furze fagots belong-
ing to the family of a cottager. The woman of the

THE BLOODHOUND. 2&1

house attempted to driTe the dog away^ but was pre-
Tented ; and on the fagots being removed a hole was
diseovered in the groxmd^ which contained the body of
a sheep that had recently been killed^ and also a con-
siderable quantity of salted meat. The circumstance
which renders this account the more remarkable is^
that the dog was not brought to the scent until more
than sixteen hours had elapsed after the man had car-
ried away the sheep.''

An old writer — the author of " The History of the
Buccaneers'' — though full of prejudice against the
Indians^ thus describes some of the atrocities prac-
tised by the Spaniards : —

''The Spaniards having possessed themselves of
these isles (South America)^ found them peopled with
Indians^ a barbarous people^ sensual and brutish^ hating
all labour^ and only inclined to killing and making
war against their neighbours ; not out of ambition^ but
only because they agreed not with themselves in some
common terms of language; and perceiving that the
dominion of the Spaniards laid great restrictions upon
their lazy and brutish customs^ they conceived an irre-
concileable hatred against them^ but especially because
they saw them take possession of their kingdoms and
dominions. Hereupon they made against them all the
resistance they could, everywhere opposing their designs
to the utmost; and the Spaniards^ finding themselves
cruelly hated by the Indians, and nowhere secure firom

262 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

their treacheries^ resolved to extirpate and min them,
since they could neither tame them by civility nor
conquer them by the sword. But the Indians^ it being
their ciistom to make the woods their chief places of
defence^ at present made these their refuge whenever
they fled from the Spaniards: hereupon those first
conquerors of the New World made use of dogs to
range and search the intricate thickets of woods and
forests for those their implacable and unconquerabk
enemies; thus they forced them to leave their old
refuge and submit to the sword^ seeing no milder
usage would do it : hereupon they killed some of thefflj
and quartering their bodies, placed them in the high-
ways^ that others might take warning from such s
punishment. But this severity proved of ill con«^
quence, for instead of frightening them, and reducing
them to civility, they conceived such horror of the
Spaniards, that they resolved to detest and fly their
sight for ever ; hence the greatest part died in caves
and subterraneous places of woods and mountainsi in
which places I myself have often seen great numbers
of human bones.*^

It has been already stated, that in the West Indies
bloodhounds were employed to hunt the runaway
blacks. I had one of these Cuban bloodhounds given
to me a few years ago, and finding him somewhat
more ferocious tlian 1 \ik^d, 1 \si«jde a present of him
to a keeper in the iiei^cAioxvxiiWiftL, ^^R.^'w^^^^stek

THE BLOODHOUND. UGd

a kennL'l with other dogs, and soon killed some of
them. Keq)ers, however, in going their rounds at
night, are frequently accompaaied by bloodhounds,
and poachers are said to have a great dread of
them.

Thau hut fondleil at
Grafted thoie I lov'd
When in

On m; haiom thou hut Uini
1 hnve seen thy liltle oje
FuUuifvrith tjmpathy."

'I'uERE arc so many varieties of terriers, and ao nuof
ci^lebrated breeds of these dogs, that it would be i
diflicult tank to give a separate accoimt of each. Some

THE TERRIER. 265

have a cross of the bull-dog ; and these^ perhaps^ are
unequalled for courage and strength of jaw. In the
latter quality they are superior to the bull-dog. Then
there is the pepper-and-mustard breed, the Isle of Sky,
the rough and smooth English terrier, and a peculiar
breed, of which my own sensible little Judy, now
reposing at my feet, is one, besides some others.

Perhaps there is no breed of dogs which attach
themselves so strongly to man as the terrier. They
are his companions in his walks, and their activity and
high spirit suable them to keep up with a horse through
a long day^s journey. Their fidelity to their master is
unbounded, and their affection for him unconquerable.
When he is ill they vsdll repose for hours by the side
of his bed, as still as a mother watching over a sick
and slumbering child ; and when he is well they vtrill
frisk aroimd him, as if their pleasure was renewed
with his returning health. How well do I remember
this to have been the case with my faithful old dog
Trim ! Nothing would induce him to make the slight-
est noise till I called him on my bed, when I awoke in
the morning. Night or day, he never left me for
many years; and when at last I was obliged to take
a journey vtrithout him, his life fell a sacrifice to his
affection for me. Alas, poor Trim I

This breed of dogs, the true English terrier, shows
an invincible ardour in all that he is required to do, as
well as persevering fortitude. In drawing badgers and
foxes from their holes, the severe b\te& o{ \!Gk!e»^ ^\s&siSs^

266 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

only seem to animate them to greater exertions; and
they have been known to suffer themselves to be killed
by the former sooner than give over the unequal
contest.

The vignette at the end of this notice represents
a favourite wire-haired terrier of mine^ called Peter,
well known for many years at Hampton Court. He
had wonderful courage and perseverance^ and was the
best dog to hunt rabbits in thick hedge-rows I ever
met with* He was also a capital water-dog ; and he
was frequently enticed by some of the officq^ quartered
at Hampton Court to accompany them to the neigh-
bouring lock of the river Thames^ in which an un-
fortunate duck was to be hunted. I was assured ihst
on these occasions Peter distinguished himself greatly,
diving after the duck whenever it dived, and beating
all the other dogs by his energy and perseverance.
Peter was a general favourite, and perhaps this was
partly owing to his being a great pickle. He was
always getting into scrapes. Twice he broke either
his shoulder-bone or his leg by scrambling up a ladder.
He was several times nearly killed by large dogs, oi
which he was never known to show the slightest fear;
and with those of about his own size he would fight
till he died. He has killed sixty rats in a bam in
about as many minutes ; and he was an inveterate foe
to cats. I remember once taking him with me on
a rabbit-ferreting excursion. Before the ferrets were
^ut in the holes, I made Peter quite aware that he

THE TERKIER. 267

was not to touch them ; and he was so sensible a dog
that there was no difficulty in doing this^ although it
was the first time he had seen a ferret. If a rabbit
bolted from the hole he was watching^ he killed it in
an instant ; but when the ferret made its appearance^
Peter retreated a step or two, showing his teeth a
little as if he longed to attack it. Towards the end
of the day I had gone to a little distance^ leaving
Peter watching a hole. Presently I heard a squeak,
and on turning round I saw the ferret dead^ and
Peter standing over it,, looking exceedingly ashamed at
what he had done, and perfectly conscious that he had
diaobeyed orders. The temptation, however, was too
great for him to resist. Peter at last got into bad
company, for he suffered himself to be enticed by the
ostlers and others into the taps at Hampton Court,
and they indulged him in his fondness for killing
vermin and cats. He was a dog of extraordinary
flense. I once gave him some milk and water at my
IneakfiEist, which was too hot. He afterwards was in
the habit of testing the heat by dipping one of his paws
into the basin, preferring rather to scald his foot than
to run the risk of burning his tongue. He had other
peculiarities. When I mounted my horse and wanted
him to follow me, he would come a little distance, and
then all at once pretend to be lame. The more I called
the lamer he became. He was, in fact, aware of my long
rioes, and was too lazy to follow me. He played this
trick very frequently. If I called him while I had my

268 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

snuff-box in my hand^ he would come to me, pretend-
ing to sneeze the whole of the time. I have said lo
much about Peter, because he was a good specimen of
one of the small breed of terriers.

Terriers, more than any other breed of dogs, hve so
much in our rooms, and are so generally our com-
panions during our walks and rides, that they natorally
imbibe a great degree of sensibility of the least look
or word of their master. This very sensibility makes
them extremely jealous of any preference or attention
shown by their master to another dog. I had an old
terrier who never could bear to see me do this. He
showed it not only by his countenance in a remarkable
way, but would fall upon any dog he saw me caress.
Mons. Blaze gives an instance of a dog having killed
a young child, who had been in the habit of fondling
a dog belonging to the same owner, and showing fear
and dislike of him. Another dog was so strongly
attached to his master that he was miserable when he
was absent. When the gentleman married, the dog
seemed to feel a diminution of affection towards him,
and showed great uneasiness. Finding, however, that
his new mistress grew fond of him, he became per-
fectly happy. Somewhat more than a year after this
they had a child. There was now a decided inquietude
about the dog, and it was impossible to avoid noticing
that he felt himself miserable. The attention paid to
the child increased \i\ft viT^\,dMi4jaae& \ he loathed his
/bod, and nothing coxAd eo^\.«v\.\flHv,^wM^>Bfc

THE TERRIER, 269

treated on this account with the utmost tenderness.
At last he hid himself in the coal-cellar^ and every
means were used to induce him to return^ but all in
vain. He was deaf to entreaty^ rejected all kindness^
refused to eat, and continued firm in his resolution, till
exhausted nature yielded to death.

I have seen so much of the sensitiveness and jealousy
of dogs, owing to their unboimded affection for their
masters, that I cannot doubt the truth of this anec-
dote, which was related by Mr. Dibdin. A lady had
a favourite terrier, whose jealousy of any attentions
shown to her by strangers was so great, that in her
walks he guarded her with the utmost care, and would
not suffer any one to touch her. The following anec-
dote will prove the imchauging affection of these dogs.
It was communicated to me by the best and most
amiable man I have ever met with, either in public or
private life.

He had a small terrier, which was much attached
to him. On leaving this coimtry for America, he
placed the dog under the care of his sister, who re-
sided in London. The dog at first was inconsolable,
and could scarcely be persuaded to eat anything. At
the end of three years his owner returned, and upon
knocking at the door of his sister^s house, the dog re-
cognised the well-known knock, ran down-stairs with
the utmost eagerness, fondled his master with the
greatest affection ; and when he was in the sitting-room^
Ae AithAl animal jumped upon the "^^i^jiQ-iQitX.^, '^^^

270 ANECDOTES OF D008.

he might get as near to him as possible. The dog's
attachment remained to the last moment of his life.
He was taken ill^ and was placed in his master's dreM-
ing-room on one of his cloaks. When he could scarcely
move^ his kind protector met him endeavouring to
crawl to him up the stairs. He took the dog in his
arm»^ placed him on his cloak^ when the dog gave him
a look of affection which could not be mistaken^ and
immediately died. There can^ I think^ be no doobt
but that this affectionate animal^ in his endeavour to
get up the steps to his master^ was influenced by
Bensations of. love and gratitude^ which death alone
could extinguish^ and which the approach of desth
prompted him to show.* How charming are these in-
stances of the affection of dogs to a kind master I and
how forcibly may wc draw forth the strongest testi-
monials of love from them^ by treating them as thej
deserve to be treated ! Few people sufficiently appre-
ciate; the attachment^ fidelity^ and sagacity of these too-
often persecuted animals^ or arc aware how much tliej
suffer from unkindness or harsh treatment.

flvery one is acquainted with the pretty picture Sir
Walter Scott has drawn of the affectionate terxieTi
whicli was the companion of his hero in ** Guy Man-
neririf^/^ We see the faithful Wasp '^ scampering at
larf^e in a thousand wheels round the heathy and cooe
buck to jump up to his master^ and assure him that he
participated in the pleasures of the journey .'' Weiee
}iiiM (luring the fight with the robbers, ^' annoying

THE TERRIER. 271

their heels^ and repeatedly effecting a moment^s diver-
sion in his master's favour^ and pursuing them when
they ran away/' We hear the jolly farmer exclaim —
'' De'il, but your dog's weel entered wi' the vermin ;"
and when he goes to see his friend in prison^ and
brings Wasp with him, we see the joy of the latter,
and hear the remark elicited by it — " Whisht, Wasp —
man! Wow, but he's glad to see you, poor thing."
The whole race of pepper-and-mustard are brought
before us — that breed which are held in such high
estimation, not only as vermin-killers, but for their
intelligence and fidelity, and other companionable
qualities.

I could not deny myself the pleasure of introducing
this account of the terrier, as it describes so well their
courage, fidelity, and attachment. ^^Wasp," we are
told, at the close of an eventful day, " crouched him-
self on the coverlet at his master's feet, having first
lidced his master's hand to ask leave." This is part
of the natural language of the dog, and how expressive
it is ! They speak by their eyes, their tail, and by
various gestures, and it is almost impossible to mis-
^derstand their meaning. There is a well-known
^ecdote of two terriers who were in the habit of
going out together to hunt rabbits. One of them got
80 far into a hole that he could not extricate himself.
fiis companion returned to the house, and by his im-
portunity and significant gestures induced his master
to follow him. He led him to the hole, made him

272 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

understand what was the matter^ and his associate was

at last dug out.

The following affords another proof of the sagacity
of these dogs: —

A respectable farmer^ residing in a village near
Gosport^ had a terrier dog who was his constant com-
panion. His business frequently led him across the
water to Portsmouth^ to which place the dog r^nlaily
attended him. The farmer had a son-in-law^ a book-
seller at Portsmouth^ to whose house he frequently
went^ taking the dog with him. One day^ the animal
having lost his master in Port^mouth^ after searching
for him at his usual haunts^ went to the bookseller,
and by various gesticulations gave him to nnderstaDd
that he had lost his master ; his supplications were not
in vain^ for the bookseller, who understood his lan-
guage, immediately called his boy, gave him a penny,
and ordered him to go directly to the beach, and give
the ferryman the money for his passage to the opposite
shore. The dog, who seemed to understand the whole
proceeding, was much pleased, and jumped directly
into the boat, and when landed at Gosport^ inune-
diately ran home. He always afterwards went to the
bookseller, if he had lost his master at Portsmouth,
feeling sure that his boat-hire would be paid, and
which was always done.

The same dog, when he was wet or dirty, would go
into the bam till he was clean and dry^ and then
scratch at the parVoxn-dLOOt lot admittance.

THE TEKRIER. 273

The Rev. Leonard Jenyns, in his " Observations in
Natural History/' records the following . —

"A lady,* living m the neighbourhood of my own
rillage, had some years back a favourite Scotch ter-
rier^ which always accompanied her in her rides, and
iras also in the habit of following the carriage to
jhurch every Sunday momiijig. One summer the lady
ind her family were from home several weeks, the dog
)cmg left behind. The latter, however, continued to
XHne to church by itself for several Sundays in suc-
iession, galloping off from the house at the accustomed
lour, so as to arrive at the time of service commencing.
Ifter waiting in the churchyard a short time, it was
leen to return home quiet and dispirited. The dis-
ance from the house to the church is three miles, and
)eyond that at which the ringing of the bells could be
ordinarily heard. This was probably an instance of
tlie force of habit, assisted by some association of recol-
lections connected with the movements of the household
on that particular day of the week.''

An old house being under repair, the bells on the
ground-floor were taken down. The mistress of the
house had an old favourite terrier, and when she
wanted her servants, sent the dog to ring the bell
ni her dressing-room, having previously attached a bit
rfwood to the bell-rope. When the dog pulled at the
w>pe, he listened, and if the bell did not ring, he pulled

• Mre Grosvenor, now of Richmond, Surrey.

274 ANECDOTES OF D008.

till lie heard it^ and then returned to the room he had
left. If a piece of paper were pat into his mouth,
with a message written on it, he would carry it to the
person he was told to go to, and waited to bring hstk
the answer.

Mr. Lain^, who was steward to General Sharp, of
Houston, near Uphall, had a terrier dog which gave
many proofs of his sagacity. Upon one occasion his
wife lent a white petticoat to a neighbour in which to
attend a christening; the dog observed his mistress
make the loan, followed the woman home who bor-
rowed the article, never quitted her, but accompanied
her to the christening, and leaped several times on
her knee : nor did he lose sight of her till the piece rf
dress was at last fairly restored to Mrs. Laing. During
the time this person was at the christening she was
much afraid the dog would attempt to tear the petticoat
off her, as she well knew the object of his attendance.

One of the most extraordinary terriers I ever met

with belonged to a man named T j, well known

for many years in the neighbourhood of Hampton
Court. The father of this man had been in a re-
spectable way of life, but his son wanted steadiness of
character, and, indeed, good conduct, and had it not
been for the kindness of his late Majesty, Eang William
the Fourth, he would have been reduced to poverty

long before he was. T ^y, through the interest of

the king, then Duke of Clarence, was tried in several
situations, but iuled. m \k^Tci ^. ^ W\. \sl4& was made

THE SERRIER. 275

a postman^ but was found drunk one evening with all
Ids letters scattered about him^ and^ of course^ lost his
stnation. He then took up the employment of rat-
catcher, for whichf perhaps, he was better qualified than
any other. His stock-in-trade consisted of some fer-
lets and an old terrier dog, and a more extraordinary
dog was seldom seen. He was rough, rather strongly
made, and of a sort of cinnamon colour, having only
one eye; his appearance being in direct contrast to
what Bewick designates the genteel terrier. The other
eye had a fluid constantly exuding from it, which made
a sort of furrow down the side of his cheek. He
always kept close to the heels of his master, hanging
down his head, and appearing the personification of mi-
iffy and wretchedness. He was, however, a wonderful
▼ermin-killer, and wherever his master placed him,
there he remained, waiting with the utmost patience
>nd resignation till an unfortunate rat bolted from the
hole, which he instantly killed in a most philosophical
ntanner. The poor dog had to undergo the vicissitudes
of hard fare, amounting almost to starvation, of cold,
iBni, and other evils, but still he was always to be seen
^ his master^s feet, and his fidelity to him was un-
shaken. No notice, no kind word, seemed to have any
effect upon him if oflfered by a stranger, but he obeyed
ittid understood the slightest signal from his owner.
This man was an habitual drunkard, at least whenever
he could procure the means of becoming one. It was
i cold, frosty night in November, when T y was

i

276 ANECDOTE8#OF D008.

returning from a favourite alehouse^ along one of tlie
Thames Ditton lanes^ some of which^ owing to the
flatness of the eountry, have deep ditches by their
sidcH. Into one of these the unfortunate man itag-
gered in a fit of brutal intoxication^ and was drowned.
When the body was discovered the next morning, the
dog was seen using his best endeavours to drag it oat
of the ditch. He had probably been employed all
night in this attempt^ and in his efforts had torn the
coat from the shoulders of his master. It should be
meiiti(med that this faithful animal had saved his
master's life on two former occasions^ whep. he wm
in nearly similar circumstances.

It may interest some of the readers of this little
story to be informed, that a few years before the event
which has been related took place, the unhappy man's
wife died, leaving four very young children. She wm
a most industrious woman; of excellent character, and
her great misery on her death-bed was the reflection
that these children — two boys and two girls — would
be h;ft to the care of her drunken husband. She wtf
comforted, however, in her dying moments, by one
whose heart and hand have always been ready to relieve
the distressed, with the assurance that her children
should be taken care of. So when the excellent
Queen Adelaide heard of the circumstance, she im-
mediately sent for the four children, placed them under
the charge of a proper person, educated and maintained
tbcm, placed them vu ic%^«ie\.«JcAa ^\\.\Mb^iv.QVM^^s!^^

THE TERRIER. 277

continued to be their friend till her death. This is
one of numerous instances which could be related by
the author of her Majesty^s silent, but unbounded
benevolence.

It is time, however, to resume my anecdotes of
terriers.

A gentleman of my acquaintance had a favourite
dog of this description, which generally slept in his
bed-room. My friend was in the habit of reading in
bed. On calling upon him one morning, he took me
into his bed-room, and showed me his bed-curtains
much burnt, and one of his sheets. The nighl; before
he had been reading the newspaper in bed, with a
candle near him, and had gone to sleep. The news-
paper had fallen on the candle, and thus set fire to the
curtain. He was awoke by his dog scratching him
violently with his fore-feet, and was thus in time to
call for assistance, and save the house from being
burnt down, and also probably to save his own life.

Another of my acquaintances has a very small pet
terrier, a capital rat-killer, who always evinces great
antipathy to those animals. She lately produced three
puppies, two of which were drowned. After hunting
for them in every direction, she returned to her litter,
where she was found the next morning not only suck-
ling her own whelp, but a young rat; and thus she
continued to do till it reached maturity. The morning
on which her puppies were drowned there had been a
battue of rats, some of which were wo\mdL<&dL«xAe»»^'^^^«

278 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

One of these latter was the young rat in question. Thii,
no doubt^ was taken possession of for the purpose of
relieving her of her superabundant milk.

A gentleman who had befriended an ill-used terrier
acquired such an influence over the grateful dog,
that he was obedient to the least look or sign of his
master^ and attached himself to him and his chOdren
in a most extraordinary manner. One of the children
having behaved ill^ his father attempted to put the bojf
out of the room^ who made some resistance. The dog
seeing the bustle^ supposed his master was going to
beat the boy^ and therefore tried to pull him awty by
the skirts of his coat^ thus showing his affection and
sagacity at the same time.

Captain Brown relates the following : —
Sir Patrick Walker writes me : — '' Pincer, in ap-
pearance^ is of the English terrier breeds but in manner
indicates a good deal of the Scotch coUey, or shep-
herd's dog. He has a remarkably good nose^ is a
keen destroyer of vermin^ and is in the habit of coming
tcrthc house for assistance ever since the following oe-
currence: — lie came into the parlour one evening
when some friends were with us, and looking in my
face, by many expressive gestures, evinced great
anxiety that I should follow him. Upon speaking
to him, he leaped, and his whine got to a more deter-
mined bark, and pulled me by the collar or sleeve (rf
the coat, until I was induced to follow him; and
when I got up, he began leaping and gambolling

THlB TERRIER. 279

before me^ and led the way to an outhouse^ to a large
chest filled with pieces of old wood^ and which he
continued by the same means to solicit to be moved.
This was done^ and he took out a large rat^ killed it^
and returned to the parlour quite composed and satis-
fied.

*^ Similar occurrences have frequently taken place
nnoe^ with this addition^ that as I sometimes called the
servant^ he often leaves me and runs in the same man-
ner to get his assistance^ as soon as he finds me quit-
ting the room to follow him. In no instance has
Kncer ever been wrong, his scent is so very good.
Once^ when he had got assistance^ he directed our
attention to some loose wood in the yard ; and when
part of it was removed^ he suddenly manifested disap-
pointment^ and that the object of pursuit was gone.
His manner and look seemed more than instinct^ and
at once told his story. After a little pause^ and some
anxious looks^ he dashed up a ladder that rested against
a low out*house^ and took a large rat out of the spout^
whither it had apparently escaped whilst Pincer came
for assistance.^'

Terriers appear to have a strong instinctive faculty
of finding their way back to their homes, when removed
from them to long distances, and even when they have
seas to cross. There are instances of their having done
this from France, Ireland, and even Germany. Their
powers of endurance, therefore, must be very great,
and their energies as well as afiPections equally strong.

280 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

They have also an invincible perseverance in all they
do, to which every fox-hunter will bear his testimony.
In my youth, when following the hounds, I have been
delighted in witnessing the energy of a brace of terricB,
who were sure to make their appearance at the sligfhteit
check, running with an ardour quite extraordinary, and
incessant in their exertions to be with the busiest of
the pack in their endeavours to find. If the fox talei
to earth, the little brave terrier eagerly follows, and
shows by his baying whether the fox lays deep or not,
so that those who are employed in digging it out can
act accordingly. In rabbit-shooting in thick furze or
breaks, the terrier, as I have often witnessed, will take
covert with the eagerness and impetuosity of a fox-
hound. On one of these occasions I saw an enonnoos
wild cat started, which a small terrier pursued and
never quitted, notwithstanding the unequal contest,
till it was shot by a keeper. As vermin-killers, they
are superior to all other dogs. The celebrated terrier
Billy was known to have killed one himdred rats in
seven minutes.

Nor arc their affections less strong than their
courage. A gentleman in the neighbourhood of Bath
had a terrier which produced a litter of four puppies.
He ordered one of them to be drowned, which was
done by throwing it into a pail of water, in which it
was kept down by a mop till it appeared to be dead.
It was then thrown into a dust-hole, and covered vith
ashes. Two mornings afterwards, the servant disco-

THE TEBBIEB. 281

Tered that the bitch had still four puppies^ and
amongst them was the one which it was supposed
had been drowned. It was conjectured that in the
ooorse of a short time the terrier had, unobserved,
raked her whelp from the ashes, and had restored it
to life.

An excellent clergyman, residing close to Brighton,
gave me the following curious anecdote of a dog which
lis Bon, the late greatly-lamented Major R — brought
to England with him from Spain. This dog was a
sort of Spanish terrier, and his disposition and habits
were very peculiar indeed, unlike those of any dog I
c?er heard of. One day a teacher of music was going
to one of her pupils, and as she was passing at some
little distance from the house of the owner of this
dog, had her attention attracted to him. He first
looked at her very significantly, pulled her by the
gown the contrary way to which she was going, and
evidently wanted her to follow him. Partly instigated
by curiosity, but chiefly because he held her gown
tight in his mouth, she suffered herself to be led some
distance, when the dog brought her into a field in
which some houses were in the course of being built.
She then became alarmed, and seeing two or three
Wtoniers, she asked them to drive away the dog.
Knding, however, that he would not quit his hold,
they advised her to see where the dog would lead her,
promising to accompany and protect her. Thus as-
sored, she allowed him to lead her where he pleased.

282 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

The dog brought her to the houses which were being
built. On arriving at them^ it was found that the
area had been dug out^ and a strong plank placed
across it^ one end resting on a heap of earth. At this
end the dog began to scratch eagerly; and on the
plank being lifted up^ a large beef bone was discovered,
which the dog seized in his mouthy and trotted away
with it perfectly satisfied. My informant said that
he had taken some pains to ascertain the accuracy
of this anecdote from the young lady herself, and
that I might depend on its truth.

A somewhat similar occurrence took place in my
own neighbourhood, very recently. A lady, going to
make a morning's call, passed the gateway of a house,
when her gown was seized by a dog, who pulled her
the contrary way to which she was going. She at
last disengaged ierself, and made her call. On coming
out, the dog was waiting for her, and again took her
gown in his mouth, and led her to the gateway she had
previously passed. Here he stopped, and as the dog
held a tight hold, she rang the bell ; and on a servant
opening the gate the animal, perfectly satisfied, trotted
in, when she found that he belonged to the house, but
had been shut out.

It may be also mentioned as an instance of courage
and fidelity in a terrier, that as a gentleman was re-
turning home, a man armed with a large stick seized
him by the breast, and striking him a violent blow on
the head, desired him instantly to deliver his watch

THE TERRIER. 283

ind money. As he was preparing to repeat the blow,
^e terrier sprung at him^ and seized him by the throat.
Bis master^ at the same time^ giving the man a violent
blow^ he fell backwards and dropped his stick. The
gentleman took it up^ and ran off^ followed by his dog^
but not before the animal had torn off and carried
away in his mouth a portion of the man^s waistcoat.

The following fact will serve to prove that dogs
we capable of gratitude in no ordinary degree: —

A surgeon at Dover, seeing a terrier in the street
which had received some injury, took it home; and
baving cured it in a couple of days, let it go. For
many weeks the grateful animal used to pay him
1 daily visit of a few minutes, and after a vehe-
ment wagging of his tail, scampered off again to his
)wn home.

A neighbour of mine has a terrier which has
shown many odd peculiarities in his habits. He has
contracted a great friendship for a white cat, and
svinced his affection for it the other day in a cu-
rious manner. The dog was observed to scratch a
large deep hole in the garden. When he had finished
it he sought out the cat, dragged her by the neck to
the hole, endeavoured to place her in it, and to cover
her with the soil. The cat, not liking this proceeding,
at last made her escape.

While two terriers were hunting together in a wood,
one was caught by the leg in a trap set for foxes.
Bis companion finding that he could not extricate the

284 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

other^ ran to the house of his owner^ and by his signi-
ficant gesticulations induced him to follow; and by
this means he was extricated.

Mr. Morritt, well known to the readers of the Life
of Sir Walter Scott, as his intimate and confidential
friend, had two terriers of the pepper-and-mustard
breed, or rather, as we prefer him to any other cha-
racter Sir Walter Scott has delighted us wi^Ji, the
Dandy Dinmont breed. These dogs (for we avoid
the feminine appellation when we can) were strongly
attached to their excellent master, and he to them.
They were mother and daughter, and each produced
a litter of puppies about the same time. Mr. Morritt
was seriously ill at this period, and confined to his
bed. Fond as these dogs were of their puppies, they
had an equal afifection for their master, and in order
to prove to him that such was the case, they adopted
the following expedient. They conveyed their two
litters of puppies to one place, and while one of the
mothers remained to suckle and take care of them, the
other went into Mr. Morritt^s bedroom and continued
there from morning until the evening. When the
evening arrived, she went and relieved the other dog,
who then came into the bedroom, and remained quietly
all night by the side of the bed, and this they con-
tinued to do day after day in succession.

This charming anecdote was communicated to me
from a quarter which cannot leave a doubt of its au-
thenticity, and afibrds an afiecting proof of gratitude

THE TEBBIEB. 285

and love in animals towards those who have treated
them with kindness^ and made them their friends.
Such an anecdote as this should be sufficient to pre-
serve dogs from much of the ill-treatment they meet
with,

I knew a very clever terrier belonging to a friend
of mine. His name was Snap. Now Snap one fine,
hot, summer^s day, accompanied his master, who was
on horseback, on his way from London to the neigh-
bourhood of Windsor. The road was very dusty, and,
as I have said, the weather hot, and Snap was very
thirsty. No water was met with until Hounslow had
been passed. At last a woman crossed the road with
a bucket of water, which she had drawn from a neigh-
bouring pump. On arriving at her cottage she placed
it outside her door, and left it there. Snap saw it and
lapped up some of the water with evident satisfaction,
his master waiting for him. When he had finished
his lapping, instead of following, he deliberately in-
serted his hind-quarters into the bucket — took a good
cooling bath — shook himself in the bucket — jumped
out — gave himself another shake, and then followed
his master. If Snap was lost in London, he would go
to every house usually frequented by his master ; and
if he then could not find him, would return home.
Snap, in fact, was an extraordinary dog.

One night, a gentleman, between fifty and sixty
years of age^ went into a house of a particular de-

286 ANECDOTES Of DOGS.

scription near the Admiralty. He had not been long
there when he died suddenly. He had with him a
small dog of the terrier kind^ which immediately left
the room. There was nothing found on the gentle-
tleman^s person to lead to a discovery of his name or
residence. About twelve o^clock, however, on the fol-
lowing night, three interesting young ladies, of very
genteel appearance, between the ages of sixteen and
twenty, arrived at the house in which the gentleman
died, accompanied by the dog. They came in a chaise
from Richmond. It appears that the dog, immediately
after the decease of his master, ran off to Richmond,
where he usually resided. As soon as the door was
opened he rushed into the apartment of the young
ladies, who were in the act of dressing themselves.
He began to solicit their attention by whines and cries,
and his eyes turned to the door, as if to invite them to
follow him. Failing in this, he became more earnest,
seized their clothes, and pulled them towards the door
with so much violence, that one of their gowns was
torn. This excited great alarm; and from the intel-
ligence shown by the animal, it was resolved by the
young ladies to resign themselves to the dog, which
continued to entice them away. A chaise was accord-
ingly ordered, and they immediately took their seats
in it. The dog led the way, with its head almost con-
stantly turned back, and his eyes fixed upon the car-
riage, until he led them to the house near the Admi-

THE TERRIER. 287

ralty, where his master had died. There they alighted ;
but how great was their grief^ horror, and surprise, to
find their father dead in such a situation !

The deceased proved to be Mr. , an inha-
bitant of Lewisham, in Kent, where he possessed a
farm of considerable extent, and followed the business
of an auctioneer, and was greatly respected in his
neighbourhood. That night he dropped down in the
house alluded to, when the people, supposing him dead,
immediately gave the alarm, and the body was con-
veyed to the Lord Cochrane hotel, within a few doors,
in Spring Gardens. Here it was discovered that the
spark of life was not totally extinguished. He was
carried up-stairs and put to bed, and medical assist-
ance was called in; but in vain, — in a few minutes he
was a corpse. As the people of the house were car-
rying him up-stairs, a sum of 1100/. fell frdm his
pocket in bank-notes, tied up in a bundle, and marked
on the outside, " To be paid into Snow's,^' — a circum-
stance sufficient in itself to show that he had not been
dishonestly treated by the female who accompanied
him into the house from which he was brought, or any
other person belonging to it. The interesting little
dog, after his return, remained at his post, the faithful
guardian of his beloved master's remains. He lay on
the foot of the bed, with his eyes constantly fixed on the
body, with an eager, anxious, melancholy expression.

The place was crowded with people, led by curi-
osity to this interesting scene. Tlie dog wes^x «§^^«t^

288 ANKCDOTES OF DOGS.

to take any notice of these strange visitonii and no rode
liand BtUimptitd to interrupt the little mourner in hii
nidancholy office. The verdict of the coroner's inquat
waK, — " Died by the visitation of God/'

Another of tlie same breed of dogs evinced mueh
sagacity on the following occasion: —

Ilis maht<;r occupied furnished hxlgingii near the
Inns of Court in liondon. In the hurry of removing
from thcrti, neither he nor his servants thought of the
dog^ who was not in the way when they quitted the
hoiiMi, When the dog returned to it^ finding hii
rnaHt(;r gone, he trotted off t^) Kensington^ where an
intimate friend of his masUsr resided^ and very quietly
and pati(;nlly made himself at home in the house. Ai
Ik; was well known, he was fed and taken care of, tnd
at the end of lhr(;e days his muHtitr called, and he then
gladly w(;nt away with him.

In this inHtanee it is, I think, evident, that the
ddg posHeHMftd a sort of rctasoning fiutulty, which in-
duced him to Kuppow; that the best chance he bsdof
finding his maHter wfis by going to a place to which
he had ff^rmerly accompanied him ; and he was correet
in his calculation.

Th'iH faculty was again exercised in the followiog
manner: —

A genth^man residing in the. Tower of I»ndon bad
a terrier which he. one day lost, about M;ven miles froii
town. The dog attached }iims<;lf to a soldier, and not*
withstanding the man went to town in an omnibus, the

THE TERRIER. 289

dog followed the vehicle. When the soldier alighted
from it, he went to the barracks in St. James's Park,
the dog continuing close behind him. On examining
the collar, the name and residence of the owner of the
dog were found on it. The soldier therefore brought
him to the Tower, and gave the above particulars.
From this account it may be supposed that the dog,
having been familiar with the sight of Guardsmen at
the Tower, had followed one of them in hopes that he
belonged to that place, and therefore would conduct
him to it.

I am not aware that any writer upon dogs has
noticed one of their peculiarities, that of curiosity. Let
me give a curious and well-authenticated instance of
this property, which was communicated to me by the
owner of the dog. This animal was a Scotch terrier,
named Snob, and certainly a more singular dog has
seldom been met with. His master was commander of
the fleet on the South American station, and Snob em-
barked with him. He soon began to give proofs of his
extraordinary curiosity, for he liked to see everything
that was going forward in the ship. Snob, in fact, was
a sort of Paul Pry. I^e watched everything that was
to be done. One night the s&ilors were kept up aloft
for some hours doing something to the sails ; Snob
remained on the deck the whole time, looking very wise,
and watching the sailors with one paw lifted up. He
would at other times wander between the decks^ lookvci%
at everjrthing going forward; andYrtieu\vft\vaa\i^^TL^SK»^.

390 ANSCDoras ot ikms.

in the cabin he has fieqnenily been obtenred stmcbiig
on his hind legs looking throng^ the kejrholeof the dooTi
in orderto watch the piooeedings which were cnried on.
I have a great respect for Snob, who is still aUfSy sni
I have no doubt his curiosity is as great as erer.

A carious instance of ferocity and afectiop in s
terrier bitch is recorded by Mr. Daniel : — After a nr/
severe burst of upwards of an houTy a fox waa^ by Mr.
DanieFs hounds, run to earth, at Heney JkufAtomt,
near Sudbury, in Suffolk. The tevriem weve lost; kt
as the fox went to ground in view of the hfadnaat
hounds^ and it was the concluding dqr of the season it
was resolved to dig him out, and two men from SodMij
brought a couple of terriers for that porpoae. After
considerable labour, the hunted fox was got, and giiai
to the hounds ; whilst they were breaking him, one d
the terriers slipped back into the earth, and again U.
After more diggings a bitch-fox was taken out, andfli
terrier killed two cubs in the earth ; three others
saved from her fury, and which were begged by thet
of the bitchy who said he should make her suekle
This was laughed at as impossible; however, the
was positive, and the cubs were given to Um* Us
bitch-fox was carried away, and turned into an i
another county. The terrier had behaved no wdl t
earth, that she was some days afterwards boog^ wi&
the cubs she had fostered, by Mr. DanieL Hie Utf
continued regularly to suckle, and reared tbea Hf
able to shift for themselves. What adds to Ain

THE TERKIER. 291

lurity is^ that the terrier's whelp was nearly five weeks
oldy and the cubs could just see^ when this exchange
of progeny was made.

The following is a proof not only of the kind dis-
position^ but the^ sense of a terrier.

A gentleman^ from whom I received the anecdote,
was walking one day along a road in Lancashire, when
he was accosted, if the term may be used, by a terrier
dog. The animal's gesticulations were at first so strange
and unusual, that he felt inclined to get out of its way.
The dog, however, at last, by various significant signs
uid expressive looks, made his meaning known, and the
^tleman, to the dog's great delight, turned and fol-
lowed him for a few hundred yards. He was led to the
imnks of a canal, which he had not before seen, and
there he discovered a small dog struggling in the water
for his life, and nearly exhausted by his eflforts to save
bimself from drowning. The sides of the canal were
bricked, with a low pai*apet wall rather higher than the
bank. The gentleman, by stooping down, with some
difficulty got hold of the dog and di*ew him out, his
companion all the time watching the proceedings. It
cannot be doubted, but that in this instance the terrier
made use of the only means in his power to save the
other dog, and this in a way which showed a power of
leasoning equally strong with that of a human being,
under a similar circumstance.

I may here mention another instance of a terrier
finding his way back to his former home.

292 ANSODoras or ixms.

A gentleman residing near York went to LoddoDy
and on his return Imraght with him a joung tenier
dog^ which had never been out of London. He bmi^
him to York in one of the coaches^ and thenoe ccfowejti
him to his residence. Impatient of sejiaration from Ui
former master^ he took the first opportimity of eacMpof
from the stable in which he had been confined^ and wn
seen running on the turnpike road towards Tovk by thi
boy who had him in charge, and who followed him tan
some distance. A few days afterwardtj the gendensa
who had lost the dog received a letter hom Londn^
acquainting him that the dog was found lying at Iks
door of his lodgings, his fSeet quite sore, and in a nkost
emaciated condition.

A few years ago, a blind terrier dog was bioa|^
from Cashiobury Park, near Watford, to Windsor. Oi
arriving at the latter place he became very readeaa^ sal
took the first opportunity of making his escape, ni,
blind as he was, made his way back to Cadiiohnj
Park, his native place.

A correspondent informs me, that whilst he IMS
taking a walk one summer^s evening, he obserred tai
rough-looking men, having a bull-dog with tiiBi^
annoying a sickly-looking young gentleman, who
accompanied by a terrier. The bull-dog at last
the latter, and would soon have killed it, had not Wf
correspondent interfered. He was then infixmied fti
a few years previous, when his master wasinbed^Oii
little terrier came to his bedroom door, and imlfif* M

THE T£RliI£R. 293

and yelled to be admitted. When this had been done^
he immediately rushed to a closet-door in the room^ at
which he barked most furiously. His master^ becoming
alarmed^ fastened the door^ and having obtained the
assistance of his servants^ a notorious thief was dis-
covered in the closet.

Mr. White, of Selborne, relates a pleasing anecdote
of affection, which existed between two incongruous
animals — a horse and a hen, and which showed a
mutual fellowship and kindness for each other. The
following anecdote, communicated to me by a clergy-
man in Devonshire, affords another proof of affection
between two animals of opposite natures. I will give
it in his own words : —

" Some few months since it was necessary to con-
fine our little terrier bitch, on account of distemper.
The prison-door was constructed of open bars; and
shortly after the dog was placed in durance, we
observed a bantam cock gazing compassionately at the
melancholy inmate, who, doubtless, sadly missed its
warm rug by the parlour fire. At last the bantam
contrived to squeeze through the bars, and a friend-
ship of a most unusual kind commenced. Fylades
and Orestes, Nisus and Euryalus, could not have been
bound by closer bonds of affection. The bantam
scarcely forsook the poor prisoner's cell for its daily
food, and when it did the dog became uneasy, whining
till her firiend returned, and then it was most amusing
to watch the actions of the biped and quadruped.

294 ANECDOTES OP D008.

As the dog became worse^ so did the bantam's atteo-
tions redouble ; and by way of warming the dog, it
took its place between the forelegs^ and then the Uttle
animal settled luxuriously down on the bird^ seeming
to enjoy the warmth imparted by the feathers. In
this position, and nestled closely side by side^ did
this curious pair pass some weeks, till death put an
end to the poor dog and this singular friendship. It
must be added for the bantam^s honour, that he was
most melancholy for some time afterwards.^'

The same clergyman also communicated to me the
following anecdote illustrative of the sagacity of terriers.

He says that '^ his brother-in-law, who has a house
in Wobum Place, and another in the City, had a
wire-haired terrier named Bob, of extraordinary saga-
city. The dog's knowledge of London and his ad-
ventures would form a little history. His master was
in the habit, occasionally, of spending a few days at
Gravesend, but did not always take his dog with him.
Bob, left behind one day against his liking, scam-
pered off to London Bridge, and out of the numerous
steamers boarded the Gravesend boat, disembarked
at that place, went to the accustomed inn^ and not
finding his master there, got on board the steamer
again and returned to town. He then called at several
places usually frequented by his master, and afterwards
went home to Wobum Place. He has frequently been
stolen, but always returns, sometimes in sad plight,
with a broken cord. loxmi^ \i\& \!kfcO&.^ «s\A. mth signs of

THE TERRIER. 295

ill-usage; but still he contrives to escape from the
dog-stealers/'

I once took a favourite terrier with me to a house
I had hired in Manchester Street. He had never been
in London before. While the carriage was uiiloading
in which the dog had been conveyed, he was missed,
and I could hear nothing of him for nearly a fortnight ; •
at the end of that time he found his way back to the
house, with a short cord round his neck, which he
had evidently gnawed off. How he came to find his
way back is not a little to be wondered at. His joy
on seeing me again I cannot forget. Poor Peter I
when he got old, and my rides became too long for
him, he pretended to be lame after accompanying me
a short distance, and would then trot back without any
appearance of lameness.

The following anecdote proves the kind disposition
of a terrier. A kitten, only a few hours old, had been
put into a pail of water, in the stable-yard of an inn,
for the purpose of drowning it. It had remained
there for a minute or two, until it was to all appearance
dead, when a terrier bitch, attached to the stables,
took the kitten from the water, and carried it off in
her mouth. She suckled and watched over it with
great care, and it throve well. The dog was at the
same time suckling a puppy about ten weeks old, but
which did not seem at all displeased with the intruder.

I had once an opportunity of witnessing the sense
of a terrier. I was riding on Sunbut^ Coxsvmswx^N^^tfc

\

296 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

many roads diverge^ when a terrier ran up^ evidently
in pursuit of his master. On arriving at one of the
three roads^ he put his nose to the ground and snuffed
along it; he then went to the second, and did the
same; but when he came to the third, he ran along
it as fast as he could, without once putting down his

. nose to the ground. This fact has been noticed by
others, but I never before witnessed it myself.

At Dunrobin Castle, in Sutherlandshire (then the
seat of the Marquis of Stafford now of the Duke of
Sutherland), there was to be seen, in May 1820, a
terrier bitch nursing a brood of ducklings. Sbe
had a litter of whelps a few weeks before, which
were taken from her and drowned. The unfortunate
mother was quite disconsolate till she perceived the
brood of ducklings, which she immediately seized and
carried to her lair, where she retained them, foUowing
them out and in with the greatest care, and nursing
them, after her own fashion, with the most affectionate
anxiety. When the ducklings, following their natural
instinct, went into the water, their foster-mother ex-
hibited the utmost alarm ; and as soon as they returned
to land she snatched them up in her mouth, and ran
home with them. What adds to the singularity of this
circumstance is, that the same animal when deprived of
a litter of puppies the year preceding, seized two cock-
chickens, which she reared with the like care she

' bestows upon her present family. When the young
cocks began to trj tWvc Novi«», ^«2t ^»«XK:L-^Q^>i!fiiS» was

THE TERRTEB. 297

as much annoyed as she now seems to be by the swim-
ming of the ducklings^ and never failed to repress their
attempts at crowing.

The foreman of a brickmaker^ at Erith in Kent^
went from home in company with his wife, and left
her at the Plough at Northend with his brother, while
he proceeded across the fields to inspect some repairs
at a cottage. In about an hour after his departure,
his dog, a small Scotch teirier, which had accompanied
him, returned to the Plough, jumped into the lap of
his mistress, pawed her about, and whined piteously.
She at first took no particular notice of the animal,
but pushed him from her. He then caught hold of
her clothes, pulled at them repeatedly, and continued
to whine incessantly. He endeavoured, also, in a
similar way to attract the attention of the brother.
At last all present noticed his importunate anxiety, and
the wife then said she was convinced something had
happened to her husband. The brother and the wife,
with several others, went out and followed the dog,
who led them through the darkness of the night,
which was very great, to the top of a precipice, nearly
fifty feet deep; and standing on the bank, held his
head over, and howled in a most distressing manner.
They were convinced that the poor man had fallen
over; and having gone round to the bottom of the
pit, they found him, lying under the spot indicated by
the dog, quite dead.

296 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

many roads diverge^ when a terrier ran up^ evidently
in pursuit of his master. On arriving at one of the
three roads^ he put his nose to the ground and snuffed
along it; he then went to the second^ and did the
same; but when he came to the thirds he ran along
it as fast as he could^ without once putting down his

. nose to the ground. This fact has been noticed by
others, but I never before witnessed it myself.

At Dunrobin Castle, in Sutherlandshire (then the
seat of the Marquis of Stafford now of the Duke of
Sutherland), there was to be seen, in May 1820, a
terrier bitch nursing a brood of ducklings. She
had a litter of whelps a few weeks before, which
were taken from her and drowned. The unfortunate
mother was quite disconsolate till she perceived the
brood of ducklings, which she immediately seized and
carried to her lair, where she retained them, following
them out and in with the greatest care, and nursing
them, after her own fashion, with the most affectionate
anxiety. When the ducklings, following their natural
instinct, went into the water, their foster-mother ex-
hibited the utmost alarm ; and as soon as they returned
to land she snatched them up in her mouth, and ran
home with them. What adds to the singularity of this
circumstance is, that the same animal when deprived of
a Utter of puppies the year preceding, seized two cock-
chickens, which she reared with the like care she

' bestows upon her present family. When the young
cocks began to trj t\ie\t \civ!fc^^ \Jii^ \<^'^^s2t-\siS3k\Sc»Rx was

THE TERBTEB. 297

as much annoyed as she now seems to be by the swim-
ming of the ducklings^ and never failed to repress their
attempts at crowing.

The foreman of a brickmaker^ at Erith in Kent^
went from home in company with his wife, and left
her at the Plough at Northend with his brother, while
he proceeded across the fields to inspect some repairs
at a cottage. In about an hour after his departure,
his dog, a small Scotch teirier, which had accompanied
him, returned to the Plough, jumped into the lap of
his mistress, pawed her about, and whined piteously.
She at first took no particular notice of the animal,
but pushed him from her. He then caught hold of
her clothes, pulled at them repeatedly, and continued
to whine incessantly. He endeavoured, also, in a
similar way to attract the attention of the brother.
At last all present noticed his importunate anxiety, and
the wife then said she was convinced something had
happened to her husband. The brother and the wife,
with several others, went out and followed the dog,
who led them through the darkness of the night,
which was very great, to the top of a precipice, nearly
fifty feet deep; and standing on the bank, held his
head over, and howled in a most distressing manner.
They were convinced that the poor man had fallen
over; and having gone round to the bottom of the
pit, they found him, lying under the spot indicated by
the dog, quite dead.

296 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

many roads diverge^ when a terrier ran up^ evidently
in pursuit of his master. On arriving at one of the
three roads^ he put his nose to the ground and snuffed
along it; he then went to the second, and did the
same; but when he came to the third, he ran along
it as fast as he could, without once putting down his

. nose to the ground. This fact has been noticed by
others, but I never before witnessed it myself.

At Dunrobin Castle, in Sutherlandshire (then the
seat of the Marquis of Stafford now of the Duke of
Sutherland), there was to be seen, in May 1820, a
terrier bitch nursing a brood of ducklings. She
had a litter of whelps a few weeks before, which
were taken from her and drowned. The unfortunate
mother was quite disconsolate till she perceived the
brood of ducklings, which she immediately seized and
carried to her lair, where she retained them, following
them out and in with the greatest care, and nursing
them, after her own fashion, with the most affectionate
anxiety. When the ducklings, following their natural
instinct, went into the water, their foster-mother ex-
hibited the utmost alarm ; and as soon as they returned
to land she snatched them up in her mouth, and ran
home with them. What adds to the singularity of this
circumstance is, that the same animal when deprived of
a litter of puppies the year preceding, seized two cock-
chickens, which she reared with the like care she

' bestows upon her present family. When the young
cocks began to Xx^ thieve nqI\^^"^, ^«vt V^^\.^^-'\s^^\^<^t was

THE TBRBTEB. 297

as much annoyed as she now seems to be by the swim-
ming of the ducklings^ and never failed to repress their
attempts at crowing.

The foreman of a brickmaker^ at Erith in Kent^
went from home in company with his wife, and left
her at the Plough at Northend with his brother, while
he proceeded across the fields to inspect some repairs
at a cottage. In about an hour after his departure,
his dog, a small Scotch teirier, which had accompanied
him, returned to the Plough, jumped into the lap of
his mistress, pawed her about, and whined piteously.
She at first took no particular notice of the animal,
but pushed him from her. He then caught hold of
her clothes, pulled at them repeatedly, and continued
to whine incessantly. He endeavoured, also, in a
similar way to attract the attention of the brother.
At last all present noticed his importunate anxiety, and
the wife then said she was convinced something had
happened to her husband. The brother and the wife,
with several others, went out and followed the dog,
who led them through the darkness of the night,
which was very great, to the top of a precipice, nearly
fifty feet deep; and standing on the bank, held his
head over, and howled in a most distressing manner.
They were convinced that the poor man had fallen
over; and having gone round to the bottom of the
pit, they foimd him, lying under the spot indicated by
the dog, quite dead.

296 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

many roads diverge, when a terrier ran up, evidently
in pursuit of his master. On arriving at one of the
three roads, he put his nose to the ground and snuffed
along it; he then went to the second, and did the
same; but when he came to the third, he ran along
it as fast as he could, without once putting down his
nose to the ground. This fact has been noticed by
others, but I never before witnessed it myself.

At Dunrobin Castle, in Sutherlandshire (then the
seat of the Marquis of Stafford now of the Duke of
Sutherland), there was to be seen, in May 1820, a
terrier bitch nursing a brood of ducklings. She
had a litter of whelps a few weeks before, which
were taken from her and drowned. The unfortunate
mother was quite disconsolate till she perceived the
brood of ducklings, which she immediately seized and
carried to her lair, where she retained them, following
them out and in with the greatest care, and nursing
them, after her own fashion, with the most affectionate
anxiety. When the ducklings, following their natural
instinct, went into the water, their foster-mother ex-
hibited the utmost alarm ; and as soon as they returned
to land she snatched them up in her mouth, and nm
home with them. What adds to the singularity of thi«
circumstance is, that the same animal when deprived of
a litter of puppies the year preceding, seized two cock-
chickens, which she reared with the like care she
bestows upon her present family. When the young
cocks began to try their voices, their foster-mother was

THE TERBTEB. 297

as much annoyed as she now seems to be by the swim-
ming of the ducklings^ and never failed to repress their
attempts at crowing.

The foreman of a brickmaker^ at Erith in Kent^
went from home in company with his wife^ and left
her at the Plough at Northend with his brother, while
he proceeded across the fields to inspect some repairs
at a cottage. In about an hour after his departure,
his dog, a small Scotch teirier, which had accompanied
him, returned to the Plough, jumped into the lap of
his mistress, pawed her about, and whined piteously.
She at first took no particular notice of the animal,
but pushed him from her. He then caught hold of
her clothes, pulled at them repeatedly, and continued
to whine incessantly. He endeavoured, also, in a
similar way to attract the attention of the brother.
At last all present noticed his importunate anxiety, and
the wife then said she was convinced something had
happened to her husband. The brother and the wife,
with several others, went out and followed the dog,
who led them through the darkness of the night,
which was very great, to the top of a precipice, nearly
fifty feet deep; and standing on the bank, held his
head over, and howled in a most distressing manner.
They were convinced that the poor man had fallen
over; and having gone round to the bottom of the
pit, they found him, lying under the spot indicated by
the dog, quite dead.

298 ANECDOTES OF D008.

The following anecdote is copied £roin a recent
number of " The Field : ''—

I well remember, when a boy, at Barton-iip(Hi-
H umber, a certain "keeP' employed in the Yorkshire
corn-trade, on board which the captain had a d(^,
posscflscd of some traces of terrier blood, smooth-coated,
and of a pure white colour, his neck and back adorned
with stumpy bristles, which ruffled up at the slightest
provocation — altogether he looked a mongrel cur
enough, but he was an excellent sailor, for he attended
his master on all his trading expeditions, and never
deserted his ship. One day, while the keel lay in
Barton Haven, the dog was lost, and great was the
consternation in consequence. Diligent search was
made in the town and neighbourhood, but every efiwt
to discover the missing animal proved unavailing.
Month after month passed away, the keel went and
came on her accustomed avocations, and poor Keeper
was forgotten — considered by his master to be dead.
Judge, therefore, the man^s surprise when one day
steering with difficulty his vessel into Goole Ilarbotir,
which w^as crowded with shipping at the time, his glance
suddenly fell upon his faithful and long-lost dog, buffet-
ing the water at a considerable distance from the keel,
but making eagerly towards her. By the aid of a piece
of tar-rope, which was dangling round the dog's neck,
and a friendly boat-hook, he was lifted quite exhausted
on to the deck of his master's craft, when it became at

TBS TBBKIER. 299

once apparent that he had long been kept a prisoner,
most probably on board a vessel, by some one who had
stolen him at Barton. The cause of the poor dog's
sudden reappearance was undoubtedly his having heard
his master's well-remembered voice ; but it is strange
he should have been able to distinguish at so great a
distance, and when swelHng that chorus of hoarse
bawling which arises from a hxindred husky throats
when a Yorkshire keelman is engaged forcing his craft
into a crowded harbour ; and it is also equally touch-
ing, that when roused by the distant sound, the poor
beast should have plunged, encumbered as he was with
the rope he had jnst burst asunder, so gallantly into
the water — an element he was ill-adapted to move in,
and in which his master declared he had never seen
him before.

THE SPANIEL.

" Though ODce a poppf, uid a fop hj name,
Here mouUcra one whou booea >ome honour cliioi ;
No *;cophBnt, sltbongh of Spanish race,
And though no hound, a martjrr to the chaie.
Ye pheaunts, rabbita, leveret* rejoice.
Tour haoQta no longer echo to hii voice ;
Thii record of hia fete, exulting view —
He died vom oat wi^ vain pnrsuit of fon.
' Yei,' the indif-nant ihade of Fop replies,
' And •roTQ with taiMptimtUi, man also diei.' "

CowFti-

FoOK Doll ! the very name of apuiiel remindB me <n
you. How well do I now see your long pendent can,
your black expiCMive eyes, your ibort, weU-rDiuided
mouth, yoni diminutive but strong legs, almost hidden
by the long, silky hair from your stomach, and hnr

THE SFAMIEL. 301

you sing as you lie on the rug before a good fire in the
winter, after a hard day^s cock or snipe-shooting, wet
and tired with your indefatigable exertions ! Yes —
strange as it may sound, Doll would sing in her way,
as I have stated in a previous page ; and such was her
sagacity, that in process of time when I said, ^' Sing,
Doll," she gave vent to the sounds, and varied them
as I exclaimed, " Louder, louder/^ All this time she
appeared to be fast asleep. — And what a dog she was in
thick cover, or in rushy swamps ! No day was too long
for her, nor could a woodcock or snipe escape her
" unerring nose : ''—

** Still her unerring nose would wind it —
If above ground was sure to find it/'

Monsieur Blaze also tells us, that a gentleman had
a dog which he taught to utter a particular musical
note, and that the animal made a cry which very much
resembled it. He then sounded another note close to
the ear of the dog, saying to him, " Too high, or too
low," according to the degree of intonation. The ani-
mal finished by pretty correctly giving the note which ,
was required.

An account is given in the " Bibliothfeque Univer-
selle," of a spaniel, who, if he heard any one play or
sing a certain air, " L'ane de notre moulin est mort,
la pauvre bfite," &c., which is a lamentable ditty, in
the minor key, the dog looked very pitifully, then gaped
repeatedly, showing increasing signs of im.^^tA&Xk&^ «c^^

302 ANECDOTES OF D008.

uneasiness. He would then sit upright on his hind-
legs, and begin to howl louder and louder till the music
stopped. No other air ever affected him, and he never
noticed any music till the air in question was played or
sung. He then manifested, without exception or varia-
tion, the series of actions which have been described.

I knew a dog which howled whenever it was pitied,
and another whose ear was so sensitive, that it could
never bear to hear me make a moaning noise. I have
likewise seen a dog affected by peculiar notes played on
a violoncello.

It is only now and then that such dogs as Doll are
to be met with, and when they are, they are invaluable,
either as sporting dogs or as companions. In the
latter capacity Doll was quite delightful. In an early
May morning, when she knew that no shooting was
going forward, she would frisk around me as I strolled
in a meadow, gay with my favourite cowslips, or run
befofe me as I passed along a lane, where primroses
were peeping out of its mossy sides, looking back every
now and then to see if I was following her. There was
the dew still glittering on the flowers, which, from their
situation, had not yet felt the influence of the morning
sun, reminding me of some favourite lines by my
favourite poet, Herrick : —

" Fall on me like a silent dew,
Or like those maiden showers,
Which, by the peep of day, do strew
A baptism o'er the flowers,**

THE SPANIEL. 303

How delightfal it is to think of these bygone
¥alks^ and how pleasant to call to mind these traito
)f a favourite and faithful animal ! The poet Cowper
fas never more engaging than when he describes his
^ain attempts to reach the flower of a water-lily^ as
le was strolling along the banks of a stream attended
by his spaniel^ and afterwards discovering that the
ogacious animal had been in the river and plucked
it for him.

Another instance of wonderful sagacity in this breed
)f dogs may be here noticed.

A gentleman shooting wild fowl one day on a lake
n Ireland^ was accompanied by a sagacious spaniel.
He wounded a wild duck, which swam about the lake,
ffld dived occasionally, followed by the dog. The bird
it last got to some distance, and lowered itself in the
*ater, as ducks are known to do when they are wounded
uid pursued, leaving nothing but his head out of it.
rhe dog swam about for some time in search of his
)rey, but all scent was lost, and he obeyed his master's
Jail, and returned to the shore. He had no sooner
wived there, however, than he ran with the greatest
»gemess to the top of some high ground close to the
ake. On arriving there, he was seen looking round in
Jvery direction ; and having at last perceived the spot
^kere the duck was endeavouring to conceal itself, he
'gain rushed into the water, made directly to the spot
^e had previously marked, and at last succeeded in
^curing the wounded bird.

304 AXKCDOTES OF DOGS.

A Kpaniel which had been kindly treated and fed,
during the absence of his master^ in the kitchen of a
neighbour^ showed his gratitude not only by greeting
the cfx>k when he met her^ but on one occasion be bud
down at her ff^t a bird which he had caught^ wagged
his tail and departed ; thus showing that he had not
forf^ritten the favours he had received.

The following old^ but interesting anecdote, ift
taken from Daniel^s '' Kural Sports : " —

" A few days before the overthrow of Robespierre,

a revolutionary tribunal had condemned M. K , an

upright magistrate and a most estimable raan^ on a
pretence of finding him guilty of a conspiracy. His
faithful dog^ a spaniel^ was with him when he was
Hcized, but was not suffered to enter the prison. He
took njfuge with a neighbour of his master's, and
evf^ry day at the same hour returned to the door of
thf; pri.Hon, but was Htill refused admittance. He, bow-
ev(;r, unifrjrnijy passed some time there, and his unit-
rnittiri^ fidelity won upon the porter, and the dog wa«
allowf^d to ent<;r. The meeting may be better ims-
^infd than described. The gaoler, however, fearfiil fw
liirriMelf, carried the dog out of the prison ; but here-
turned the next morning, and was regularly admitted
on each day afterwards. When the day of sentence
arrived, the dog, notwithstanding the guards, pcn^
tr?itf!d into the hall, where he lay crouched between iht
JegH of his master. Again, at the hour of execotioo,
the faithful dog is there: the knife of the goillotioe

THE SPANIEL. 805

taJis — he will not leave the lifeless and headless body.
The first night, the next day, and the second night, his
absence alarmed his new patron, who, guessing whither
he had retired, sought him, and found him stretched
upon his master's grave. From this time, for three
months, every morning the mourner returned to his
protector merely to receive food, and then again re-
treated to the grave. At length he refused food, ^
his patience seemed exhausted, and with temporary
strength, supphed by his long-.tried and unexhausted
affection, for twenty-four hours he was observed to
employ his weakened limbs in digging up the eart^
that separated him from the being he had ^qrved.
His powers, however, here gave way ; he shrieked in
his straggles, and at length ceased to breathe, with his
last look turned upon the grave.^^

The late Rev. Mr. Corsellis, of Wivenhoe, in Essex,

had an old gamekeeper who had reared a spaniel,

which became his constant companion, day and

night. Wherever the keeper appeared Dash was close

behind him, and was of infinite use in his master^s

nocturnal excursions. The game at night was never

i^arded, although in the day no spaniel could find

it in better style, or in a greater quantity^ If at

iiight, however, a strange foot entered the coverts.

Dash, by a significant whine^ informed his master

that an enemy was abroad, and thus many poachers

iiave been detected. After many years of friendly

Qompaaionahip the keeper was seized with a disease

306 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

which terminated in death. Whilst the slow hut fatal
progress of his disorder allowed him to crawl about,
Dash^ as usual^ followed his footsteps ; and when na-
ture was nearly exhausted^ and he took to his bed,
the faithful animal unweariedly attended at the foot of it.
When he died the dog would not quit the body, but
lay on the bed by its side. It was with difficulty be
could be induced to eat any food ; and though after tbe
burial he was caressed with all the tenderness wbich
so fond an attachment naturally called forth^ he took
every opportunity to steal back to the room where bis
old master died. Here he would remain for hours, and
from thence he daily visited his grave. At the end,
however, of fourteen days^ notwithstanding every
kindness and attention shown him, the poor faitbful
animal died, a victim of grief for the loss of his
master.

In recording such an instance of affection, it is
impossible not to feel regret that animals capable of so
much attachment should ever be subjected to ill-usage.
Whenever they are treated with kindness wid affection,
they are ready to return it four-fold. It is generally
ill-treatment which produces ferocity or indifference,
and the former must be very great before the love of
their master can be conquered.

Mr. Blaine records the following story of a dog
which he had found : —

" I one day picked xrp m \Xi^ ^tte-ets an old spanid
hitch, that some \>oya ^ete ^oTr^^^^\aa\.>^^>»

THE 8PANIXL, 807

mhiral timidity rendered her incapable of defending
benelf. (Jrateful for the protection^ she readily fol-
lowed me home, where she was placed among other
dogs, in expectation of finding an owner for her; but
idiich not happening, she spent the remainder of her
life (three or four years) in this asylum. Convinced
die was safe and well treated, I had few opportunities
of particularly noticing her afterwards, and she attached
lierself principally to the man who fed her. At a future
period, when inspecting the sick dogs, I observed her
in great pain, occasionally crying out. Supposing her
to be affected in her bowels, and having no suspicion
she was in pup, I directed some castor-oil to be given
her. The next day she was still worse, when I exa-
mined her more attentively, and, to my surprise, disco-
vered that a young one obstructed the passage, and
which she was totally unable to bring forth. I placed
her on a table, and, after some difiSculty, succeeded in
detaching the puppy from her. The relief she instantly
felt produced an effect I shall never forget ; she licked
my hands, and when put on the ground she did the
same to my feet, danced round me, and screamed with
gratitude and joy.

'' From this time to her death, which did not hap-
pen till two years after, she never forgot the benefit
the had received; on the contrary, whenever I ap-
proached, she was boisterous in evincing her gratitude
and regard, and would never let me rest tvll^b^ \v^l\s\:^%
befj I bad convinced her that 1 waa ^csvv^c^ ^1 V^

308 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

caresses. The difference between her behayionr before
this accident and after it was so pointed and striking,
that it was impossible to mistake the grateful sense
she had ever retained of the kindness which had been
shown to her/'

Spaniels in cover are merry and cheerful com-
panions^ all life and animation. They bnnt, they frisk
about^ watching the movements of their master^ and
are indefatigable in their exertions to find game for him.
Their neat shape, their beantiful coats^ their ckanlj
habits, their insinuating attention, incessant attendance,
and faithful obedience, insure for them general fayour.
It is almost impossible, therefore, not to have the
greatest attachment and affection for them^ especially
as few dogs evince so much sagacity, sincerity, pa-
tience, fidelity, and gratitude. From the time they arc
thrown off in the field, as a proof of the pleasure they
feel in being employed, the tail is in per]}etual mo-
tion, upon the increased vibration of which the ex-
perienced sportsman well knows when he is getting
nearer to the game. As the dog approaches it, Ae
more energetic he becomes. Tremulous whimpers es»
cape him as a matter of doubt occurs, and he is all
eagerness as he hits again on the scent. The Clumber
breed of spaniels have long been celebrated for their
strength and powers of endurance, their unerring noie^
and for hunting mute — a great qualification where game
abounds. This breed has been preserved in its piuitj
by the successive Dukes of Newcastle^ and may be OOD-

THE SPANIEL. 809

ddered as an aristocratic apanage to their country seats.
Nor should the fine breed of spaniels belonging to the
Earl of Albemarle be passed by in silence. They are
black and tan^ of a large size^ with long ears^ and very
much feathered about the legs. They are excellent
retrievers ; and those who have seen will not soon for-
get Sir Edwin Landseer's charming picture of the late
Lord Albemarle^s celebrated dog Chancellor^ and one of
his progeny, holding a dead rabbit between them, as
if equally eager to bring it to their amiable master.
These dogs, like those of the Clumber breed, hunt
Qiute, and seldom range out of shot.

While on the subject of Lord Albemarle's breed
of dogs, I may mention an extraordinary fact which
I noticed in a former work, and which I witnessed my-
self. I allude to the circumstance of a favourite dog
having died after producing a litter of puppies, which
were adopted, suckled, and brought up by a young
bitch of the same breed, who never had any whelps of
her own, or indeed was in the way of having any.
The flow of milk of the foster-mother was quite suffi-
cient for the sustenance of the adopted offspring, and
enabled her to support and bring them up with as
much care and affection as if they had been her own.
Here was an absence of that notus odor which enables
Aimals to distinguish their young from those of others,
and also of that distension of milk which makes the
suckling their young so delightful to them. Indeed
It may be observed how beautifully and providentially

310 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

it has been ordered, that the process of suckling theif
young is as pleasurable to the parent animal as it is
essential to the support of the infant progeny. The
mammae of animals become painful when over-dis-
tended with milk. Drawing off that fluid removes
positive uneasiness and affords positive pleasure. In
the present instance, however, nothing of the sort was
the case, and therefore we can only look to that kindU-
ness of disposition and intelligence with which many
animals are so strongly endowed as the reason of the
singular adoption referred to. I am aware that this
fact has been doubted, but it is too well known sni
authenticated to admit of the possibility of any nustake.
In this instance it must be allowed that the usually
defined bounds of instinct were exceeded. If so, dis-
tress at hearing the cries of the helpless young must
have acted forcibly on the kindly feelings of a poor
brute, and thus induced her to act in the manner I have
described.

Spaniels, like other dogs, possess the power of
finding their way to their homes from distances of
considerable extent, and over ground they have not
before traversed.

A lady residing at Richmond (Mrs. Grosvenor) gave
the Bev. Leonard Jenyns the following anecdote of a
dog and cat. A little Blenheim spaniel of hers once
accompanied her to the house of a relative, where it
was taken into the kitchen to be fed, when two
large favourite cats flew at it several timesi, and

THE SPANIEL. 811

scratched it severely. The spaniel was in the hahit of
following its mistress in her walks in the garden^ and
hy degrees it formed a friendship with a young cat of
the gardener's^ which it tempted into the house^ — ^first
into the hall^ and then into the kitchen^— where^ on
finding one of the large cats^ the spaniel and its ally fell
on it together^ and^ without further provocation^ beat it
well ; they then waited for the other, which they served
in the same manner, and finally drove both cats from
the kitchen. The two friends continued afterwards to
eat off the same plate as long as the spaniel remained
with her mistress in the house.

A gentleman residing at Worcester had a favourite
spaniel, which he brought with him to London inside
the coach. After having been in town a day or two he
missed the dog, and wrote to acquaint his family at
Worcester of his loss. He received an answer informing
him that he need not distress himself about " Bose,^' as
she had arrived at her old house at Worcester five days
after she had been lost in London, but very thin and
out of condition. This same dog was a great favourite,
and much domesticated. She formed a friendship with
the cat, and when before the fire the latter would lie
down in the most familiar manner by the side of the
dog. When the dog had puppies, the cat was in the
habit of sucking her ; and it happened more than once
that both had young ones at the same time, when the
cat might be seen sucking the bitch, and the kittens
taking their nourishment from the cat«

312 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

A friend of mine^ who then resided in Sonth Wales,
had a team of spaniels^ which he used for woodcoek
shooting. As he was leaving the country for a con-
siderable length of time^ he gave permission to some of
his neighbours to take out his spaniels when they wanted
them. One of these was a remarkably good dog^ but
of rather a surly disposition^ and had^ in consequence,
been but little petted or noticed by his master. Not-
withstanding this^ nothing could induce him either to
follow or hunt with those to whom he was lent. In
order^ therefore^ to make him of any use^ it was neces-
sary to get his feeder to accompany the shooting party,
and the dog would then take to hunt in cover; but if
this man returned home^ the dog would find it out and
be there before him. At the end of nearly six yean
his master returned into Wales, and near the house
discovered his old dog, apparently asleep. Knowing
his ferocious disposition, he did not venture to go close
to him, but called him by name, which did not appear
to excite the animaFs attention. No sooner, however,
did the dog hear an old exciting cover-call, than he
jumped up, sprang to his old master, and showed his
aflfection for him in every possible way. When the
shooting season came, he proved himself to be as good
a dog as ever.

Mons. Blaze says, that a fondness for the chase
does not always make a dog forget his fidelity to his
master. He was one day shooting wild ducks with a
friend near Versailles, when, as soon as the first shot

THE SPANIEL. 818

wad fired^ a fine spaniel dog joined and began to caress
them. They shot during the whole day^ and the dog
hunted with the greatest zeal and alacrity. Supposing
him to be a stray dog^ they began to think of appro-
priating him to themselves ; but as soon as the sport
was over, the dog ran away. They afterwards dis-
covered that he belonged to one of the keepers, who
was confined to his house by illness. His duty, how-
ever, was to shoot ducks on one particular day of the
week, when he was accompanied by this spaniel; he
lived six miles from the spot, and the dog, knowing
the precise day, had come there to enjoy his usual
sport, and then returned to his master.

One of the most extraordinary cases on record of a
fHendship between two most dissimilar animals, a spaniel
and a partridge, is narrated by a writer in whom im-
plicit confidence may be placed: — "We were lately
(in 1823) ^4siting in a house, where a very pleasing
and singular portrait attracted our observation : it was
that of a young lady, represented with a partridge
perched upon her shoulder, and a dog with his feet on
her arm. We recognised it as a representation of the
lady of the house ; but were at a loss to account for the
odd association of her companions. She observed our
surprise, and at once gave the history of the bird and
the spaniel. They were both, some years back, domes-
ticated in her family. The dog was an old parlour
favourite, who went by the name of Tom ; the partridge
was more recently introduced from France, and an-

314 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

swered to the equally familiar name of Bill. It was
rather a dangerous experiment to place them together,
for Tom was a lively and spirited creature, very apt to
torment the cats, and to bark at any object which
roused his instinct. But the experiment was tried;
and Bill, being very tame, did not feel much alarm at
his natural enemy. They were, of course, shy at first ;
but this shyness gradually wore off : the bird became
less timid, and the dog less bold. The most perfect
friendship was at length established between them.
When the hour of dinner arrived, the partridge in-
variably flew on his mistress's shoulder, calling with
that shrill note which is so well known to sportsmen;
and the spaniel leapt about with equal ardour. One
dish of bread and milk was placed on the floor, out of
which the spaniel and bird fed together. After their
social meal, the dog would retire to a comer to sleqp,
while the partridge would nestle between his legs, and
never stir till his favourite awoke. Whenever the dog
accompanied his mistress out, the bird displayed the
utmost disquietude till his return ; and once, when the
partridge was shut up by accident a whole day, the
dog searched about the house, with a mournful err
which indicated the strength of his affection. The
friendship of Tom and Bill was at length fatally ter-
minated. The beautiful little dog was stolen ; and the
bird from that time refused food, and died on the
seventh day, a victim to his grief.'*

A friend of mine has a small spaniel, which veiy

THE SPANIELi 81 6

recently showed great sagacity. This dog^ which is
much attached to him^ was left under the care of a
servant while his master paid a visit of a few weeks
in Hampshire. The poor animal was so miserable
during his absence^ that he was informed of it^ and
directed the dog to be sent to him in a hamper^ which
was done. He was overjoyed at the sight of his kind
master, and remained perfectly contented at his new
abode. When preparations were making for his de-
parture, the day before it took place, the dog was evi-
dently aware of what was going forward, and showed
his dread of being again left behind, by keeping as
dose as possible to the feet of his master during the
evening. On getting up very early the next morning,
before daylight, he found on opening his door that the
apprehensive animal was lying before it, although it was
winter, and very cold. At breakfast the dog not only
nestled against his feet, but rubbed himself so much
againstthem, that he was at last turned out of the room.
On going into his dressing-room, where the dog had
been in the habit of sleeping in a warm basket before a
good fire, he found him coiled up in his portmanteau,
which had been left open nearly packed.

In this instance, the animal's knowledge of what
was going forward was very evident, and his fear of
being left behind could not be more strongly expressed ;
thus affording another proof that animals are possessed
of a faculty much beyond mere instinct.

A young gentleman lately residing m '^<^YD^^n^

816 ANECDOTES OF D008.

was maBter of a handsome spaniel bitchy which he bad
bought from a dealer in dogs. The animal had been
educated to steal for the benefit of its protector; bat it
was some time ere his new master became aware of
this irregularity of morals^ and he was not a little
astonished and teazed by its constantly bringing home
articles of which it had feloniously obtained possestioii.
Perceivings at lengthy that the animal proceeded tji-
tematically in this sort of behaviour, he used to amnie
his friends, by causing the spaniel to give proofi of
her sagacity in the Spartan art of privately stealing;
putting, of course, the shopkeepers where he meant
she should exercise her faculty on their gnard as to
the issue.

The process was curious, and excites some sorpriae
at the pains which musi have been bestowed to qnalify
the animal for these practices. As soon as the maiter
entered the shop, the dog seemed to avoid all vpfeu*
auce of recognizing or acknowledging any connenoD
with him, but lounged about in an indolent, diteo-
gaged, and independent sort of manner, as if she hid
come into the shop of her own accord. In the coane
of looking over some wares, his master indicated by t
touch on the parcel and a look towards the spanieli
that which he desired she should appropriate, and tbea
left the shop. The dog, whose watchful eye cangbt
the hint in an instant, instead of following his msitcr
out of the shop, continued to sit at the door, or lie bf
the fire, watching \\it coxixvVet^xaiNSJL i^ ^^^mbe^^"^

1

THE SPANIEL. 817

itteiition of the people of the shop withdrawn from the
prize which she wished to secure. Whenever she saw
an opportunity of doing so^ as she imagined^ unob-
served^ she never failed to jump upon the counter with
hor fore feet^ possess herself of the gloves^ or whatever
else had been pointed out to her^ and escape from the
diop to join her master.

A gentleman lately communicated to me the fol-
lowing fact: —

His avocations frequently took him by the side of
St Bride's Churchyard, in London. Whenever he
passed it, in the course of some two or three years, he
always saw a spaniel at one particular grave — it was
the grave of his master. There, month after month,
and year after year, did this faithful animal remain, as
if to guard the remains of the being he loved. No
cold, however severe, no rain, however violent, no
son, however hot, could drive this affectionate creature
from a spot which was so endeared to him. The
good-natured sexton of the churchyard, (and the fact
is recorded to his honour,) brought food daily to the
dog, and then pitying his exposure to the weather,
•cooped out a hole by the side of the grave, and
thatched it over.

The following is from the Percy collection of
Anecdotes: —

Two spaniels, mother and son, were self-hunting
in Mr. Drake's woods, near Ameraham, in Bvvck'^. Tcl^
gamekeeper shot the mother; the aou, itv^\«afc^,^s»s\-

818 INECDOnS OF DOOt.

away for an hoar or two^ and then letomed to look for
bis mother. Having found her dead body^ he laid
himself down by her, and was foond in that sitnttkm
the next day by his master, who took him lam,
together with the body of the mother. Six weeb did
this affectionate creature refuse all consolation, lod
almost all nutriment. He became, at length, unirff-
sally convulsed, and died of grief.

These two anecdotes would form a pretty picture of
fidelity and kindness, and there is one (I need not men-
tion Sir Edwin Landseer) who would do justice to them.

I may here remark, that the dogs of poor peopk
generally show more attachment to their niaiten
than those of the rich. Their fidelity appears greator,
and more lasting. Misery would seem to tighten
the cord of affection between them. They both soffer
the same privations together of hunger, cold, and
thirst, but these never shake the affection of a dog
for his master. The animaPs resignation is perfot,
and his love unbounded. How beautifully has Sir
Walter Scott described the affection of a dog for Ui
master, who fell down a precipice in a fog near the
Helvellyn Mountains, in Cumberland, and was diihed
to pieces. It was not till more than three montb
afterwards that his remains were discovered, when Ui
faithful dog was still guarding them.

^ Dark green was the spot 'mid the brown monntaiii heitlMri
Where the pilgrim of nature laj stretch'd in decay ;
Like the corpse of an outcast abandoned to weather,
'Till the mountain winds wasted the tenantkft daj.

THE SPANIEL. 819

Nor yet quite deserted, though lonely extended,

Fior ISuthfAl in death his mute favorite attended.

The mnch-loy'd remains of his master defended,

And chas'd the hill fox and the raven away."

Nor are the preceding anecdotes solitary instances
of die affection of dogs for their departed masters.
Mr. Youatt^ in his work on '' Humanity to Brutes/'
liiich does him so much credit^ has recorded
the following fact^ very similar to the one already
given: —

Opposite to the house of a gentleman^ near the
dmrchyard of St. Olave, Southwark^ where the recep-
tides of humanity are in many parts dilapidated^ was
an aperture just large enough to admit a dog. It led
ilong a kind of sink to a dark cavity^ close to which a
person had recently heen huried. It was inhabited by
his dog^ who was to be seen occasionally moving into
or out of the cavern^ which he had taken possession
of the day of the foneral. How he obtained any food
during the first two or three months no one knew, but
he at length attracted the attention of a gentleman
rto lived opposite, and who ordered his servant re-
pdarly to supply the dog with food. He used, after
K while, to come occasionally to this house for what
*Bs provided for him. He was not sullen, but there
^ a melancholy expression in his countenance, which,
^ce observed^ would never be forgotten. As soon as
^ had finished his hasty meal, he would gaze for a
foment on his benefactor. It was an expressive look,

820 ANECDOTES OF DOOS.

but one which could not be misunderstood. It con-
veyed all the thanks that a broken heart could give.
He then entombed himself once more for three or foar
day»^ when he crawled out again with his eyes Bonk
and his coat dishevelled. Two years he remained
faithful to the memory of the being he had lost^ and
then^ according to the most authentic account of him,
having been missing several days^ he was found dead
in his retreat.

From a letter written by a gentleman at Dijon is
France^ to his friend in London, dated August 15,
1764, we have the following account of a muider
discovered by a dog : —

^* Since my arrival here a man has been broken
on the wheel, with no other proof to condemn bim
than that of a water-spaniel. The circumstances at-
tending it being so very singular and striking, I beg
leave to communicate them to you. A farmer, wbo
had been to receive a sum of money, was waylaid,
robbed, and murdered, by two villains. The fanner'i
dog returned with all speed to the house of the penoB
who had paid the money, and expressed such amaang
anxiety that he would follow him, pulling him sevenl
times by the sleeve and skirt of the coat, that, at
length, the gentleman yielded to his importunity. Ik
dog led him to the field, a little from the roadaidi^
where the body lay. From thence the gentleman went
to a public house, in order to alarm the country. Hic
moment he entered, (as the two villains were theff

THE SPANIEL. 821

irinking,) the dog seized the murderer by the throaty
md the other made his escape. This man lay in
mson three months^ during which time they visited
lim once a-week with the spaniel^ and though they
nade him change his clothes with other prisoners, and
ihrays stand in the midst of a crowd, yet did the
mimal always find him out, and fly at him. On the
lay of trial, when the prisoner was at the bar, the dog
vas let loose in the court-house, and in the midst of
some hundreds he found him out (though dressed
entirely in new clothes), and would have torn him to
pieces had he been allowed ; in consequence of which
he was condemned, and at the place of execution he
confessed the fact. Surely so useful, so disinterestedly
fiuthful an animal, should not be so barbarously treated
as I have often seen them, particularly in London.^^

The following anecdote has been well authenticated,
and the fact which it records is still remembered by
many individuals yet aUve: —

Mr. Alderman Yearsley, of Congleton, in Cheshire,
Iiad a favourite large water -spaniel named Fanny,
which, in the hands of Providence, was the instrument
rf saving a very valuable life.

In the year 1774 Mr. Yearsley had gone out one
evening with a friend to a tavern, and the dog ac-
companied him. A short time before he was expected
borne, and while Mrs. Yearsley happened to be washing
ler hands in the back kitchen, the spaniel returned
md scratched at the door for admittance. Being let

322 ANECDOTES OF DOOS.

•

in^ she followed her mistress into the kitchen^ where
she set up a strange sort of whining^ or barking, and
turned towards the street-door^ as if beckoning her
mistress to follow. This she repeated several times^ to
the great astonishment of the lady. At length a
thought struck her that Mr. Yearsley might have met
with some accident in the street^ and that the spaniel
was come to guide her to her husband. Alarmed at
this idea^ she hastily followed the animal, which led
her to Mr. Yearsley, whom she found in perfect health,
sitting in the house to which he had gone. She told
him the cause of her coming, and got herself laughed
at for her pains. But what were the feelings of both,
when they were informed by their next neighbours
that the kitchen fell in almost the very instant Mrs.
Yearsley had shut the street-door, and that the wash-
hand basin she had left was crushed into a thousafld
pieces ! The animal was ever afterwards treated with
no ordinary attention, and died thirteen years later, at
the age of sixteen. Her death, we regret to add, was
occasioned by the bite of a mad dog.

In the '' Notes of a Naturalist,^' published in
Chambers' ^^ Edinburgh Journal,'' a work which
cannot be too much commended for its agreeable in-
formation, is the following anecdote, which I give with
the remarks of the author upon it : —

It appears to me, that in the general manifesta-
tions of the animal mind, some one of the senses is
employed in preference lo \\i^ o\5cket% — ^^aX ^R20Kfc^^!a^

THE SPANIEL. 323

instance, which is most acute and perfect in the ani-
mal. In the dog, for example, the sense of smell pre-
dominates ; and we accordingly find that, through the
medium of this sense, his mental faculties are most
commonly exercised. A gentleman had a favourite
spaniel, which for a long time was in the habit of
accompanying him in all his walks, and became his
attached companion. This gentleman had occasion to
leave home, and was absent for more than a year,
during which time he had never seen the dog. On
his return along with a friend, while yet at a little
distance from the house, they perceived the spaniel lying
beside the gate. He thought that this would be a good
opportunity of testing the memory of his favourite ;
and he accordingly arranged with his companion, who
was quite unknown to the dog, that they should both
walk up to the animal, and express no signs of recog-
nition. As they both approached nearer, the dog started
up, and gazed at them attentively ; but he discovered
no signs of recognition, even at their near approach.
At last he came up to the stranger, put his nose close
to his clothes, and smelt him, without any signs of
emotion. He then did the same to his old master;
but no sooner had he smelt him, than recognition in-
stantly took place ; he leaped up to his face repeatedly,
and showed symptoms of the most extravagant joy.
He followed him into the house, and watched his every
movement, and could by no means be diverted tei\s5L
M person. Here was an instance oi dLe^sivec^ ^sss^

324 ANJfiCDOTES Of D008.

mory through the organs of rights but an accurate
recollection through the organs of umell" In a pre-
ceding anecdote^ I have recorded an instance of a
spaniel recognising the voice of his master aflter a lapse
of six years. In that case^ it was evident that the re-
collection of a particular sound enabled the dog to
know his master^ without having had recourse to the
sense of smelling^ which^ however^ would probably have
been equally available had it been exercised.

About the year 1800^ Mrs. Osbum^ who lived a
few miles out of London^ went to town to receive a
large sum of money granted her by Parliament for
discovering a lithontryptic medicine. She received the
money^ and returned back with it in her own carriage
to tbe country^ without anything particular happening
to her on the road. It was evening when she arrived
at home; and being fatigued with her journey, she
retired early to rest. On her stepping into bed, she
was somewhat surprised at the importunities of. a small
King Charleses dog, which was a great pet, and always
slept in her bedchamber. He became exceedingly
troublesome, and kept pulling the bedclothes with all
his strength. She chid him repeatedly, and in an
angry tone of voice desired him to lie still, that she
might go to sleep. The dog, however, still persisted
in his efforts, and kept pulUng the bedclothes ; and at
length leaped on the bed, and endeavoured with the
most determined perseverance to pull off the bed-
clothes. Mrs. Osbum then conceived there must be

THB SPANIEL. 325

some extraordinary cause for this unusual conduct on
the part of her dog^ and leaped out of bed ; and being
a lady of some courage^ put on her petticoat^ and
placed a brace of pistols by her side^ which she had
always ready loaded in a closet adjoining her bed-room,
and proceeded down-stairs. When she had reached
the first landing-place, she saw her coachman coming
down the private staircase, which led to the servants'
rooms, with a lighted candle in his hand, and full
dressed. Suspecting his intentions were bad, and with
heroic presence of mind, she presented one of her
pistols, and threatened to lodge the contents of it in
him, unless he returned to bed forthwith. Subdued
by her determined courage, he quietly and silently
obeyed. She then went into a back-parlour, when she
heard a distant whispering of voices; she approached
the window, and threw it up, and fired one of her
pistols out of it, in the direction from which the noise
proceed^. Everything became silent, and not a
whisper was to be heard. After looking through the
different rooms on the lower fioor, and finding all
right, she proceeded to bed and secured the door, and
nothing further occurred that night. Next morning
she arose at an early hour, went into the garden, and
in the direction which she had fired the preceding
night she discovered drops of blood, which she traced
to the other end of the garden. This left no doubt
on her mind of what had been intended. Thinking
it imprudent to keep so large a sum of money in her

326 ANECDOTES 07 DOOM.

houwc, nhc ordered her carriage to drive to town, wbei
«hc di5po»ited her canh. She then repaired to tl
hotiRe of Sir John Fielding, and related to him tl
whole affair, who adviiM^d her to part with her coacl
rnan immediately, and that he would investigate th
matter, and, if poHHihle, discover and convict tb
off<?nderff. But the parties concerned in this affai
wen; ncfver discovered ; for the mere fact of the coach
man being found coming down the stair was no
Mufficient to implicate him, although there were stroni;
grounds of suspicion. Thus, by the instinct and
fidelity of this little animal, was robbery, and moit
likely murder, prevented.

A spaniel belonging to a medical gentleman, witb
whom I am acquainted, residing at Richmond in Sur*
rrry, was in the habit (rf accompanying him when be
went out at night to visit his patients. If he wai
nhut out of the house of a pati<;nt, as was frequently
th<! case, he would return home; and whatever the
hour of the night might be, he would take the knocker
in his mouth, and knock till the door was opened
It should be m(;ntioned that the knocker was bekiwi
half.glazcfd drwr, no that it was easily within the do^«
reach.

'' In thi', capital of a German principality,'^ my*

Capt. Brown, ''the magistrates once thought it expe*

(lif^nt to order all dogr, that had not the mark of haviog

hiU'n wonncd, to \)i\ miw\ awd confined for a certain

time in a large, yarA N»\V\i^ml ^J^<^ "^^^ Wl "^^ \iw^.

THS SPANIEL. 827

These dogfli, which were of all possible varieties, made
a hideous noise while thus confined together; but a
spaniel^ which^ as the person that had the care of them
observed, sat apart from the rest in a comer of the
yard, seemed to consider the circumstances with greater
deliberation. He attended to the manner in which the
gate of the yard was opened and shut ; and, taking a
&vourable opportunity, leapt with his fore-paws upon
the latch, opened the gate, looked round upon the
damorons multitude, and magnanimously led them
the way out of the prison. He conducted them in
triumph through the gate of the town; upon which
every dog ran home exulting to his master.^^

The following anecdote, which was sent to me by
the gentleman who witnessed the occurrence, proves
the sense and observation of a spaniel. He possessed
one which was a great favourite, and a constant com-
panion in all his rambles. One day, in passing through
a field of young turnips, he pulled up one of them, and
after washing it carefully in a rivulet, he cut off the
top, and ate the other part. During this time the
dog eyed him attentively, and then proceeded to one of
the growing turnips, drew it from the earth, went up
briskly to the rivulet, and after dashing it about some
time till he caused the water to froth considerably, he
laid it down, and holding the turnip inverted, and by
the top, he dddberately gnawed the whole of it off, and
left the top, thus closely imitating the actions q( hi&

J.

828 AKscDons of iK>at.

A gentleman^ who generally resided «t Boston in
Lincolnshire, had also a honse at Chepstow in Mon-
mouthshire, to which he occasionally went in the soni-
mer. While at the latter place, a small spaniel dog
which a friend at Chepstow had given him was tsken
on his return in a carriage to Boston. On the Son-
day evening after the arrival at that place, the spsnid
was attacked by a large dog, when out walking with
his master on the river bank, and ran away. Nothing
was heard of him until the receipt of a letter from
Chepstow, announcing his arrival at that place in i
famished and travel-worn condition. The distance ii
one hundred and eighty-four miles.

The following anecdote is related by Mr. Blaine:-*
'' I was once called from dinner in a hurry to sttend
to something that had occurred; unintentionally I left
a favourite cat in the room, together with a no leu
favourite spaniel. When I returned I found the latter,
which was not a small figure, extending her wbole
length along the table by the side of a leg of mutton
which I had left. On my entrance she showed no
signs of fear, nor did she immediately alter her peti-
tion. I was sure, therefore, that none but a good
motive had placed her in this extraordinary situatum,
nor had I long to conjecture. Puss was skulking in a
comer, and though the mutton was untouched, yet her
conscious fears clearly evinced that she had been driven
from the table in the act of attempting a robbery 00
the meat, to w\i\cYi %\ie "^^ Wi Y^^sii^) veJS. '^m6.\k'

THE SPANIEL. 329

situation bad been occupied by tbis faitbful spaniel to
prevent a repetition of tbe attempt. Here was fidelity
united witb great intellect^ and wholly free from tbe
aid of instinct. Tbis property of guarding victuals
from tbe cat^ or from otber dogs, was a daily practice
of tbis animal j and, wbile cooking was going forward,
tbe floor migbt bave been strewed witb eatables, wbicb
would bave been all safe from ber own toucb, and as
carefully guarded from tbat of otbers. A similar pro-
perty is common to many dogs, but to spaniels parti-
cularly.^'

It is impossible in a work on dogs to omit tbe in-
sertion of some pretty lines on a spaniel by Mrs.
Barrett Browning, and wbicb do so mucb credit to
ber kindly feelings and poetic talents: —

** Yet, my pretty sportive friend,
Little is't to such an end

That I praise thy rareness I
Other dogs may be thy peers,
Haply, in those drooping ears.

And this glossy fairness.

But of thee it shaU be said,
* This dog watched beride a bed

Day and night nnweary, —
Watched within a curtained room
Where no sunbeam broke the" gloom

Round the sick and dreary.

Roses, gathered for a tase.
In that chamber died apace,

Beam and breeze resigning —
This dog only waited on,
Blnowing that when light is gone

Love rematna for a\m)\n:|^.

ANECDOTBI OP DOO*.

Otber dogi, in thfmr dew,

Tracked the hkrei and rollowed tbroa|b

Sunn; moor or meadow —
Thii dog only crept and enpt
Next a loagaid dicek that alept,

Sharing in the thadow.

Other dagi oriojal cheer
Bounded at the whiitle clear.

Up the woodiide hieing —
TliU dag onl; watched in reacb
Of a &iatly uttered apecch.

Or a lotider ligbing.

And If one or two quick teara
Dropped npon kli gloaif eara.

Or a aigh came double, —
Up he aprang in eager baate,
Fawning, foDdlinf , breatbing la«t.

In a tender trouble.' "

THE POODLE.

" With all tb« gracM of his btherltnd ;
With neU-cDt coat, and ever nadj hand —
Stt — (he French jioodle aporti hii life amj ;
Obedient, wiae, affectionate, and g»j-"

Chnmicttf qfAmmalt.

Thes£ doga, like all oth^v, powesB many amiable
qualities, and are remarkable for the facility with
which they learn several amuemg tricks, and for their
eitraordinpry sagacity. This latter quahty has fre-
quently made them a great source of profit to their
masters, so that it may be said of them, " c'est en-
core une des plus profitables mani^rea d'etre chien
qui existent." A proof of this is related by M. Blaze
in his history of the dog, and was recorded by myself
many years before bis work appeared.

332 ANECDOTES Of DOGS.

A nboc-black on the Pont Neuf at Paris bad i
poodle dog^ whose sagacity brought no small profit
to bin master. If the dog jmiw a person with well*
polished boots go across the t^ndge^ he contrived to
dirty them^ by having first rolled himself in the mud
of the Seine. His master was then employed to
clean them. An English gentleman^ who had suffered
more than once from the annoyance of having hii
boots dirtied by a dog^ was at last induced to wsteh
hiH proceedings^ and thus detected the tricks he wai
playing for his master's benefit. He was so much
pleaMed with the animaPs sagacity^ that he purcbsied
him at a high price and conveyed him to London.
On arriving there^ he was confined to the house tiD
he appeared perfectly satisfied with his new matter
and his new situation. He at last^ however, contrived
to eHcape^ and made his way back to Paris, where
he rejoined his old master, and resumed his former
occupation. I was at Paris some years ago, where this
anecdote; waM related to me, and it is now published in
the records of the French Institute.

Perhaps the most remarkable instance known of
what are called ''Learned Dogs,*' is that of two
poodles, which were trained at Milan, and exhibited
at Paris in the spring of 1830. The account of tbeo
iff given by a lady, whose veracity is not doubtfbl,
and who herffiJf saw their performance. " The eldffi
named Pido/' i^ayn »hc,, " v« white^ with some blade
patches on h*i» head aTid\>wiV\ wi^ ^^^^s^stfgst^''^

THE POODLE. 833

is called Bianco^ is also wbite^ but with red spots.
Fido is a grave and serious personage, walks with
dignity round the circle assembled to see him^ and
appears much absorbed in reflection. Bianco is young
and giddy^ but full of talent when he chooses to apply
it. Owing to his more sedate disposition^ however^
Fido is called upon to act the principal part of the
exhibition. A word is dictated to him from the Greeks
Latin^ Italian^ German^ French^ or English language^
and selected from a vocabulary where fifty words in
each tongue are inscribed, and which all together make
three hundred different combinations. An alphabet is
placed before Fido^ and from it he takes the letters
which compose the given word^ and lays them in proper
order at the feet of his master. On one occasion he
was told to spell the word Heaven^ and he quickly
placed the letters till he came to the second e; he
stood for an instant as if puzzled^ but in a moment
after he took the e out of the first syllable^ and put it
into the second. His attainments in orthography^
however, are not so surprising as those in arithmetic.
He practises the four rules with extraordinary facility,
arranges the double ciphers as he did the double
vowels in the word Heaven, and rarely makes an error.
When such does occur, his more thoughtless com-
panion is called in to rectify it> which he invariably
does with the greatest quickness ; but as he had rather
play than work, and pulls Fido by the ears to make
him as idle as himself, he is quickly di&imseftdL. Qtcsk.

334 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

day, the steady Fido spelt the word Jupiter with a
b instead of a j9 ; fiianeo was summoned to his aid,
who, after contemplating the word, pushed out the h
with his nose, and seizing a p between his teeth, put
it into the vacancy. Fido is remarkable for the mo-
dest firmness with which he insists upon his correct-
ness when he feels convinced of it himself; for a
lady having struck a repeating watch in his ear, be
selected an 8 for the hour, and a 6 for the thre^
([uarters. The company present, and his master,
called out to him he was wrong. He reviewed his
numbers and stood still. His master insisted, and
he again examined his ciphers; after which he went
quietly, but not in the least abashed, into the middle
of the carpet, and looked at his audience. The watch
was then sounded again, and it was found to have
struck two at every quarter; and Fido received the
plaudits which followed with as gentle a demeanour ai
he had borne the accusation of error.

'' One occupation seems to bring the giddy Bianco
to the gravity of the elder savant; and when the
spectators are tired of arithmetic and orthography, the
two dogs either sit down to ecarti, or become the
antagonists of one of the company. They ask for, or
nti'yisit cards, as their hands require, with a most im-
I)ortarit Iwjk ; th(;y cut at the proper times, and never
inistake one suit for another. They have recourse to
thitir ciphers to mark tVvevr \ioint8 ; and on one oecasion
Biamo having wcm, V v^Avt^iXAi^ V^a \i\»^S5fe\, '«sk

THE POODLE. 335

being asked what were the gains of his adversary^ he
immediately took an 0 between his teeth^ and showed
it to the querist; and both seemed to know all the
UrmB of the game as thoroughly as the most expe-
rienced card-players. All this passes without the
slightest visible or audible sign between the poodles
and their master; the spectators are placed within
three steps of the carpet on which the performance
goes forward ; people have gone for the sole purpose of
watching the master; everybody visits them^ and yet
BO one has hitherto found out the mode of communi-
cation established between them and their owner.
Whatever this communication may be^ it does not
deduct from the wonderfcd intelligence of these animals ;
for there must be a multiplicity of signs, not only to be
understood with eyes and ears, but to be separated
from each other in their minds, or to be combined one
with another, for the various trials in which they are
exercised.

^^I have seen learned pigs and ponies, and can,
after these spectacles, readily imagine how the extra-
ordinary sagacity of a dog may be brought to a know-
ledge of the orthography of three hundred words ; but
I must confess myself puzzled by the acquirements of
these poodles in arithmetic, which must depend upon
the will of the spectator who proposes the numbers;
but that which is most surprising of all is the skill
with which they play ^cartL The gravity and att^tLtkrcL
with which they carry on their game \a ^Xh^q^X. \»l^\-

386 ANECDOTES OF DOOt.

croufl ; and the Batisfaction of Bianco when he marb
his points is perfectly evident/'

Nor is this a solitary instance of the extraordinaiy
sagacity of the poodle. A lady of my acquaintanee
had one for many years^ who was her constant com-
panion both in the house and in her walks. When,
however^ either from business or indisposition^ her
mistress did not take her usual walk on Wimbledon
Common, the dog, by jumping on a table, took down
the maid-servant's bonnet, and held it in her month
till she accompanied the animal to the Common.

A friend of mine had a poodle dog, who was not
very obedient to his call when he was taken out to
rim in the fields. A smaD whip was therefore pur-
chased, and the dog one day was chastised with it.
The whip was placed on a table in the hall of tk
house, and the next morning it could not be fonnd.
It was soon afterwards discovered in the coal-cellsr.
The dog was a second time punished with it, and
again the whip was missed. It was afterwards dis-
covered that the dog had attempted to hide the in-
strument by which pain had been inflicted on him.
There certainly appears a strong approach to reason
in this proceeding of the dog. Cause and effect seem
to have been associated in his mind, if his mode d
proceeding may be called an effort of it.

In Messrs. Chambers' brochure of amusing anec-
dotes of dogs we find the following: —

An aged gentVexnaAX \i^& Tae^TLNiSssti^ \](^ ^^ ^SGal^

THE POODLE. 837

about fifty years ago^ a Frenchman brought to London
fiom eighty to a hundred dogs^ chiefly poodles^ the
lemainder spaniels^ but all nearly of the same size^
md of the smaller kind. On the education of these
inimals their proprietor had bestowed an immense deal
of pains. From puppyhood upwards they had been
taught to walk on their hind-legs^ and maintain their
footing with surprising ease in that unnatural position.
They had likewise been drilled into the best possible
bdiaviour towards each other ; no snarling^ barkings or
indecorous conduct took place when they were assem-
bled in company. But what was most surprising of
all^ they were able to perform in various theatrical
pieces of the character of pantomimes^ representing
various transactions in heroic and familiar life^ with
wonderftd fidelity. The object of their proprietor was,
of course/ to make money by their performances, which
the public were accordingly invited to witness in one of
the minor theatres.

Amongst their histrionic performances was the re-
presentation of a siege. On the rising of the curtain
there appeared three ranges of ramparts, one above the
other, having salient angles and a moat, like a regu-
krly-constructed fortification. In the centre of the
fortress arose a tower, on which a flag was fl5ang;
while in the distance behind appeared the buildings
and steeples of a town. The ramparts were guarded
by soldiers in uniform, each armed with a musket q^
Bward, of an appropriate size. All tliese 'wet^ ^^^^^

338 ANECDOTES OF D008.

«

and their duty was to defend the walls from an at-
tacking party^ consisting also of dogs^ whose move-
ments now commenced the operations of the siege. In
the foreground of the stage were some mde buildings
and irregular surfaces^ from among which there issued
a reconnoitring party ; the chiefs habited as an officer
of rank^ with great circumspection surveyed the forti-
fication; and his sedate movements, and his consulta-
tions with the troops that accompanied him, implied
that an attack was determined upon. But these con-
sultations did not pass unobserved by the defenders of
the garrison. The party was noticed by a sentinel and
fired upon; and this seemed to be the signal to call
every man to his post at the embrasures.

Shortly after, the troops advanced to the escalade ;
but to croBS the moat, and get at the bottom of the
walls, it was necessary to bring up some species of
pontoon, and, accordingly, several soldiers were seen
engaged in pushing before them wicker-work scaffold-
ings, which moved on castors, towards the fortifications.
The drums beat to arms, and the bustle of war-
fare opened in earnest. Smoke was poured out in
volleys from shot-holes; the besieging forces pushed
forward in masses, regardless of the fire ; the moat was
filled with the crowd ; and, amid much confusion and
scrambling, scaling-ladders were raised against the
walls. Then was the grand tug of war. The leaders
o{ the forlorn hope who first ascended were opposed
with great gallantrj )a^ ^)ck^ &riLciAsst%% «b^

THE POODLE* 339

t

perhaps^ the most interesting part of the exhibition.
The chief of the assailants did wonders ; he was seen
now here, now there^ animating his men^ and was twice
hurled, with ladder and followers^ from the second
gradation of ramparts: but he was invulnerable^ and
seemed to receive an accession of courage on every
fresh repulse. The rattle of the miniature cannon^ the
roll of the drums^ the sound of trumpets^ and the he-
roism of the actors on both sides^ imparted an idea of
reality to the scene.

After numerous hairbreadth escapes^ the chief sur-
mounted the third line of fortifications^ followed by his
troops; the enemy^s standard was hurled down^ and
the British flag hoisted in its place ; the ramparts were
manned by the conquerors; and the smoke cleared
away, to the tune of " God save the King."

It is impossible to convey a just idea of this per-
formance, which altogether reflected great credit on its
contriver, as also on the abilities of each individual
dog. We must conclude that the firing from the em-
brasures, and some other parts of the m^chanique, were
effected by human agency ; but the actions of the dogs
were clearly their own, and showed what could be
effected with animals by dint of patient culture.

Another specimen of these canine theatricals was
quite a contrast to the bustle of the siege. The scene
was an assembly-room, on the sides and the further
end of which seats were placed ; while a muaic-^allet^ ,
and a profimon of chandeliers, gave a t\x^\ve."e»^ wA

840 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

truth to the general effect. Livery-servants were in
attendance on a few of the company^ who entered and
took their seats. Frequent knockings now occurred at
the door^ followed by the entrance of parties attired in
the fashion of the period. These were^ of course^ the
same individuals who had recently been in the deadly
breach; but now all was tranquillity^ elegance, and
ease. Parties were formally introduced to each other
with an appearance of the greatest decorum. The
dogs intended to represent ladies were dressed in silks,
gauzes, laces, and gay ribbons. Some wore artificial
flowers, with flowing ringlets; others wore the pow-
dered and pomatumed head-dress, with caps and lap-
pets, in ludicrous contrast to the features of the
animals. The animals which represented gentlemen
were judiciously equipped; some as youthful and
others as aged beaux, regulated by their degrees of
proficiency, since those most youthfully dressed were
most attentive to the ladies. The frequent bow and
return of curtsey produced great mirth in the audienee.
On a sudden the master of the ceremonies appeared;
he wore a superb court-dress, and his manners were in
agreement with his costume. To some of the gen-
tiernen he gave merely a look of recognition; to the
ladies he was generally attentive ; to some he projected
his paw familiarly, to others he bowed with respect;
and introduced one to another with an air of el^ance
that surprised and delighted the spectators.

As the per£ormaiieft ^\«a^i^^'Cckfe*\\v\Rx^'i.\.\s«^^

THE POODLE. 841

The music was soon interrupted by a loud knocking^
which announced the arrival of some important visitor.
Several livery servants entered, and then a sedan-chair
was borne in by appropriately dressed dogs ; they re-
moved the poles, raised the head, and opened the door
of the sedan; forth came a lady, splendidly attired in
spangled satin and jewels, and her head decorated with
a plume of ostrich feathers ! She made a great im-
pression, and appeared as if conscious of her superior
attraction; meanwhile the chair was removed, the
master of the ceremonies, in his court-dress, was in
readiness to receive the elegante, and the bow and
curtsey were admirably interchanged. The ba^nd now
struck up an air of the kind to which ball-room com-
panies are accustomed to promenade, and the company
immediately quitted their seats and began to walk ce-
remoniously in pairs round the room. Three of the
ladies placed their arms under those of their attendant
gentlemen. On seats being resumed, the master of
the ceremonies and the lady who came in the sedan-
chair arose ; he led her to the centre of the room ;
Footers nuinuet struck up; the pair commenced the
movements with an attention to time ; they performed
the crossings and turnings, the advancings, retreatings,
and obeisances, during which there was a perfect
silence, and they concluded amid thunders of applause.
What ultimately became of the ingenious manager with
Ms company, our informant never heard.

The following anecdotes prove t\ie e\.T0W"gj^^^v5\^

342 ANECDOTES OF DOOS.

and perseverance of the poodle. The late Duke of
Argyll had a favourite dog of this description^ who
was his constant companion. This dog^ on the occa-
sion of one of the Duke's journeys to Inverary Castle,
was, by some accident or mistake, left behind in
London. On missing his master, the faithful animal
set off in search of him, and made his way into
Scotland, and was found early one morning at the
gate of the castle. The anecdote is related by the
family, and a picture shown of the dog.

A poor German artist, who was studying at Rome,
had a poodle dog, who used to accompany him, when
his funds would allow it, to an ordinary frequented by
other students. Here the dog got scraps enough to
support him. His master, not being able to keep up
the expense, discontinued his visits to the ordinary.
The dog fared badly in consequence, and at last his
master returned to his friends in Germany, leaving the
dog behind him. The poor animal slept at the top of
the stairs leading to his master^s room, but watched in
the day time at the door of the ordinary, and when he
saw his former acquaintances crowding in, he followed
at their heels, and thus gaining admittance was fed
till his owner came back to resume his studies.

A gentleman possessed a poodle dog and a terrier,
between whom a great affection existed. When the
terrier was shut up, as was sometimes the case, the
poodle always YiiA svxeYi \ioxi^% ot meat as he could pro-
cure, and afterwatda \iTo\SL^\. \)aa \«rosEt Xa "^ ^

THE POODLE. 343

where they were concealed.. He was constantly watched,
and observed to do this act of kindness.

The sagacity of the poodle is strongly shown by

the following fact. Mr. B 1, who was constantly

in the habit of making tours on the Continent, was
always accompanied by a poodle dog. In one of his
journeys he was seated at a table-d^h6te next to a
person whose conversation he found so agreeable, that
a sort of intimacy sprung up between them. The dog,
however, for the first time he had ever done so to any
one, showed a dislike to the stranger, and so much

flo, that Mr. B 1 could not help remarking it. In

the course of his tour he again fell in with the stranger,

when the intimacy was renewed, and Mr. B -t

oflfered him a seat in his carriage as they were both
going the same way. No sooner, however, had the
stranger entered the carriage, than the dog showed
an increased dislike of him, which continued during
the course of the journey. At night they slept at
a small inn, in a wild and somewhat unfrequented
country, and on separating in the evening to go to
their respective beds, the poodle evinced the greatest
anger, and was with difficulty restrained from attacking

the stranger. In the middle of the night Mr. B ^t

was awoke by a noise in his room, and there was light
enough for him to perceive that his dog had seized his
travelling .companion, who, upon being threatened, con-
fessed that he had entered the room for the purpose of
endeavouring to purloin Mr. B ^t's moiae^, qSl^\5v^

844 ANECDOTBS OF 0008.

he was aware that he possessed a conaideraUe quan-
tity. This is not a solitary instance of an instincti?e
faculty which enables dogs to discriminate^ by show-
ing a strong dislike, the characters of particular indi-
duals.

A friend has sent me the following account of s
poodle he once had : —

" Many years ago I had a poodle who waa an ei*
cellent retriever. He was a middle-sisedy active dog, s
first-rate waterman, with a nose so particolady sensL-
tive that no object, however minute, could escape its
' delicate investigation.^ Philip was the hardiest ani-
mal in the world — no sea would prevent him firan
carrying a dead bird through the boiling breakers, and
I have seen him follow and secure a wounded malkid,
although in the attempt his legs were painfully scari-
fied in breaking through a field of ice scarcely the
thickness of a crown-piece. Philip, though of French
extraction, had decidedly Irish partialities. He de-
lighted in a glass of grog; and no matter with what
labour and constancy he had returned &om retrieving^
he still enjoyed a glass of punch. When he had drunk
it, he was in high glee, running round and round to
try and catch his own tail, and even then allowing the
cat to approach him, which he was by no means dis-
posed to do at other times.^'

T\lien my daughter was in Germany, she s^nt me the
following interesting anecdote of a poodle, the accuracy
"^f which she had. «ii oY^Q>x\?wa\t^ qC ascertaining.

THB POODLB. 345

An inhabitant of Dresden liad a poodle that he
ras fond of, and had always treated kindly. For some
eason or another he gave her to a friend of his^ a
!0iintryman in Possenderf, who lived three leagues from
Dresden. This person^ who well knew the great attach-
nent of the dog to her former master^ took care to keep
iier tied up, and would not let her leave the house till
he thought she had forgotten him. During this time
the poodle had young ones, three in number, which she
nourished with great affection, and appeared to bestow
upon them her whole attention, and to have entirely
given up her former uneasiness at her new abode,
ftom this circumstance her owner thought she had
forgotten her old master, and therefore no longer kept
her a close prisoner. Very soon, however, the poodle
was missing, and also the three young ones, and nothing
was heard of her for several days. One morning his
fnmi came to him fix)m Dresden, and informed him
that the preceding evening the poodle had come to his
house with* one of the puppies in her mouth, and that
another had been found dead on the road to Possen-
derf. It appeared that the dog had started in the
night, carrying the puppies (who were not able to
Walk) one after the other, a certain distance on the
road to Dresden, with the evident intention of con-
veying them all to her much-loved home and master,
fhe third pnppy was never found, and is supposed to
lave been carried off by some wild animal or biid^^\i\lfc

346 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

the poor mother was in advance with the others. The
dead one had apparently perished from cold.

The late Dr. Chisholm of Canterbury had a remark-
able poodle^ which a correspondent informs me he has
often seen. On one occasion he was told^ for the first
time, by way of trial, to fetch his master's slippers. He
went up-stairs, and brought down one only. He was
then told, *^ You have brought one only, go and fetch the
other'/' and the other was brought. The next evening
the dog was again told to bring the slippers. He went
up-stairs, put one slipper within the other, and brought
both down. This dog appeared to understand much of
our language. When dining with Dr. Chisholm and
others, his intelligence was put to the proof by my
correspondent. Some one would hide an article, open
the door, and bring in the dog, saying, " Find so-and-
so/^ The poodle used to look up steadily in the face
of the speaker, until he was told whether the article
was hid high or low ; he would then search either on
the ground, or on the chairs and furniture, and bring
the article, never taking any notice of any other thing
that was lying about. He would, upon being ordered,
go up-stairs and bring down a snuff-box, stick, pocket-
handkerchief, or anything, understanding as readily
what was said to him as if spoken to a servant.

Another poodle would go through the agonies of
dying in a very systematic manner. When he wis
ordered to die, Vie Nvowld tumble over on one side, and

THE POODLE. 347

then stretch himself out^ and move his hind legs in
such a way as expressed that he was in great pain,. first
slowly and afterwards very quickly. After a few con-
vulsive throbs^ indicated by putting his head and whole
body in motion^ he would stretch out all his limbs and
cease to move^ lying on his back with his legs turned
upwards^ as if he had expired. In this situation he re-
mained motionless until he had his master^s commands
to get up.

The following anecdote was communicated to the
Rev. Mr. Jenyns by Mrs. Grosvenor, of Richmond^
Surrey: —

A poodle dog belonging to a gentleman in Cheshire
was in the habit of not only going to church, but of
remaining quietly in the pew during service, whether
kis master was there or not. One Sunday the dam.
at the head of a lake in that neighbourhood gave
way, so that the whole road was inundated. The con-
gregation, in consequence, consisted of a very few, who
came from some cottages close by, but nobody attended
from the great house. The clergyman informed the
lady, that whilst reading the Psalms he saw his friend,
the poodle, come slowly up the aisle dripping with wet,
having swam above a quarter of a mile to get to church.
He went into the usual pew, and remained quietly
there to the end of the service.

The Marquess of Worcester (the late Duke of
Beaufort), who served in the PenmsviiaLT ^^t^W^^
poodle which was taken from the grwe oi \l\^ \si3a&^Kt^

348 ANECDOTB8 OF DOGS.

a French officer, who fell at the battle of Salamanca,
and was bnried on the spot. The dog had remained
on the grave until he was nearly starved, and even then
was removed with difficulty ; so faithful are these
animals in protecting the remains of those they loved.

A poodle dog followed his master, a French
officer, to the wars; the latter was soon afterwards
killed at the battle of Gastella, in Valencia, when his
comrades endeavoured to carry the dog with them in
their retreat ; but the faithful animal refused to leave
the corpse, and they left him. A military marauder,
in going over the field of battle, discovering the cross
of the legion of honour on the dead officer's breast,
attempted to capture it, but the poodle instantly seized
him by the throat, and would have ended his career had
not a comrade run the honest canine guardian through
the body.

Mr. Blaine, in his " Account of Dogs,'^ says that,
" strange as it may appear, it is no less true, that a
poodle dog actually scaled the high buildings of my
residence in Wells Street, Oxford Street, proceeded
along several roofs of houses, and made his way down
by progressive but very considerable leaps into distant
premises; from whence, by watching and stratagem,
he gained the street, and returned home in order to
join his mistress, for whose sake he had encountered
these great risks/*

I am always glad to have an opportunity of acknow-
ledging the kindness of my correspondents, and now

THE POODLE. 349

do ISO to the clergyman who very kindly sent me the
following anecdote^ which I give in his own words : —
^^ I have a distinct remembrance of FroU or Frolic^
a dog belonging to an aged relation^ once the property
of her deceased only son^ which animal^ in his earUer
days^ doubtless gave evidence that his name was not
given him unadvisedly^ but during the yearly visits of
myself to that kind and indulgent person^ I can re-
member nothing but a rather small though fat unwieldy
poodle^ whose curly^ glossy coat (preserved after his
death)^ long yellow ears^ and black nose^ the rest of his
body being perfectly white^ betokened that he had been
a beauty in his time. FroU was still a prodigious
&?ourite with his mistress^ although I confess my feel-
ings towards him were rather those of fear than any
other, for to touch him was quite sufficient to evoke a
growl, or perchance a snap, form this pet of a dozen
years or more. A cross, snappish fellow he was at best,
and well he knew the length of Trusty the house-dog's
chain, which less favoured quadruped was never let
loose by day, from a well-grounded fear that he might,
if allowed, resent, by summary punishment, the con-
stant insults he was doomed to submit to from this
most petted and presumptuous myrmidon of the draw-
ing-room. With all this, although time and over-
feeding had soured his temper, FroU still retained much
of, if not aU, his former intelligence (a trait so peculiar
to his species), declared by many loiig^-^«L%\. W<. ^c^
vaunted proofs of his being a wonAet m \iv^ ^«^

350 ANKCDOTfiS OF DOGS.

One of his peculiarities was a fondness for apples^
not indeed all apples^ but those which grew on a par-
ticular tree, called ' FrolFs tree/ and no others ; tlii«
tree was, by the way, the best in the garden, and the
small, sweet, delicate fruit therefrom (my reminiscence is
distinct on this point) were carefully preserved for this
canine favourite. Nothing would entice him to eat
any other sort of apple. And in the season he would
constantly urge his mistress into the garden by repeated
barking, and other unmistakable symptoms. His daily
meals, too, of which I think there were three regular
ones, were events in themselves, the careful attention to
which tended perhaps to relieve the monotony of a
country life : they are indeed not speedily to be for-
gotten by those who witnessed them. He would take
food from no one but his mistress or her maid, which
latter person was his chief purveyor, who had been an
inmate of the house contemporary with himself, or I be-
lieve long before ; but this feeding was generally a task
of great trouble, such coaxing and humouring on the
one hand, such growling and snarling on the other, has
been perhaps seldom heard. At length, after much
beseeching on the part of the maid, and a few words of
entreaty from the mistress, he would condescend to eat;
but never, I believe, without some symptoms of discon-
tent, how savoury soever the morsel, submitting to that
as a favour which is generally snatched at and devoured
with so much gusto and avidity by most others of hii
tribe. I sliould not \i«N^ ^xi\.«t^^ '\QL\a '^^^rr. -^wdlic

THE POODLE. 351

arities^ which are scarcely evidence of any intelligence
beyond that of other dogs^ were it not that the circum-
stances attending his death were really extraordinary^
the more so when the character of the dog is con-
sidered ; and as we have so often heard of a presenti-
ment of that great change being strongly imprinted on
hiunan minds^ so there were not wanting some of the
then inmates of the house^ who attributed his unwonted
behaviour on the eve of his death to the same cause.
The dog slept constantly in his mistresses bed-room, but,
contrary to custom on the night in question, he perti-
naciously refused to remain there. My brother and
myself, who were then little boys, were, to our great
surprise, aroused in the course of the night by an un-
wonted scratching at the door of our apartment, which
we immediately opened, and, to our equal delight and
wonder, were saluted by Frolics jumping up and licking
our hands and faces — certainly he never appeared in
better health and spirits in his life. Whether he did
this to atone for his former uncourteous behaviour to-
wards us, or was urged by some unaccountable feeling
of amiability as well as restlessness, I cannot say, but
certain it is his gentler faculties were that night for
Once aroused, for this unaccustomed compliment I
can safely affirm we never personally received at any
former period of our acquaintance. After a time he
left us, charmed at experiencing these new and flat-
tering demonstrations; which joy yfaa, i\aj&\ 4a^\ssft.^
to be sadly and speedily exting\u^\LedL. ^V'CCl ^'^

892 ANSCDOTKS UP DOOS.

morning came, the diatreBsed cotmtenance of the
servant who called ub, portended some evil tidingi,
which was quickly followed by the unexpected intelli-
gence of the demise of poor Froll. We hastily accom-
panied the servant into the coachman's sleeping apart-
ment, and there, under the bed, lay the poor dog. It
had pleased him to go there to die, having {Hwiooil;
aroused every individual in the house dariDg the nig^t
by scratching at their aereral chambera one after ano-
ther, and saluting them in the same amiable manner
he had my brother and myself."

Thia anecdote could be well authenticated by moit
of the persons then in tbe house, who are still alive.

THE ESQUIMAUX DOG.

Dk. Richardson, in bis " Atnerican Fauna," meDtions
aa a curious fact, that those Indian nations who still
preserve their ancient mode of life, haye dogs which
bear a strong resemblance to wolves. Thus it is with
the Esqoimaus dogs. They are extremely like the
grey wotres of the Arctic Circle in form and colour,
■id nearly equal to them in site. They also bear
wnne resemblance to the Pomeranian breed, although
the latter are much smaller.

It ia curious that almost every nation on earth has
some particular traditions regarding the dog. The
Esquimaux, a nation inhabiting the polar regions,
have a singular &ble amongst them respecting the
origin of the Dog-Bib Indians, a tribe which inhabits
l^e northern confines of the American continent. It

A A

354 ANECDOTES OF DOOS.

t

is thus detailed in Captain Franklin's " Second Journey
to the Polar Sea :''—

"For a long time Chapawee's descendants were
united as one family^ but at length some young men
being accidentally killed in a game^ a quarrel ensued;
and a general dispersion of mankind took place. One
Indian fixed his residence on the borders of the lake,
taking with him a dog big with young. The pups in
due time were littered, and the Indian, when he went
out to fish, carefully tied them up to prevent their
straying. Several times, as he approached his tent, he
heard a noise of children talking and playing; but
on entering it, he only perceived the pups tied np
as usual. His curiosity being excited by the voices he
had heard, he determined to watch ; and one day pre-
tending to go out and fish, according to custom, he
concealed himself in a convenient place. In a short
time he again heard voices, and rushing suddenly into
the tent, beheld some beautiful children sporting and
laughing, with the dog-skins lying by their side. He
threw the skins into the fire, and the children, retaining
their proper forms, grew up, and were the ancestors of
the Dog- Rib nation."

Captain Lyon, who had so many opportunities of
studying the habits of the Esquimaux dog, has given
so interesting an account of it that I cannot do better
than quote his own words : —

" Having myself possessed, during our hard winter,
a team of eleven &\e A.o^%j\^^& ^\i55i^'^\Fi\!RM»a&

THE ESQUIMAUX DOO. 355

etter acquainted with their good qualities than could
ossibly have been the case by the casual visits of the
Isquimaux to the ships. The form of the Esquimaux
log is very similar to that of our shepherds^ dog in
Sngland, but it is more muscular and broad-chested^
»wing to the constant and severe work to which he is
)rought up. His ears are pointed^ and the aspect of
lie head is somewhat savage. In size a line dog is
ibout the height of the Newfoundland breed, but
t)road like a mastiflF in every part except the nose,
rhe hair of the coat is* in summer, as well as in winter,
irery long, but during the cold season a soft, downy
onder-covering is found, which does not appear in
warm weather. Young dogs are put into harness as
soon as they can walk, and being tied up, soon acquire
a habit of pulling, in their attempts to recover their
liberty, or to roam in quest of their mother. When
about two months old, they are put into the sledge
with the grown dogs, and sometimes eight or ten little
ones are under the charge of some steady old animal,
where, with frequent and sometimes severe beatings,
they soon receive a competent education. Every dog is
distinguished by a particular name, and the angry
i^epetition of it has an effect as instantaneous as an
appUcation of the whip, which instrument is of an
immense length, having a lash from eighteen to twenty-
four feet, while the handle is one foot only ; with this^
by throwing it on one side or the other of the leadet,
^d repeating certain words, the aimnaA.^ «t^ ^ocAft^^^

356 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

stopped. When the sledge is stopped they are all
taught to lie down, by throwing the whip gently over
tkeir backs, and they wiU remam in this position even
for hours^ until their master returns to them. A wal-
rus is frequently drawn along by three or four of these
dogs, and seals are sometimes carried home in the same
manner, though I have in some instances seen a dog
bring home the greater part of a seal in panniers placed
across his back. The latter mode of conveyance is often
used in summer, and the dogs also carry skins or fdr-
niture overland to the sledges when their masters are
going on any expedition* It might be supposed that
in so cold a climate these animals had peculiar periods
of gestation, like the wild creatures, but, on the con-
trary, they bear young at every season of the year, and
seldom exceed five at a litter. Cold has very little
effect on them ; for although the dogs at the huts slept
within the snow passages, mine at the ships had no
shelter, but lay alongside, with the thermometer at 42°
and 44°, and with as little concern as if the weather
had been mild. I found, by several experiments, that
three of my dogs could draw me on a sledge, weighing
one hundred pounds, at the rate of one mile in six
minutes ; and as a proof of the strength of a well-grown
dog, my leader drew one hundred and ninety-six pounds
singly, and to the same distance, in eight minutes. At
another time seven of my dogs ran a mile in four
minutes, drawing a heavy sledge fiiU of men. After-
wards, in carrying stoxe» to \\i^ ^xxrj , wifc xs^^bs^aa^

THB ESQUIMAUX DOG. 857

nine dogs drew one thousand six hundred and eleven
pounds in the space of nine minutes. My sledge was
on runners^ neither shod nor iced; but had the runners
been iced^ at least forty pounds weight would have been
added for each dog/'

Captain Lyon^ in another passage^ observes : — " Our
eleven dogs were large^ and even majestic-looking ani-
mals ; and an old one of peculiar sagacity was placed at
their head by having a longer trace^ so as to lead them
through the safest and driest places^ these animals
having such a dread of water as to receive a severe
beating before they would swim a foot. The leader
was instant in obeying the voice of the driver, who
never beat^ but repeatedly called to him by name.
When the dogs slackened their pace, the sight of a
seal or bird was sufficient to put them instantly to
their full speed; and even though none of these might
be seen on the ice, the cry of " a seal ! '' — " a bear ! '* —
or " a bird ! '^ &c., was enough to give play to the legs
and voices of the whole pack. It was a beautiful sight
to observe the two sledges racing at full speed to the
same object, the dogs and men in full cry, and the
vehicles splashing through the holes of water with the
velocity and spirit of rival stage-coaches. There is
something of the spirit of professed whips in these
wild races, for the young men delight in passing each
other's sledge, and jockeying the hinder one by cross-
ing the path. In passing on different TQ\ite« thft tv^qiI
hand u yidded, and should an mex^t\&Ti<ej&^ %x>s«^st

358 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

endeavour to take the left^ he would have some difficulty
in persuading his team to do so. The only unpleasant
circumstance attending these races is^ that a poor dog
is sometimes entangled and thrown down^ when the
sledge^ with perhaps a heavy load^ is unavoidably
drawn over his body. The driver sits on the fore
part of the vehicle, from whence he jumps when re*
quisite to pull it clear of any impediments which may
lie in the way, and he also guides it by pressing either
foot on the ice. The voice and long whip answer all
the purposes of reins, and the dogs can be made to turn
a comer as dexterously as horses, though not in such
an orderly manner, since they are constantly fighting;
and I do not recollect to have seen one receive a flog-
ging without instantly wreaking his passion on the em
of his neighbours. The cries of the men are not more
melodious than those of the animals; and their wild
looks and gestures when animated, give them an t^
pearance of devils driving wolves before them. Ow
dogs had eaten nothing for forty-eight hours, and
could not have gone over less than seventy miles of
ground; yet they returned, to all appearance, as freA
and active as when they first set out.*'

Such is the Esquimaux dog, an animal of the great'
est value in the cold regions of the Arctic circle. In
addition to Captain Lyon's very interesting account of
them, it may be mentioned that they are of great use to
their masters in d\aco\etm^ b^ the scent the winter re-
treats which the beax^ makfc xmdict >()«3«. Wkssv . "^wboi^

TH£ ESQUIMAUX DOG. 359

lurance^ too^ never tires^ and their fidelity is never shaken
t>y hlows and starving: they are obstinate in their
Qature^ but the women^ .who treat them with more
kindness than the men^ and who nurse them in their
helpless state^ or when they are sick^ have an un-
bomided command over their affections.

I am indebted to Colonel Hamilton Smith for the
following account of an Esquimaux dog brought to this
country^ and which he received from Mr. Cleghom, the
owner of the animal : —

"The Esquimaux dog is possessed of very great
sagacity — in some respects^ more than any dog I have
ever seen. I may mention an instance. In coming
along a country road a hare started^ and in place of
ronning after the hare in the usual way^ the dog pushed
himself through the hedge^ crossed the fields and^ when
past the hare^ through the hedge again^ as if to meet
Her direct. It is needless to remark^ that the hare
doubled through the hedge; but had it been in an
open country, there would have been a fine chase.
One particular characteristic of the dog is, that he
forms a strong attachment to his master, and however
Icind others may be, they never can gain his affection,
iven from coaxing with food or otherwise ; and, when-
!ver set at liberty, he rushes to the spot where the
adividual of his attachment is. I may give one or two
ostances among many. One morning he was let loose
ly some of the men on the ground, when he instantly
ounded &om tbem to my house, audi \\i<& Y^^^^^-^s^^

860 ANECDOTES OF BOOS.

being open^ found his way thiougli it; when^ to the
great amazement of aU^ he leaped into the bed where
I was sleeping^ and fawned in the most a£Fectionate
manner npon me. Another instance waai, when the
dog was with me going np the steep bank of the
Princess Street garden^ I slipped my foot and came
down^ when he immediately seized me by the coat, as if
to render assistance in raising me. Notwithstanding
this particular affection to some^ he was in the habit
of biting others^ without giving the least warning (Mr
indication of anger. He was remarkably cunnings for
he was in the practice of strewing his meat around him,
to induce fowls or rats to come within his reach while
he lay watching, as if asleep, when he instantly pounced
upon them, and always with success. He was swift,
and had a noble appearance when running.

THE OTTER TERRIEB.

" How greedily
Thej rooff the fiaby itesm, tlut to each bleds
Rank sceotiiig clinga ! See [ how the moming dewl
They iweep, that from tbdr feet beeprlnkling drop
Diipened, and leave * track oblique betdnd.
Now on firm land they range, then in the food
They pltmge tamnltnoui ; or through reedjt pool!
Rnitliog they irork tfarir way ; no holt cicipe*
Their coriona Mardi. With quick •ennlJon now
The Aiming Tipoor sdnga ; flutter their heaita.
And joy redoubled bunts from erery month
In louder aymphoniei. Yon hollow trunk,
That with its hooiy head incuTT'd iidnlef
The puaing wave, mnit bo tho tyrant'* fort
And dread abode. How theae impatient climb.
While othera at the root inceasant hay 1 —
They put him down." — SOHSKTitLS.

The above is an animated and beaatifnl descri^tvm q^
an otter hunt, an old English spoit IkA i^sxi.% xxia^

362 ANKCDOTES OF DOOS.

diHUfu;, and the breed of the real otter-hound is either
extinct or very nearly so. In stating this^ I am aware
that there are still many dogs which are called otter-
hounds ; bat it may be doubted whether they possess
that peculiar formation which belongs exclusively to
the true breed. Few things in nature are more cu-
rious and interesting than this fonnation, and it
shows forcibly how beautifully everything has been
arranged for the instincts and several habits of animals.
The true otter-hound is completely web-footed^ even to
the roots of its claws; thus enabling it to swim with
much greater facility and swiftness than other dogi.
But it has another extraordinary formation ; the ear
possesses a sort of flap^ which covering the aperture
excludes the entrance of the water, and thus the dog
in enabled to dive after the otter without that incon-
venience which it would otherwise experience. The
Earl of Cadogan has, what his Lordship considers, the
laHt of the breed of the true otter-hound. It wai a
present from Sir Walter Scott. Lord Cadogan offered
on(; hundred pounds for another dog of the same
breed, but of a different sex; but I believe without
being able to procure one with those true marks which
arc confined to the authentic breed. A gipsy was,
indeed, Haid to have possessed one, but he refused to
part with it.

Those who saw the exhibition of pictures in the
Jloyal Academy in 1844 will recollect a large, intereat'
ing, and beaut'\{u\ \)\elut(i\i'^ '^^'vt ^^mxL \«xAi«a ^\

THE OTTER TERRIER. 363

pack of otter-hounds. The picture describes the hunt
at the time of the termination of the chase and the
capture of the otter. The animal is impaled on the
huntsman's spear^ while the roughs shaggy^ and pic-
turesque-looking pack are represented with eyes in-
tently fixed on the amphibious beast^ and howling in
uncouth chorus round their agonized and dying prey.

An otter-hunt is a cheerful and inspiriting sporty
and it is still carried on in some of the lakes of
Cumberland. Indeed^ as lately as the year 1844^ a
pack of otter-hounds was advertised in the news-
papers to be sold by private contract. The alleged
cause of the owner's parting with them was in con-
sequence of their having cleared the rivers of three
comities (Staffordshire being one) of all the otters,
and the number captured and killed in the last few
years was mentioned. '' Good otter-hounds/' as an
old writer observes, "will come chanting, and trail
<dong by the river-side, and will beat every tree-root,
every osier-bed, and tuft of bulrushes ; nay, some-
times they will take the water and beat it like a
spaniel, and by these means the otter can hardly escape
jrou.*' The otter swims and dives with great celerity,
md in doing the latter it throws up sprots, or air-
bubbles, which enable the hunters to ascertain where
it is, and to spear it. The best time to find it is
early in the morning. It may frequently be traced by
the dead fish and fish-bones strewed along the bank%
yf the liver. The prints, alao, oi \Sci^ wivswbi^^ \^^^

364 ANECDOTES OF DOCM.

called his seal, are of a pecaliar formadon, and thus
it is readily traced. The otter preys dnnng the night,
and conceals himself in the daytime under the banks
of lakes and rivers^ where he generally forms a kind
of subterraneous gallery^ running for several yardi
parallel to the water's edge^ so that if he should be
assailed from one end^ he flies to the other. When lie
takes to the water^ it is necessary that those who have
otter-spears should watch the bubbles^ for he generally
vents near them. When the otter is seized, or upon
the point of being caught by the hounds^ he tunis
upon his pursuers with the utmost ferocity. Instaoeei
are recorded of dogs having been drowned by otteri,
which they had seized under water^ for they etn
sustain the want of respiration for a much longer time
than the dog.

Mr. Danielle in his " Rural Sports/' remarks that
hunting the otter was formerly considered as exod-
lent sporty and that hounds were kept solely for that
purpose. The sportsmen went on each side of the
river, beating the banks and sedges with the dogs. K
an otter was not soon found, it was supposed that he
had gone to cotich more inland, and was sought for
accordingly. If one was found, the sportsmen viewed
his track in the mud, to find which way he had taken.

" On the foft taod,
See there hii teal impreM'd ! And on that bank
Behold the gUU*nik% «^^Q^,\uiM-«»k«Gi^Vi,
Scalei, ftnif and Y^onei, l>Ae\eviVD%% cl\siAlMri(^

THE OTTER TERKIER. 865

The spears were used in aid of the dogs. When
an otter is wounded^ he makes directly to landj where
he maintains an obstinate defence: —

'' Lo ! to yon sedgy bank
He creeps disconsolate ; his numerous foes
Surround him, hounds and men. Pierc'd through and through,
On pointed spears they lift him high in air ;
Bid the loud horns, in gaily warbling strains,
Proclaim the spoiler's fate : he dies, he dies."

The male otter never makes any complaint when
seized by the dogs^ or even when transjSxed with a
spear^ but the females emit a very shrill squeal. In
the year 1796, near Bridgenorth, on the river Wherfe,
four otters were killed. One stood three, another four
hours before the dogs, and was scarcely a minute out
of sight. In April 1804, the otter-hounds of Mr.
Coleman, of Leominster, killed an otter of extraordi-
nary size. It measured from the nose to the end of
the tail, four feet ten inches, and weighed thirty-four
and a half pounds. This animal was supposed to be
eight years old, jutd to have destroyed for the last five
years a ton of fish annually. The destruction of fish
by this animal is, indeed, very great, for he will eat
none unless it be perfectly fresh, and what he takes
himself. By his mode of eating them he causes a
still greater consumption, for so soon as an otter
catches a fish he drags it on shore, devours it to the
vent, and, unless pressed by extreme hunger, always
leaves the remainder, and takea to t\i!&^^\j&'c\si^^»x.^

306 ANECDOTE! OT DOOS.

of more. In men it u alwayi obaerred to nrim
against tbe Btream, in order to meet itt prey.

Otters bite very sererely, and they will seiie upon
a dog with the utmost ferocity, and will shake it u
a terrier does a rat. The jaws of tbe otter m w
constructed, that even when dead it is difficult to
separate them, as they adhere with the utmost te-
nacity. Otters are frequently found on tbe banlci of
the Thames, imd a large one waa caught in an ed-
basket. near Windsor, but tbe hunting of then v
discontinued.

THE GEEYHOUND.

"Ah< gaUant SaOKbHU ! what remsine,
Up Fordaa'a banlEit o'er Fliiton^a plains,
Of all th; BtreDgCh — thj nnewy torce,
Which rather flew tban ran the couree ?
Ah ! what remains > Save that Ih; breed
May to their father's fame BUccecd ;
And when the prize appeaiB in view,
May prme that thej are Snowbalk too."

tt perfectioB to which the greyhound has been
Di^t by persevering care and attention to its breed,
itingaiBbes it alike for beauty, shape, and high spirit,
life its babits are mild and gentle in the extreme,
lese dogs were bronght to this great perfection by
e late Lord Orford, Major Topham, and others,
lowball, — perhaps one of the beat gre^^'^^''^^ ^^'^^
r ran, — won four cups, couples, ani. li^'s^t^* lA

368 ANECDOTES OF D008.

thirty matclies^ at Malton^ and upon the wolds of
Yorkshire. In fact^ no dog had any chance with him
except his own blood. In the November Malton
coursing-meeting in 1799^ a Scotch greyhound was
produced^ which had beat every t>ppQnent in Scotland.
It was then brought to Enghmd^ and diallenged any
dog in the kingdom. The challenge was accepted, and
Snowball selected for the trial of speed; afk;er a course
of two miles, the match (upon which considerable sums
were depending) was decided in his favour.

Another dog, which belonged to Sir Henry Bate
Dudley, won seventy-four successive matches, without
having been once beaten.

Various have been the opinions upon the difference
of speed between a well-bred greyhound and a race-
horse, if opposed to each other. Wishes had been
frequently indulged by the sporting world, that some
criterion could be adopted by which the superiority of
speed could be fairly ascertained, when the following
circumstance accidentally, took place, and afforded
some information upon what had been previously con-
sidered a matter of great uncertainty. In the month
of December, some years ago, a match was to ha?e
been run over Doncaster race^course for one hundred
guineas ; but one of the horses having been drawn, a
mare started alone, that by running the ground she
might ensure the wager, when having run about one
mile in the four, she was accompanied by a greyhound
bitch, whicVv jom^di \xfct ttwsL the side of the course,

THE GREYHOUND. 369

and emulatively entering into the competition^ con-
tinued to race with the mare for the other three miles^
keq)ing nearly head and head^ and affording an excel-
lent treat to the field by the energetic exertions of
each. At passing the distance-post^ five to four was
betted in favour of the greyhound ; when parallel with
the standi it was even bettings and any person might
have taken his choice from five to ten : the mare, how-
ever; had the advantage by a head at the termination
of the course.

The courage and spirit of these dogs is very great.
A greyhound ran a hare single-handed and raced her
80 hard, that, not having time to run through an
opening at the bottom of some paling, she and the
greyhound made a spring at the same moment at the
top of the pales. The dog seized her at the instant
she reached it, and in the momentary struggle he slipt
between two broken pales, each of which ran into the
top of his thighs. In this situation he hung till the
horsemen came up, when, to their great surprise, he
had the hare fast in his mouth, which was taken from
him before he could be released.

I saw a hare coursed on the Brighton Downs some
years ago by two celebrated greyhounds. Such was
the length of the course, some of it up very steep
hills, that the hare fell dead before the dogs, who
were so exhausted that they only reached to within
six feet of her. This was one of the severest co\w:%<e.^
ever witnessed.

370 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

On another occasion^ two dogs ran a hare for
several miles^ and with such speed as to be very soon
out of sight of the coursing party. After a consi-
derable search^ both the dogs and the hare were found
dead within a few yards of each other; nor did it
appear that the former had touched the hare. Mr.
Daniel, in his '^ Rural Sports/^ states that a brace of
greyhounds, in Lincolnshire, ran a hare from her seat
to where she was killed, a distance, measuring straight,
of upwards of four miles, in twelve minutes. During
the course there was a good number of turns, which
must have very considerably increased the space gone
over. The hare ran till she died before the gre)-
hounds touched her.

In the year- 1798, a brace of greyhounds, the
property of Mr. Courtall of Carlisle, coursed a hare
from the Swift, near that city, and killed her at
Clemmell, seven miles distant. Both greyhounds were
so exhausted, that unless the aid of medical men,
who happened to be on the spot, had been imme-
diately given, they would have died, and it was with
diflSculty they were recovered.

In the year 1818, a black greyhound bitch, the
property of Mr. John Heaton, of Scaiisbrick, in Lan-
cashire, left her master, forsook the habitation where
she had been reared, betook herself to the fields and
thickets, and adopted a life of unlimited freedom, de-
fying all the Testtamt* oC man. In this state she
killed a great nuiubet o^ V^x^'i lost iosi^^ ^sss^ ^««!v

THE GREYHOUND. 371

flionally made free with the sheep ; she^ therefore^ very
soon became a nuisance in the neighbourhood. She
bad taken her station at the distance of two miles from
her master's houscj and was generally found near this
spot. In consequence of her depredations^ many at-
tempts were made to shoot her^ but in vain. She
eluded^ for more than six months^ the vigilance of her
pursuers. At length she was observed to go into a
bam that stood in a field which she frequented. She
entered the building through a hole in the wall^ and^
by means of a rope-snare^ was caught as she came out.
On entering the bam^ three whelps were found about
a week old ; so that in her savage state she had evi-
dently been visited by a male of her own species. The
whelps were (foolishly enough) immediately destroyed.
As the bitch herself evinced the utmost ferocity, and,
though well secured, vainly attempted to seize every
person that approached, she was taken home, and
treated with the greatest kindness. By degrees her
ferocity abated, and in the course of two months she
became perfectly reconciled to her original abode. The
following season she ran several courses. There con-
tinued a wildness in her look ; yet, although at perfect
liberty, she did not attempt again to stray away, but
seemed quite reconciled to her domestic life.

Few facts can show the high courage of the grey-
houad more than the following: —

As a gamekeeper of Lord EgremoiiV^ ^n^& W.^ia^'^
« brace of gr^bounda in couples, a \i«t^ ^a^\ftKo\56^

372 ANECDOTES OF DOOt.

crossed the road in view. This temptation proved ao
irresistible^ that the dogs^ f)y a joint effort^ broke sud-
denly from their conductor^ and gave chase, shackled
as they were together. When they got up and gave
the hare the first turn, it was evidently much to her
advantage, as the greyhounds were so embarrassed
that it was with great difficulty they could change the
direction. Notwithstanding this temporary delay, they
sustained no diminution of natural energy, but con-
tinued the course through and over various obstruc-
tions, till the object of their pursuit feU a victim to
their invincible perseverance, after a run of between
three and four mUes.

In addition to the beauty, elegance, high spirity
and speed of the greyhound, may be mentioned his
mild and affectionate disposition, as well as his fidelity
and attachment to those who treat him with kindnen.
They will also show sometimes considerable sagacity,
of which the following is an instance: —

Two young gentlemen went to skate, attended only
by a greyhound. About the time they were expected
home, the dog arrived at the house full speedy and
by bis great anxiety, by laying hold of the clothes rf
some of the inmates, and by his significant gestures;
he convinced them that something was wrong. They
ibllowed the greyhound, and came to the pond. A
hat was seen on the ice, near which was a fwi
aperture. T\ie \iod\e% oi \ks& ^oung gentlemen were
soon found, but \\ie N?«i» exXAXicX. \a. "^cm^ *\m^38s»».'^

THE GREYHOUND. 373

sagacity of the dog was extraordinary. Had he pos-
sessed the power of speech^ he could scarcely have
communicated what had taken place more significantly
than he did.

I have received the following anecdote from a
fi:iend^ on whose veracity I can depend: — In the year
1816^ a greyhound bitch in pup was sent from the
neighbourhood of Edinburgh by a carrier^ vid Dum-
fiies^ to the neighbourhood of Castle Douglas^ in the
stewartry of Kirkcudbright. She brought up her
litter of pups there, and in the following year was
returned by the same route to Edinburgh, from whence
she was sent by way of Douglas and Muirkbk to the
neighbourhood of Cumnock, in Ayrshire. After re-
maining there five or six months, she found her way
across the country to the house near Castle Douglas
where she had brought up her pups. The fact of her
crossing the country was ascertained by shepherds, who
saw her, accompanied by a pointer-dog. She arrived,
accompanied by this dog, who left her almost imme-
diately, and found his way home again. The bitch was
bred in East Lothian, and had never been previously
either in Ayrshire or Dumfriesshire.

A small Italian greyhound in Bologna, which used
at nights to have a kind of jacket put on, to guard
him from the cold, went out generally very early in
the morning to a neighbouring house, to visit another
dog of the same breed which lived there. He always
endeavoured, by various coaxing geaXut^, Vi ^\sss%^

374 ANECDOTES OF D008.

upon the people of the hoase to take off his night-
jacket^ in order that he might play more at ease with
his companion. It once happened, when he could not
get any one to do him this service^ that he found
means, by various contortions of his body, rubbing
himself against tables and chairs, and working with his
limbs, to undress himself without any other assistance.
After this trial had succeeded, he continued to practise
it for some time, until his master discovered it, who
after that imdressed him every morning, and let him
out of the house. At noon, and in the evening, he
always returned home. Sometimes, when he made his
morning call, he found the door of the house in which
his friend dwelt not yet open. In these cases he
placed himself opposite to the house, and by loud
barking solicited admittance. But as the noise which
he made became troublesome both to the inhabitants of
the house and to the neighbours, they not only kept
the door shut against him, but endeavoured also to
drive him away from the house by throwing stones at
him from the windows. He crept, however, so close to
the door, that he was perfectly secure against the
stones, and now they had to drive him away with a
whip. After some time the dog went again to the
house, and waited without barking till the door was
opened. He was again driven away, upon which he
discontinued his visits for a long time. At length,
however, he ventured to go once more to the house,
and set up a loud WiVm^-, ^^fi\\i^\b3astf^\ssL^i^^

THE GREYHOUND. 375

Btion where»he was both secure against the stones^ and
could not be seized by the people of the house when
they opened the door.

After a considerable time^ he one morning saw a
boy come to the house^ lay hold of the knocker^ and
strike it against the door^ and he observed that upon
this process the door was opened. After the boy had
been let in^ the dog crept along the side of the house
to the door^ and took his station upon the spot where
the boy had stood when he knocked^ and where no one
who stood close to the door could be seen from within.
Here he leaped several times at the knocker, till he
raised it and made it strike the door. A person from
within immediately called, "Who is there ?^' but re-
ceiving no answer, opened the door, upon which the
dog ran in with tokens of great delight, and soon
found his way to his friend. Often after this he
availed himself of the fortunate discovery which he
had made, and his* ingenuity was so much admired
that it procured him thenceforward free access to his
companion's habitation.

While on the subject of greyhounds, I cannot resist
the insertion of the following account of one extracted
from Froissart : —

When Richard II. was confined in the Castle of
Flint, he possessed a greyhoimd, which was so re-
markably attached to him, as not to notice or fawn
upon any one else. Froissart says, — '^ It was informed
me Kynge Richard had a gra^ldOXHidLib) e><d!^<&^^^>!^^^

376 ANECD0T£8 OF D009.

who always waited upon the kynge, and would know
no one else. For whenever the kynge did ryde, he
that kept the grayhounde did let him lose^ and he
wolde streyght runne to the kynge and fawne upon
him; and leape with his fore-fete upon the kynge's
shoulders. And as the kynge and the Erie of Derby
talked togyder in the courte^ the grayhounde^ who was
wont to leape upon the kynge^ left the kynge and
came to the Erie of Derhy^ duke of Lancaster^ and
made to hym the same friendly countenance and chere
he was wont to do the kynge. The Duke^ who knew
not the grayhounde^ demanded of the kynge what the
grayhounde would do. ' Cosin/ quod the kynge, ' it
is a great good token to you^ and an evil sygne to
me.' ^ Sir, how know ye that V quod the duke.
' I know it well/ quod the kynge : ^ the grayhounde
maketh you chere this daye as kynge of Englande, as
ye shall be, and I shall be deposed; the grayhounde
hath this knowledge naturally, therefore take hym to
you: he will follow you and forsake me.^ The duke
understoode well those words, and cheryshed the
^ayhounde, who would never after followe Kpge
llicharde, but followed the Duke of Lancaster.^' It
is not, however, improbable, that the dog thus men-
tioned was the Irish wolf-dog, as the fact related i»
more characteristic of that noble animal.

The mild, affable, and serene aspect of the grey-
hound, constitutes \io dxvNb«.ck to its innate sagacity,
or grateful attenliou to '\U ^xq\.^^\.w^ q1 ^^^kn.^'^

THE GREYHOUND. 377

unfortunate king Charles I. was so observant^ that the
remark he made during his troubles is on record, and
strictly just as applicable to the instinctive fidelity of
the animal. He said the greyhound possessed all the
good nature of the spaniel without the fawning.

Washington Irving mentions, that in the course of
his reading he had fallen in with the following anec-
dote, which illustrates in a remarkable manner the
devoted attachment of these dogs to their masters : —

'' An officer named St. Leger, who was imprisoned
in Yincennes (near Paris) during the wars of St. Bar-
tholomew, wished to keep with him a greyhound that
he had brought up, and which was much attached to
him ; but they harshly refused him this innocent
pleasure, and sent away the greyhound to his house in
the Bue des Lions Saint Paul. The next day the
greyhound returned alone to Vincennes, and began to
bark under the windows of the tower, where the
officer was confined. St. Leger approached, looked
through the bars, and was delighted again to see his
faithful hound, who began to jump and play a thou-
sand gambols to show her joy. He threw a piece
of bread to the animal, who ate it with great good
will; and, in spite of the immense wall which sepa-
rated them, they breakfasted together like two friends.
This friendly visit was not the last. Abandoned by
his relations, who believed him dead, the unfortunate
prisoner received the visits of h\a ^c:^\ivi\xsi^ ^'^-i
during four years' confinement. "WYL^levex ^^^fic^x S^

378 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

might he, in spite of rain or snow^ the faithful animal
did not fail a single day to pay her accustomed visit.
Six months after his release from prison St. Leger
died. The faithful greyhound would no longer remain
in the house ; but on the day after the funeral returned
to the castle of Yincennes^ and it is supposed she was
actuated by a motive of gratitude. A jailor of the
outer court had always shown great kindness to this
dog^ which was as handsome as affectionate. Contrary
to the custom of people of that class^ this man had
been touched by her attachment and beauty^ so that
he facilitated her approach to see her master^ and also
insured her a safe retreat. Penetrated with gratitude
for this service^ the greyhound remained the rest of her
life near the benevolent jailor. It was remarked^ that
even while testifying her zeal and gratitude for her
second master^ one could easily see that her heart was
with the first. Like those who, having lost a parent,
a brother, or a friend, come from afar to seek conso-
lation by viewing the place which they inhabited, this
affectionate animal repaired frequently to the tower
where St. Leger had been imprisoned, and would con-
template for hours together the gloomy window from
which her dear master had so often smiled to her, and
where they had so frequently breakfasted together.

The natural simplicity and peaceable demeanour of
the greyhound may have sometimes induced a doubt
o£ its poasessing the c^agacity) fidelity, and attachment
of other dogs •, but Nrtica \k^ *\^ Ym^^ \x<»i^R^ -ws^^

THE GREYHOUND. 379

mesticated^ lie is capable of showing them to an equal
d^ree with any of the canine race.

Some of the best coursing in England takes place
on the Wiltshire Downs, where it is no uncommon
sight to see a hare run away from two good dogs
without a single turn. Nearly three hundred years
ago. Sir Fhihp Sidney referred to this sport on the
WUtshire Downs in one of his poems, in which he
remarks : —

** So, on the downs we see, near Wilton fair,
A hastened hare from greedy greyhounds go/'

The following account of the Persian greyhound
appeared in the '^ Book of Sports :^' —

''The Persian greyhound is much esteemed in its
native country, where the nobles, who are excessively
fond of the chase, keep a great number of them at a
considerable expense, the best and most favoured dogs
frequently having their collars and housings covered
with precious stones and embroidery.

'' These greyhounds are employed in coursing hares
in the plains, and in chasing the antelope. As the
speed of the antelope is greater than that of the grey-
hound, the Persians train hawks for the purpose of
assisting the dog in this kind of chase. The hawks
when young are fed upon the head of a stuffed antelope,
and thus taught to fly at that part of the animal.
When the antelope is discovered, the hawk is cast off^
which, fastening its talons in the wviTMiJL^\ve^^/x«i.-

380 ANECDOTES OF D008.

pedes its progress^ and thus enables the greyhounds to
overtake it. The chase^ however^ in which the Persians
chiefly delight^ and for which those greyhounds are
most highly valued^ is that of the ghoo-khnr^ or wiM
ass. This animal^ which generally inhabits the moun-
tainous districts^ is extremely shy^ and of great endur-
ance^ and is considered by the Persians as one of the
swiftest of all quadrupeds. These qualities^ and the
nature of the ground over which it is usually chased,
render the capture of the wild ass very, uncertain^ and
its pursuit extremely hazardous to the sportsman.

^' When the Persians go out to hunt the wild ass,
relays of greyhounds are placed at various distances in
the surrounding country^ in such directions as are most
likely to be traversed by the object of pursuit ; so that
when one relay is tired^ there is another fresh to con-
tinue the chase. Such^ however^ is the speed and
endurance of the ghoo-khur^ that it is seldom fairly
run down by the greyhounds ; its death generally being
achieved by the rifle of some lucky horseman. The
Persians evince great skill and courage in this arduous
sport; ridings rifle in hand^ up and down precipitous
hills^ over stony paths^ and across ravines and moun-
tain streams^ which might well daunt our boldest turf-
skimming Meltonians.

^^ Though several Persian greyhounds have at
different times been brought to this country^ the breed
can scarcely be considered as established here. The
specimen, however, {^ iem«\fe^,ltom^\L\^^^,^«s^-

THE GREYHOUND. 381

ton painted the picture from which our engraving is
taken^ was bred in this country. She was then supposed
to be the only Persian greyhound bitch in England/^

The Persian greyhound is very handsome. "One
of the finest species of dog I have ever seen/' says an
interesting writer, " is a sort of greyhound which the
Persians rear to assist them in the chase. They have
generally long silken hair upon their quarters, shoul-
ders, ears, and tail; and I think them as handsome,
and considerably more powerful and sagacious, than
our own greyhounds. I have sometimes seen a spirited
horse break loose, and run away at full speed, when
one of these dogs has set after him like an arrow, and
soon getting ahead of him, taken an opportunity of
seizing the bridle in his teeth, which he held so firmly,
that though he was not strong enough to stop the
horse, yet, as he was dragged along, he continued to
pull and confine the horse, so as to impede him very
much, till some person was able to overtake and secure
him.''

Col. Hutchinson says, that "In Persia and many
parts of the East greyhounds are taught to assist the
falcon in the capture of deer. When brought within
good view of a herd the bird is flown, and at the same
moment the dog is sUpped. The rapid sweep of the
falcon soon carries him far in advance. It is the falcon
who makes the selection of the intended victim —
which appears to be a matter of chance — wad ^ y^^-
perfy'trained greyhound will give c\i«L'&e \.o wwv^ <^n^^ ^

3B2 AMBCDOTSB OF DOGS.

however temptingly close the alanued aoinutk m^ pi»
him. The falcon ii instmcted to >im at the head only
of the gazelle, who soon becomes bewildered; some-
times receiving considerable injury from the quick
stroke of its daring adversary. Before long the gaielle
is overtaken by the greyhound. It ia not always eisy
to teach a dog to avoid injuring the bird, whieh is so
intent upon its prey as utterly to disr^;ard the approad
of the hound. Death would probably be the penalty
adjured to him for so heinous an offence ; for a well-
trained falcon u of great value. You can readily
imagine that neither it nor the greyhound could be
properly broken unless the instructor possessed rnoA
ja^:ment and perseverance. The qwit is very ex-
citing ; but the spectator muat be well-mounted, sud
ride boldly, who would closely watch the swift, varying
evolutions of the assailing party, and the sudden
f the helpless defendant."

THE POINTEB.

384 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

Against the wind he takes his prudent way,
While the strong gale directs him to the prey.
Now the warm scent assures the covey near ;
He treads with caution, and he points with fear.
The fluttering coveys from the stuhhle rise.
And on swift wing divide the sounding skies ;
The scatt'ring lead pursues the certain sight,
And death in thunder overtakes their flight." — Gat.

This dog has been crossed and re-crossed so often
with the fox-hound, the setter, and the old Spanish
pointer, that the originality of the present breed may
be questioned, especially as the pointer has been less
noticed by writers on dogs than any other of the
species. How well do I recollect in my early youth
seeing the slow, heavy, solemn-looking, and thick-
shouldered Spanish pointer, tired with two or three
hours^ work in turnips, and so stiff after it the next
day, as to be little capable of resuming his labours.
And yet this dog, 'fifty years ago, was to be met with
all through England. How different is the breed at
the present time ! By crossing with the fox-hound,
they have acquired wonderful speed, and a power of
endurance equally surprising, while their i^ape is
beautiful and their sense and animation strongly marked
in their intelligent countenances.

The old pointers were either nearly white or varie-
gated with large liver-coloured patches. We now see
them either completely liver-coloured, or of a flea-bitten
blue or grey, or else black, with fine stems showing
much blood, and e\tTeTcv«^\^ \\\vw vi-ax^. 'W^^ ^ssss. V

THE POINTER. 385

no doubt but that the crosses by which they have ob-
tained the qualities and appearance I have mentioned^
render the task of breaking them in to pointy back^
and drop to charge, one of no small difficulty. These
habits^ having been acquired in the original breed, had
probably become hereditary ; but the mixture with dogs
which had not these inherent qualities, has introduced
volatility and impatience not easily to be overcome.
It is also a fact, that if a pointer, notwithstanding
this disposition, should at last become perfectly well
broke in, or, as it is called, highly broke^ he loses
much of his natural sagacity. His powers of endur-
ance are, however, very great. A friend of mine, an
ardent sportsman, had a pointer crossed with a fox-
hound, and it was the only one he had. Day after
day he took this dog out with him, from day-break
till late in the evening, and he never flagged or showed
fatigue. It was calculated that he could not traverse
less than one hundred and twenty miles each day.
This dog showed extraordinary sagacity. While hunt-
ing in a large fallow field he made a point, and then
slowly and cautiously proceeded, closely followed by
his master. In this way he led him over a good part
of the field, till it was supposed the dog was dra¥ring
oa the scent of a hare, which had stolen away. At
last he set off running as hard as he could, made a
large circuit to the left, and then came to a point
immediately opposite to his master^ who then advanced
and put up a covey of birds between. Yaixi voLdL^S&fo ^%«

386' ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

The following is a proof of the perfection to which
pointers may be brought. The friend above referred
to went out shooting with a gentleman celebrated
for the goodness of his breed. They took the field
with eight of these dogs. If one pointed^ all the rest
immediately backed steadily. If a partridge was shot,
they all dropped to charge^ and whichsoever dog was
called to bring the bird, the rest never stirred till they
were told to do so. Dogs thus broke in are of great
value, and bring large prices ; from fifty to a hundred
guineas have been given for a good dog.

Pointers frequently show extraordinary sense, espe-
cially in their own peculiar vocation. Thus a pointer
has been known to refuse to hunt for a person who
had previously missed every bird the dog had found.
He left him with every mark of disgust, nor could any
coaxing induce him to continue with his unsportsman-
like companion.

Three pointers were taken out grouse-shooting in
Ireland. They were all of the same breed, or rather
nearly related to each other, one being the grandmother,
the other her daughter, and the third her granddaughter.
The latter, who could get over the ground quicker than
the others, put up first one pack of grouse, and then
another, for which faults she was fiogged again and
again. Having done the same thing the third time,
the steady old grandmother was so provoked, that she
ran at the culprit, txvocked her over and over, and did
not cease to attack Yvev tOX ^^ Xva.^ ^x\N^\SL\«3t\sssi^»

THE POINTER. 387

The authenticity of this anecdote need not be doubted.
It is a proof of the extraordinary sense of a dog^ and is
corroborated by a fact ahready mentioned in the intro-
ductory remarks (p. 33), of one dog attacking another
for having misconducted himself.

Some very bad shots went out partridge-shooting,
attended by a very good, old, steady pointer. After
shooting for some hours with very little success, they
began to amuse themselves by firing at a piece of paper
stuck on a post. The disgust of the old dog at this
proceeding may be imagined — he ran home.

In further proof of the dislike a pointer will show
to a bad shot, I will adduce the following anecdote
mentioned by Captain Brown. A gentleman, on his
requesting the loan of a pointer-dog from a friend,
was informed by him that the dog would behave
very well so long as he could kill his birds ; but if he
frequently missed them, it would run home and leave
him. The dog was sent, and the following day was
fixed for trial; but, unfortunately, his new master was
a remarkably bad shot. Bird after bird rose and was
fired at, but still pursued its flight untouched, till, at
last, the pointer became careless, and often missed his
game. As if seemingly willing, however, to give one
chance more, he made a dead stop at a fern-bush,
with his nose pointed downward, the fore -foot bent,
and his tail straight and steady. In this position he
remained firm till the sportsman was close to him,
with both barrels cocked, then moYvxk^ ^X^^SSs.^ \<5irK7ict^

388 ANECOOTS8 OF DOGS.

for a few paces^ he at last stood still near a bunch of
heather^ the tail expressing the anxiety of the mind
by moving regularly backwards and forwards. At
last out sprung a fine old blackcock. Bang^ bang^
went both barrels^ but the bird escaped unhurt. The
patience of the dog was now quite exhausted; and^
instead of dropping to charge^ he turned boldly round^
placed his tail between his legs, gave one howl^ long
and loud^ and set off as fast as he cotdd to his own
home.

I have seen a pointer leap on the top of a high
gate^ in going from one field to another^ and remain
steadily there till I came up to him. He had sud-
denly come on the scent of birds^ and made his point
from his uncomfortable situation on the gate. C^af^
tain Brown also relates a nearly similar instance of
the stanchness of a pointer^ which he received from
a friend of his. This gentleman was shooting in
Scotland^ when one of his dogs^ in going over a stxme
wall^ about four feet high^ got the scent of some
birds on the other side of the wall^ just as she made
the leap. She hung by her fore-legs^ appearing at a
distance as if they had got fastened among the stonesi
and that she could not extricate herself. In this
position she remained until her master came up. I^
was then evident that it was her caution for fear d
flushing some birds on the other side of the waU^ which
prevented her from taking the leap, or rather, which
was the cause o£ \ieT mi!ism^ \)to!» c:s\.\%Kst$^vir^^^t

THE POINTER. 889

Mr. Daniel^ in his '^ Rural Sports/' mentions the
circumstance of two pointers having stood at one point
an hour and a quarter^ while an artist took a sketch of
them.

A dog of the pointer kind^ brought from South
Carolina in an English merchant vessel^ was a remark*
able prognosticator of bad weather. Whenever he was
observed to prick up his ears^ scratch the deck^ and
rear himself to look to the ¥rindward, whence he would
eagerly snuff up the wind, if it was then the finest
weather imaginably the crew were sure of a tempest suc-
ceeding ; and the dog became so useful, that whenever
they perceived the fit upon him, they immediately
reefed the sails, and took in their spare canvas, to
prepare for the worst. Other animals are prognosti-
cators of weather also ; and there is seldom a storm at
sea, bat it is foretold by some of the natural marine
harometers on board, many hours before the gale.

The following circumstance serves also to prove the
^reme stanchness of a pointer. It is related by
Captain Brown : —

^'A servant who used to shoot for Mr. Clutterbuck
of Bradford, had, on one occasion, a pointer of this
S^Qtleman's, which afforded him an excellent day's
• sport. On returning, the night being dark, he dropped,
wy some chance, two or three birds out of his bag, and
on coming home he missed them. Having informed a
fcUow-aenrant of his loss, he recjaeatfeA. VYca^Xa ^^^.^ss^
^jr the next morning, and sedt iot \)DkEavxL^»t *C5«,

390 ANECDOTES 07 D008*

turnpike^ being certain that he had brought them as
far as that place. The man accordingly went there,
and not a hundred yards from the spot mentioned b}
his companion^ he^ to his surprise^ found the pointei
lying near the birds, and where he probably had re-
mained all nighty although the poor animal had been
severely hunted the day before/*

For the following mstance of the sagacity of a
pointer, I am indebted to Lord Stowell. Mr. Edward
Cook, after having lived some time with his brother at
Tugsten, in Northumberland, went tp America, and took
with him a pointer-dog, which he lost soon afterwards,
while shooting in the woods near Baltimore. Some
time after, Mr. and Mrs. Cook, who continued to reside
at Tugsten, were alarmed at hearing a dog in the
night. They admitted it into the house, and found that
it was the same their brother had taken with him to
America. The dog lived with them until his master
returned home, when they mutually recognised each
other. Mr. Cook was never able to trace by what
vessel the dog had left America, or in what part of
England it had been landed. This anecdote confirms
others which I have already mentioned relative to dogs
finding their way back to this country from consider-
able distances. <

Lieutenant Shipp, in his Memoirs, mentions the
case of a soldier in India, who, having presented his
dog to an acquamtauee, \iN ^Wca. \i^ was taken »
distance of foixr Wx^Ax^dL mA^^, ^^ «^M:^iv^R^ \$i ^

THE POINTER. 391

him back in a few days afterwards. When the faithful
animal returned^ he searched through the whole bar-
racks for his master^ and at length finding him asleep^
he awoke him by licking his face.

Pointers have been known to go out by themselves
for the purpose of finding game, and when they have
succeeded, have returned to their master, and by signifi-
cant signs and gestures have led them directly to the spot.

The mental faculties of pointers are extremely acute.
When once they become conscious of their own powers,
and of what is required of them, they seldom commit a
fault, and do their duty with alacrity and devotion.
Old pointers are apt to hunt the hedgerows of a field
before they begin to quarter the ground. I have seen
dogs severely rated and punished for doing this, but
the cause is obvious. They are aware that game is
more frequently to be found in hedgerows than in the
open ground, and therefore very naturally take the
readiest way of finding it.

An interesting exhibition of clever dogs took place
in London in the summer of 1843, imder the auspices
of M. Leonard, a French gentleman of scientific attain-
ments and enlightened character, who had for some
years directed his attention to the reasoning powers of
animals, and their cultivation. Two pointers, Braque
and Philax, had been the especial objects of his in-
struction, and their intellectual capacities had been
excited in an extraordinary degree. A. \?t\\R:t xa. \kiR.
^^ Atlas'^ newspaper thus speaks oi Xltia ^-^^cSsi^^^ ^

392 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

these animals: — M. L&>iiard^8 dogs are not madj
clever, well-taught animals^ whieh^ by dint of pncdee,
can pick up a particular letter^ or can^ hj a sort ci
instinct, indicate a number which may be asked for;
they call into action powers which^ if not strictly in-
tellectual, approximate very closely to reason. Yor
instance, they exert memory. Four pieces of paper
were placed upon the floor^ which the company num-
bered indiscriminately, 2, 4, 6, 8. The numbers were
named but once, and yet the dogs were able to pick up
any one of them at command, although they were not
placed in regular order. The numbers were then
changed, with a similar result. Again^ different objects
were placed upon the floor, and when a similar thing
— say a glove — ^was exhibited, one or other of the ani-
mals picked it up immediately. The dogs distinguish
colours, and, in short, appear to understand everything
that is said to them.

The dog Braque plays a game of dominoes with any
one who likes. We are aware that this has been done
before ; but when it is considered that it is necessary
to distinguish the number of spots, it must be ad-
mitted that this requires the exercise of a power Uttk
inferior to reason. The dog sits on the chair with the
dominoes before him, and when his adversary plays, he
scans each of his dominoes with an air of attention
and gravity which is perfectly marvellous. When he
could not Tuat(3a. \\i^ iamm^ flayed, he became restless
and shook Yi\a YieaA., wA ^w^ <i'^'et xa^^sai^a^ ^to

THV POINTER. 393

inabililyto do so. No human being could have paid
more attention. The. dog seemed to watch the game
with deep interest^ and what is more^ he won.

Another point strongly indicative of the close ap-
proach to the reasoning powers^ was the exactness with
which the dogs obeyed an understood signal. It was
agreed that when three blows were struck upon a
ehair^ Philax should do what was requested ; and when
five were given^ that the task should devolve on
Braque. This arrangement was strictly adhered to.
ffe do not intend to follow the various proofs which
were afforded of the intelligence of the dogs; it is
sufficient to say that a multiplicity of directions given
to them were obeyed implicitly^ and that they ap-
peared to understand what their master said as well as
uiy individual in the room.

M. Leonard entered into a highly-interesting ex-
planation of his theory regarding the intellectual
powers of animals^ and the mode he adopts to train
uid subdue horses^ exhibiting the defects of the system
^oerally pursued. His principle is^ that horses are
lot vicious by nature, but because they have been
)&dly taught, and that, as with children, these defects
nay be corrected by proper teaching. M. Leonard
loes not enter into these inqmries for profit, but solely
tith a scientific and humane view, bein^ desirous of
ivestigating the extent of the reasoning powers of
aimals.

It does not appear possibVe t^kal ^o^ ^Qs^^>ifc

894 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

educated to the extent of those of M. L&>iiard^ unless
we can suppose that they acquire a tolerably exact
knowledge of language. That they in reality learn to
know the meaning of certain words^ not merely when
addressed to them^ but when spoken in ordinary con-
versation^ is beyond a doubt; although the accom-
panying looks and movements in all likelihood help
them in their interpretation. We have known a small
spaniel^ for instance^ which thoroughly understood the
meaning of ^' out/^ or ^^ going out/' when spoken in
the most casual way in conversation. A lady of our
acquaintance has a dog which Uvea at enmity with
another dog in the neighbourhood^ called Tork^ and
angrily barks when the word Tork is pronounced in
his hearing.

A well-known . angler was in the habit of being
attended by a pointer-dog, who saved him the trouble
of a landing-net in his trout-fishing excursions. When
he had hooked a fish and brought it near the bank,
the dog would be in readiness, and taking the fish
behind the head, would bring it out to his master.

A writer, who endeavours to prove the existence of
souls analogous to the human in animals, relates the
following remarkable fact, of which he was himself
an eye-witness. He says : —

'' I was with a gentleman who resides in the

country, in his study, when a pointer-dog belonging

to him came miiivm^ \ft \Xi^ door of the room,

which was shut, BCT«LXAi\im% «cA \^«:^us!k% >C^ \r.

THE POINTER. 395

admitted. He then used supplicating gestures of
every kind^ running from his master to the stair
behind which his gun stood^ then again to his master^
and back to the gun. The gentleman now compre-
hended something of his dog's meanings and took up
his gun. The dog immediately gave a bark of joy^
ran out at the door^ returned^ and then ran to the
back-door of the hoase^ from whence he took the road
to a neighbouring hill.

'^ His master and I followed him. The dog ran^
highly pleased^ a little distance before us^ showing us
the way we should take. After we had proceeded
about forty paces^ he gave us to understand that we
should turn to the left^ by pressing repeatedly against
his master^ and pushing him towards the road that
turned to the left. We followed his direction, and
he accompanied us a few paces, but suddenly he
turned to the right, running round the whole of the
hill. We still proceeded to the left, slowly up the
ascent, till we were nearly arrived at its summit, the
dog in the meantime making the circuit of the hill to
the right. He was now already higher than we were,
when he gave a sudden bark, and that moment a hare
ran before the muzzle of his master's gun, and, of
course, met her fate.''

A gentleman had a pointer so fleet that he often
backed him to find birds in a ten-acre field within
two minutes^ if there were birda m '\\.. Oii ^t^'scvjm^
tbe £eld, be seemed to know \)^ inaXAW^ ^\v«t^ "^^

396 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

birds would lie^ generally going up to them at once.
His nose was so good^ that with a brisk wind^ he
would find his game a hundred and fifty yards off
across the furrows. He could tell whether a bird was
hit^ and if so would retrieve it some fields off from
where it was shot. He would never follow a hare
imless it was wounded. He would point water-fowl
as well as all birds of game^ and has been seen
pointing a duck or a moor-hen with the water running
over his back at the time. Nothing seemed to spoil
this dog^ not even rat and otter huntings in both of
which he was an adepts as he knew his business ; and
although he would rattle through a wood^ he was per-
fectly steady the next minute out of cover. He hai
been known to continue at a point two hours. In
high turnips ■ he would contrive to show his master
where he was^ standing sometimes on his hind legs
only^ so that his head and fore-quarters might be
seen. On one occasion he came at full speed so
suddenly on a hare, that he slipped up, and fell nearly
on his back. In this position he did not move, and
it was thought he was in a fit, till the hare jumped
up and was killed, when the dog righted himself. So
steady was he in backing another dog when game was
found, that he once caught sight of a point at the
moment of jumping a stile, and balanced himself on it
for several seconds till he fell. Once when hunting
with a young po\nteT,'w\vo V-aA. wA^ \\een taken into
• field two or tYitee t\me&. vkv ox^« \ft ^^^tw^msl^ksr.

THE POINTER. 397

birds before the shooting season^ the following occur-
rence took place. The old dog found some birds in
the middle of the fields and pointed them steadily.
The puppy had been jumping and gambolling about^
with no great hunt in him^ and upon seeing the old
dog standi ran playfully up to him. He was, however,
seized by the neck, and received a good shaking, which
sent him away howling, and his companion then turned
round and steadied himself on his point, without
moving scarcely a yard. This anecdote is extracted
fipom Hone's " Year Book," and the writer of it goes
on to say, — ''"VThat dog is there possessing the singular
self-denial of the pointer or setter f The hound gives
fall play to his feelings; chases, and babbles, and
kicks up as much riot as he likes, provided he is true
to his game; the spaniel has no restraint, except
being kept within gun-shot; the greyhound has it
all his own way as soon as he is loosed ; and the terrier
watches at a rat's hole, because he cannot get into it :
but the pointer, at the moment that other dogs satisfy
themselves, and rush upon their game, suddenly stops,
and points with almost breathless anxiety to that
which we might naturally suppose he would eagerly
seize. The birds seen, the dog creeps after them
cautiously, stopping at intervals, lest by a sudden
movement he should spring them too soon. And
then let us observe and admire his delight when his
anxiety — for it is anxiety — is crowned with success —
when the bird falls, and lie \tty^ Vc ys^Wfti^j %^\s»»

898 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

master's feet. A pointer should never be ill-usedL
He is too much like one of us. He has more head-
piece than all the rest of the dogs put together.
Narrowly watch a steady pointer on his game^ and
see how he holds his breath. It is evident he must
stand in a certain degree of pain^ for we all know
how quickly a dog respires. And when he comes up
to you in the field he puffs and blows^ and his tongae
is invariably hanging out of his mouth. We never
see this on a pointy and to check it suddenly muse
give the dog pain. And yet^ how silent he is! how
eager he looks ! and if a sudden hysteric gasp is heard,
it ceases in a moment. Surely he is the most perfect
artist of the canine race.''

Some of my readers may like to know that the best
breaker of pointers I have yet met with is Mr. Lucas,
one of the keepers of Richmond Park. He perfectly
understands his business, and turns out his pointers
in a way which few can equal.

In August 1857, a gentleman residing at Ludlow,
in Shropshire, had a pointer bitch, which produced
seven puppies. Six of them were drowned, and one
left. On the servant going the next morning to give
her some milk, she found, besides the puppy, a hedg^
hog, which had been in the garden some years, most
comfortably curled up with them. She took it away,
but my informant being told that it had got back
again, he went to see it. The pointer was licking it,
and appeared cjvivte ^-a lovA qISX ^% q,^ ter own puppy.

TBI pointI^k. 399

He again had it removed, the bitch following, and
whining with evident anxiety to have it restored to her.
This was the more remarkable, as on previous occa-
uons she had tried to kill the hedgehog. This strange
affection can only be accounted for by an abundant
flow of milk, which distended and hurt her, occasioned
by her ot^er puppies having been destroyed, and she,
therefore, seized on the hedgehog to relieve her, how-
ever incongruous it might be to her former feelings
towards it.

THE SETTEE.

THE SETTER. 401

pointer and the large water-spaniel^ and was justly
celebrated for his fine scent. It is difficult now to say
what a setter really is^ as the original breed has been
crossed with springers, stag and blood-hounds. The
Irish breed of setters is considered better than either
the English or Scotch, and a fine brace has been
frequently known to fetch fifty guineas. Youatt says
that the setter is evidently the large spaniel improved
in size and beauty, and taught to mark his game by
setting or crouching. He is more active than the
pointer, but has not so much patient steadiness. It
is extremely difficult to decide between the merits of
the setter and pointer as dogs for shooting over. Some
authors prefer one, some the other. '* Craven '^ says,
that in his opinion Russian setters are better than
English, in nose, sagacity, and every other qualification
that a dog ought to possess.

Col. Hutchinson relates that he was '' partridge-
shooting the season before last with an intimate friend,
rhe air was soft, and there was a good breeze. We
^ame upon a large turnip-field, deeply trenched on
eieeount of its damp situation. A white setter, that
habitually carried a lofty head, drew for awhile, and
then came to a point. We got up to her. She led us
across some ridges, when her companion, a jealous dog
(a pointer), which had at first backed correctly, most
improperly pushed on in front, but, not being able to
acknowledge the scent, went oflf, clearly imagining the

402 ANECDOTES Of DOGS.

bitch wan in error. She^ however^ held oa, and in
beautiful style brought us up direct to a covey. My
friend and I agreed that she must have been but little,
if at all, less than one hundred yards off when she first
winded the birds; and it was clear to us that they
(um\d not have been running, for the breeze came
dinietly across the furrows, and she had led us in the
wind's eye. We thought the point the more remark-
able, as it is generally supposed that the strong smell
of turnips diminishes a dog^s power of scenting birds/'

The same able author says, that on one occasion
when a near relation of his was shooting on the banks
of tlie Forth, he killed a partridge that was flying
iU'soHH the river. As he had no retriever with him, be
alrnoMt regr(;tted having fired; but, tr; hix surprise^
hJH K(;tter, Dove, jumped into the river, although she
bad iiev(;r previously (to the writer's knowledge), at-
tern pied to swim, seized it, and deposited it safely on
tlj(; bank. She never had retrieved before, and wm
nr^t particularly good at '' seeking dead."

'' During my residence In the country,'' says M.
liuet, *^ I had a gamekeeper who was very skilful in tbe
art of training dogs. Among others of various kind*
wbich he trained was a large old English setter, with
wbieli he had suece<;d<;d so well ttmt he could usebim
both for hunting and shooting.

^' This dog did always as much as could be done by
any of his race, in whatever kind of sport he was els'

THE SETTER. 403

ployed; lie even invented advantageous manoeuvres
liimselfy which the gamekeeper affirmed be had never
taught him.

" Once, after I had been already several hours re-
tamed from bunting with my people^ the dog came
ranning across the yard with a hare upon his back^
which he held by the ear^ so as to carry her in the
most convenient manner to the kitchen from the consi-
derable distance where he must have killed her.

''Upon another occasion he showed an extraordi-
nary degree of judgment and fideUty. The gamekeeper
had, on one of the short days of December, shot at
and wounded a deer. Hoping to run him down before
night, he instantly put the dog upon the track, which
foUowed it at full speed, and soon was out of sight. At
length it grew dark, and the gamekeeper returned
home, thinking he should find the setter arrived there
hefore him ; but he was disappointed, and became ap-
prehensive that his dog might have lost himself, or
fiillen a prey to some ravenous animal. The next
morning, however, we were all greatly rejoiced to see
him come running into the yard, whence he directly
lutttened to the door of my apartment, and, on being
admitted, ran, with gestures expressive of sohcitude
<uid eagerness, to a comer of the room where guns
Were placed. We understood the hint, and, taking the
gang, followed him. He led us not by the road which
he himself had taken out of the wood, but by beatea
piths half round it, and then \yy fteveti!L^wA.^j3<5^««:^

404 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

tracks in different directions, to a thicket^ where,^ fol-
lowing him a few paces, we found the deer whidi he
had killed. The dog seems to have rightly judged
that we should have been obliged to make our way
with much difficulty through almost the whole length
of the wood, in order to come to the deer in a straight
direction, and he therefore led us a circuitous but open
and convenient road. Between the legs of the deer,
which he had guarded during the night against the
beasts of prey that might otherwise have seized upon
it, he had scratched a hole in the snow, and filled it
with dry leaves for his bed. The eictraordinary saga-
city which he had displayed upon this occasion ren-
dered him doubly valuable to us, and it therefore
caused us very serious regret when, in the ensuing
summer, the poor animal went mad, possibly in conse-
quence of his exposure to the severe frost of that night,
and it became necessary for the gamekeeper to shoot
him, which he could not do without shedding tears.
He said he would willingly have given his best cow to
save him ; and I confess myself that I would not have
hesitated to part with my best horse upon the same
terms."

Mr. Torry, of Edinburgh, had a setter bitch whidi
possessed great powers, and especially in finding lost
articles, as she would, whenever she was desired, go in
search of anything. On one occasion his servant lost
a favourite whip in the middle of a moor, and he did
not discover or make \aiawcL ^^\q^^ >C^ '^^ ^^ss.

f

THB SETTER. 405

about a mile distant from the spot where it was
dropped. Mr. Torry ordered the servant to go back
and faring it, as he stated he was quite certain of
the spot where he had dropped it ; but after searching
for nearly an hour, the servant returned and said he
could not recover it, upon which Mr. Torry told his
setter to go back for the whip. She started off in-
stantly, and in less than five minutes the lost article
was at his feet.

The same dog did a great many other curious
things: she would ring the bell, fetch her master's
slippers, or bring his youngest son, when required to
do so, from another room ; which last she effected by
taking hold of his pinafore with her mouth, and run-
ning before him sideways to his master's chair.

A large setter, ill with the distemper, had been
nKMt tenderly nursed by a lady for three weeks. At
length he became so weak as to be placed on a bed,
where be remained three days in a dying situation.
After a short absence, the lady, on re-entering the
room, observed him to fix his eyes attentively on her,
uid make an effort to crawl across the bed towards her.
This he accomplished evidently for the sole purpose of
licking her hands, which, having done, he expired with-
out a groan. " I am,'* says Mr. Blaine, " as convinced
that the animal was sensible of his approaching dissolu-
tioQi and that this was a last forcible effort to express
Us gratitude for the care taken of him, a& I ^\£lq>{.\s^

406 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

own existence ; and bad I witnessed this proof of ex-
cellence alone^ I should think a life devoted to the
amelioration of the condition of dogs far too little for
their deserts/^

There is a curious and interesting anecdote related
of a setter who had formed a great friendship with a
cat. They were^ in fact^ inseparable companions^ and
evidently had a great love for each other. As a sport-
ing dog the setter had few equals^ but he constantly
showed his disgust when obliged to accompany a bad
shot into the fields. After one of the shooting seasons
was over^ his master took a house in London^ and
carried his setter with him^ who was seated with the
footman on the box of the carriage. It appears that
the dog had not forgotten his favourite, the cat, for he
disappeared from the house, and was absent for some
days. He at length returned to his master's house in
the country, and brought back the cat with him. How
he contrived to find his way backwards and forward,
and how he persuaded the cat to accompany him, are
mysteries which it would be useless to attempt to solve.
The fact, however, would seem to be satisfactorily
vouched for.

Setters are known to be subject to strange freaks.
A gentleman had one which he had shot to for three
years. Upon one occasion he took the dog out, and
fired seven or eight times at birds the dog had found
him ; but having missed them all, the animal returned

THE SETTER. 407

home^ evidently disgusted. In the evening his owner
took him out again and killed every shot^ which pro-
cured a reconciliation between the dog and its master.

The late Dr. Hugh Smith related the following

circumstance of a setter dog^ and maintained that a

bitch and a dog may fall passionately in love with each

other. As the doctor was travelling from Midhurst

into Hampshire^ the dogs^ as usual in country places^

ran out barking as he was passing through a village ;

and amongst them he observed a little ugly mongrel^

that was particularly eager to ingratiate himself with

a setter bitch that accompanied him. Whilst stopping

to water his horse^ he remarked how amorous the

mongrel continued, and how courteous the setter seemed

to her admirer. Provoked to see a creature of Didoes

high blood so obsequious to such mean addresses, the

doctor drew one of his pistols and shot the dog ; he

then had the bitch carried on horseback for several

miles. From that day, however, she lost her appetite,

ate httle or nothing, had no inclination to go abroad

with her master, or attend to his call, but seemed to

repine like a creature in love, and express sensible

concern for the loss of her gallant. Partridge season

came, but Dido had no nose. Some time after she

was coupled to a setter of great excellence, which with

BO small diflSculty had been procured to get a breed

from, and all the caution which even the doctor himself

coold take was strictly exerted, that the whelps mi^ht

he pure and unmixed ; yet not «t Y^Y3 ^^ ^^^

406 ANBCDOnS OF DOGS.

bring fortli but what wns the pietaie and eoloor of Ihe
mongrel that he had so many months before destroyed.
The doctor famed, and, had he not personally paid
such attention to preserve the intercourse nnoontami-
nated, would have suspected that some negiigenee hsd
occasioned this disappointment ; but his views were in
many subsequent litters also defeated, for Dido never
produced a whelp which was not exactly similar to the
unfortunate dog which was her first and nrardered
lover.

This anecdote may appear strange or untrue to
some people ; but it is an imdoubted tact, and in some
degree corroborates Dr. Smith's account that the kte
Sir Grore Ouseley had a Persian mare which prodoeed
her first foal by a zebra in Scotland. She was after-
wardi a brood-mare in England, and had several fosk,
every one of which had the zebra's stripes on it. That
the force of imagination influences some brutes cannot
be doubted. A gentleman had a small spaniel whidi
had one of her 1^ broken when pregnant. When
she littered, one of the whelps had one of her hind
legs broken — ^the limb was contracted — a perfect calliu
formed, in everything resembling the leg of the dam.

Setters are difficult to break; but when wdl
broken are invaluable as sporting dogs, for they wiD
work all day if they can occasionally find water. John
Dudley, duke of Northumberland, is said to have been
(he first that broke a setter dog to the net, about
the year !&&&•

THE SETTER. 409

CoL Hutehinaon says that a French lady, who is
fimd of animalsi at his request committed the following
aaeodote to paper : —

'^Hy dear M^or, a beautiful red-and-white setter^
WW xemarkahle, I am told, for many rare qualities as a
^nnting dog ; but, of course, none of these could be
compared, in my eyes, to his faithfnlness and sagacity.
I looked upon him as a friend ; and I know that oui
affection was mutual. I could mention several instances
of his intelligence — I might say, reflection; but one in
particular gave me such delight that, though years
We since passed away, all the circumstances are as
fresh in my memory as if they had occurred but yes-
terday. I was returning from school at Versailles;

I and having rang uselessly for a little time at the front
door, I went round to the carriage-gate to have a chat
vidi my silky-haired favourite. He barked anxiously,
thruBt his cold nose through an opening near the
gioiind, scratched vigorously to increase its size, and in
niunerous ways testified great joy at again hearing my
^^. I put my hand under the gate to caress him ;
a&d while he was licking it, I said in jest, but in a
distinct, loud voice, 'Dear Medor, I am shut out —
go, bring me the keys.^ It so happened that the
atable where they usually hung was not closed.
M^r ran off, and in a few seconds returned and

i ^aeed them in my hands. I will not attempt to
describe my gratification at such a striking ^roof of hi&
^td^geace, nor its evident pride «X «^\x\!^ \Ek& «c^Kt

410 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

the hall^ nor yet the fright of the servant at thinking
how long the street-door most have been carelessly left
open. ' Medor deserves that his life shonld be written/
said I to my uncle^ when afterwards telling him the
whole story; 'I am sure his deeds are as wonderfal
as those related of the 'Chiens oel^bres' by De
Fr^ville/

'^ My setter was immediately declared ' Keeper of
the Keys^^ and forthwith invested with all the rigliti
of office. Nor was this confidence misplaced. He
would never give up his charge to any one but to my
uncle or myself; and always seemed fully sensible oi
the dignity and responsibility of his new position.^'

Tolfrey gives^ in his '^ Sportsman in France/^ so
beautiful an instance of a setter's untutored inteUigence
leading him to see the advantage of placing running
birds between himself and the gun^ that I will relate
it.

" On gaining some high ground^ the dog drew
and stood. She was walked up to^ but to my asto-
nishment we found no birds. She was encouraged,
and with great difficulty coaxed off her point. She
kept drawing on^ but with the same ill success.

" I must confess I was for the moment soidf
puzzled ; but knowing the excellence of the animal, I
let her alone. She kept drawing on for nearly- a hun-
dred yards — still no birds. At last^ of her own accord,
and with a degce& oi instinct amounting almost to the
faculty ot Teaaomxi^, ^^ \st^^ l^^os. V^ ^mt^ and

THB 8BTTXB. 411

duhii^ off to the right made a delovr, and was pre-
■aitly straight before me, some three hundred yards
off, letting the game whatever it might be, as much as

to ttf, 'I'll be if yoa escape me this time.'

Ve walked steadDy on ; and when within about thirty
Jfirdi of her, up got a covey of red-legged partridges.
Hid we had the good fortune to kill a brace each.

" It is one of the characteristics of these birds to
mn for an amazing distance before they take wing ;
but the sagacity of my faithful dog baffled all their
cffbrts to escape. We fell in with several coveys of
these birds during the day, and my dog ever after gave
them the doqble, and kept them between the gun and
he»!l£»

THE PUG DOG.

" Mf png nuko > bid pet; he ii ualMi in tlM ftaU, ii lomeriK
tiuppuh, hja little lagtdtj, tad a very cmnrdlf : bat than h u v
of ion fan about hiiD wUch mulen him ■ hibuwbla ■fnwiiilnii ■
» fine Udj." — Pari*i€K Oouip.

Pugs came into fashion, and probidify Hat into t]ui
country, in the e&rly part of the reign of Willin
the Tbiid, and were then called Dutch pi^. At tbil
time they "Heifc ^|ei«srii"j ^sjanss^ ■'R>tli. orange rib-

THE PUG ]>06. 413

bons^ and were in great request amongst the courtiers^
from the king being very partial to them.

It is difficult to say how this partiality arose^ though
it may perhaps be accounted for by the following anec-
dote^ related in a scarce old book^ called '^ Sir Roger
Williams' Actions in the Low Countries/' printed in
1618.

" The Prince of Orange (father of William III.)
being retired into the camp^ Julian Romero^ with
earnest persuasions^ procured license of the Duke
D'Alya to hazard a camisado, or night attack^ upon the
prince. At midnight Julian sallied out of the trenches
with a thousand armed men^ mostly pikes^ who forced
all the guards that they found in their way into the
place of arms before the Prince's tent^ and killed two
of his secretaries. The Prince himself escaped very nar-
rowly^ for I have often heard him say that he thought
but for a dog he should have been taken or slain.
The attack was made with such resolution, that the
guards took no alarm until their fellows were running
to the place of arms, with their enemies at their heels,
when this dog, hearing a great noise, fell to scratching
and crying, and awakened him before any of his men ;
and though the Prince slept armed, with a lacquey
always holding one of his horses ready bridled and
saddled, yet, at the going out of his tent, with much
ado he recovered his horse before the enemy arrived.
Nevertheless^ one of his equerries was slain taking

414 ANBCDOTB8 OF D008.

horse presently after him^ as were divert of his ser--
vants. The Frmcej to show his gratitude, until hi^
djring day kept one of that dog's race^ and so di^
many of his friends and followers. These animals
were not remarkable for their beauty , being httle
white dogs^ with crooked noses^ called Cmnmet
(flat-nosed)/'

It is difficult to account for the origin of this breed
of dogs. So far from having any of the courage of the
bulldogs which they resemble somewhat in miniature^
they are extremely cowardly. They are also oeei-
sionally treacherous in their dispositiouj and will take
strong dislikes to particular persons.

The passion of the late Lady Fenrhyn for pugs was
well known. Two of these^ a mother and daughter,
were in the eating-room of Fenrhyn Castle during tlie
morning call of a lady^ who partook of luncheon. On
bonnets and shawls being ordered for the purpose of
taking a walk in the grounds^ the oldest dog jumped
on a chair, and looked first at a cold fowl, and then at
her daughter. The lady remarked to Lady Feurhyn
that they certainly had a design on the tray, lie
bell was therefore rung, and a servant ordered to take
it away. The instant the tray disappeared^ the eldff
pug, who had previously played the agreeable with all
her might to the visitor^ snarled and flew at her, vA
during the whole walk followed her, growling and
snapping at her heels whenever opportunity served.

THE PUG DOO. 415

The dog certainly went through two or three links of
inference, from the disappearance of the coveted spoil
to Lady Fenrhyn's order, and from Lady Fenrhyn^s
order to the remark made by her visitor.

Monsieur Blaze, in his '^ History of Dogs/' men-
tions one who was taught to pronounce several words.
The editor of the " Dumfries Courier '^ has declared
most solemnly that he *^ heard a pug repeatedly pro-
nounce the word 'William/ almost as distinctly as
ever it was enunciated by the human voice. He saw
the dog lying on a rug before the fire, when one of his
master's sons, whose name is William, and to whom he
is more obedient than to any one else, happened to give
him a shove, when the animal ejaculated, for the first
time, the word ' William.' The whole party were as
much amazed as Balaam was when his ass spoke ; and
fliough they could hardly believe their own ears, one of
them exclaimed, * Could you really find it in your heart
to hurt the poor dog after he has so distinctly pro-
lumnced your name?' This led to a series of experi-
m^ts, which have been repeated for the satisfaction of
various persons, but still the animal performs with
diffieolty. When his master seizes his fore-legs, and
commands him to say ' William,' he treats the hearer
^ith a gurring voluntary; and after this species of
ttnaic has been protracted for a longer or a shorter
I^od, his voice seems to fall a full octave before he
coines oat with the important word.^

416 ANECDOTES OF DOGS*

In the ^' Biblioth^que Grermanique^'' published in
1720^ there is an account of a dog at Berlin^ who was
made to pronounce a few words^ but the one which he
ejaculated most distinctly was '^ Elizabeth/' Sir
William 6ell also had a dog which was well known to
repeat some words^ but it should be mentioned that
he never did this except his master held his jaws in
a peculiar way.*

It has been said of the pug dog that he is appli-
cable to no sporty appropriated to no useful purpose^
susceptible of no predominant passion^ and in no way
remarkable for any pre-eminent quality. He seems,
indeed^ intended to be the patient follower of a rumi-
nating philosopher, or the adulatory and consolatory
companion of an old maid ; but is now gradually be-
coming discarded as a pet, and is seldom seen peeping
out of a carriage window or basking in a London
balcony.

The Comforter, of which a portrait is given at the
head of the present chapter, is a rare and beautifal
little dog, apparently a cross between the Maltese and
King Charles spaniel. His colour is generally white,
with black or brown patches; his ears are long, and
his head broad on the upper part, with an acute
muzzle ; the hair is long over the whole body, with the
fore legs feathered; his tail is curled, and feathered

* ?0T otVitT m%\«(ic«.% qC 8\>eaking dogs see ante, p. 49.

THE pve Doa.

417

with VBTj loDg hairs. Thia is the smalleet of any of
tbe distinct races of dogs, aiid is freqnently not above
& foot firom the tip of the nose to the point of the
tul.

418

THE TURNSPIT.

How well do I recollect^ in the days of my youth,
watching the operations of a turnspit at the house of a
worthy old Welsh clergyman in Worcestershire, who
taught me to read. He was a good man, wore a
bushy wig, black worsted stockings, and large plated
buckles in his shoes. As he had several boarders, as
well as day-scholars, his two turnspits had plenty to
do. They were long-bodied, crooked-legged, and ugly
dogs, with a suspicious, unhappy look about them, as
if they were weary of the task they had to do, and ex-
pected every moment to be seized upon to perform it.
Cooks in those days, as they are said to be at present,
were very cross, and if the poor animal, wearied with
having a larger joint than usual to turn, stopped for a
moment, the voice of the cook might be heard ratmg
him in no very gentle terms. When we consider that
a large solid piece of beef would take at least three
hours before it was properly roasted, we may form some
idea of the task a dog had to perform in turning a
wheel during that time. A pointer has pleasure in
finding game, the terrier worries rats with considerable
glee, the greyhound pursues hares with eagerness and
delight, and the bull-dog even attacks bulls with the
greatest energy, while the poor turnspit performs his
task by compulsion, like a culprit on a tread-wbeel,
subject to scolding ox ^^^^Xm^ithft cto\^s a moment to
rest his weary Ivmbft, wi^ Sa ^>asstt. >kl^^ ^fe«^^

THE TURNSPIT. 419

kitchen when the task is over. There is a story (it is
an old one) of the Bath turnspits^ who were in the
habit of collecting together in the abbey church of that
town during divine service. It is said^ but I will not
vouch for the truth of the story^ that hearing one day
the word '' spit," which occurred in the lesson for the
day, they all ran out of the church in the greatest
hurry, evidently associating the word with the task
they had to perform.

These dogs are still used in Germany, and her
Majesty has two or three of them amongst her collec-
tion of these quadrupeds. They are extremely bandy-
legged, so as to appear almost incapable of running,
with long bodies and rather large heads. They are
very strong in the jaws, and are what are called hard-
bitten. It is a peculiarity in these dogs that they
generally have the iris of one eye black and the other
white. Their colour varies, but the usual one is a
bluish grey, spotted with black. The tail is generally
curled on the back.

As two turnspits were generally kept to do the
roasting work of a family, each dog knew his own day,
and it was not an easy task to make one work two days
running. Even on his regular day a dog would fre-
qu^itly hide himself, so cordially did he hate his pre-
scribed duties. A story is said to have been related to
a gentleman by the Duke de Liancourt, of two turn-
spits employed in his kitchen, who h&d. \.o \a^^ \k^^
taruB every other day to get into t\Lfc ^\«i^» ^"^^ '^^

420 ANICDOTXS 07 D0G8*

tbem^ in a fit of lazineat^ hid himself on the day he
should have worked, so that his eompanion was forced
to mount the wheel in his stead, who, when his employ-
ment was over, began crying and wagging his tail, and
making signs for those in attendance to follow him.
This was done, and the dog conducted them into a
garret, where he dislodged his idle companicm, and
killed him immediately.

The following circumstance is said to have taken
place in the Jesuits' College at La Fl^he.

After the cook had prepared his meat for roasting,
be looked for the dog whose turn it was to work the
spit, but not being able to find him, he attempted to
employ for this service another that happened to be in
^c kitchen. The dog, however, resisted, and, having
bitten the cook, ran away. The man, with whom the
dog was a particular favourite, was much astonished
at his ferocity. The wound he had received was a
severe one, and bled profusely, so that it was necessary
to dress it. While this was doing, the dog, which had
run into the garden, and found out the one whose turn
it was to work the spit, came driving him before him
into the kitchen, when the latter immediately went of
his own accord into the wheel.

Bufibn calls the turnspit the Bastet ijambeitonet,

but some of the breed are said to have straight legs.

Short as they are, the body is extremely strong and

heavy in propoTtion \fs th^ height of the dog, and this

weight must £ac\\\ta\;e Wi^ XAvrsim^ ^l^^^^^t^R^

THE FOXHOUND.

" Wtro'd hj the ttrBKning light and merrj Urk,
Forth nuh the jolly cUn ; vtth tuneful throats
They carol land, and in grand chonu joined,
Salnte the new-borD da;.

Then to the copse
Hiick with entangled grass, or prickljr fane.
With ulence lead thjr manjr-coloured haudds
la all their beaatj'a pride." — Soubsville.

It it impossible to enter upon a. description of the
{biHonnd without considerable ^ffiience, "NSV^ifiasx "^t
r the entiiusiastic admiiation it euAtea via.cio.%^

422 ANECDOTES 07 DOGS.

sportsmen^ the undeviating perseverance and liigh
courage of the animal^ its perfect symmetry^ and the
music of its tongue^ which warms the heart and gives
life and spirit to man and horse^ it must be difficult to
do justice to his merits. I will^ however^ endeavour
to do my best; and should I fail^ it will not be for
want of admiration of the noble animal whose qualifi-
cations I am about to illustrate with characteristic
anecdotes.

In giving a description of the various breeds of
dogs, every one must be aware that by crossing and
recrossing them many of those we now see have but
little claim to originality. The foxhound, the old Irish
wolf-dog, and the colley or shepherd's dog, may, per-
haps, be considered as possessing the greatest purity of
blood. My opinion respecting the foxhound is partly
founded on the following curious fact : —

In Wilkinson's '^ Manners and Customs of the
Egyptians," there is a representation of as varmint a
pack of foxhounds as modem eye could wish to see.
It is copied from a painting found in the interior of
the tomb of the Pharaoh under whom Joseph served.
Every individual hound is characteristic of the present
breed, with all their courage and animation. Each
dog's tail was as an old Irish huntsman, who used to
glory in seeing his hounds carry their stems after the
hardest day, once said to his master, " not behind them
at all, plaize youi \ioiio\u?) but curling out over their
shoulders."

THE FOXHOUND. 423

If the copy be correct^ and there is no reason to
doubt it^ the dog of this breed must be considered of a
much more ancient date than is generally supposed.
There is every reason to believe that the first dogs
came from Asia. Indeed^ history^ both sacred and
profane^ confirms this. At all events^ the fact just
mentioned is sujQSciently curious^ and may serve to
confirm the supposition I have ventured to make of the
purity of the blood of our modem foxhound.

A volume might be written on the characteristics
of these dogs^ both in the kennel and the fields and I
will endeavour to illustrate this by a few anecdotes.

It is well known to those who have Uved near a
kennel^ that every morning at the first gleam of light
the hounds invariably salute the glorious return of
day^ by joining simultaneously in a full chorus of
voices, 'a musical discord/ called by huntsmen "their
morning hymn.'' This concert does not consist of
barking and yapping as many ]^ay suppose, but
something like the "HuUah system/' yet far more
sonorous to a sportsman's ear.

Those who have witnessed the process of feeding
hounds cannot but acknowledge that it is a most
pleasing sight. We see the anxiety depicted in their
countenances to detect the huntsman's eye, who calls
them singly by name in a low tone of voice, nor does
one o£Fer to stir till his time comes. Each dog also
takes every day the same position, like children at
school, except that all are 6bed\eu\,, «xA ^«fc S& ^aa

424 ANICDOTM 0¥ JHtQU.

noise. His late Majesty George IV., in his younger
days^ was a constant attendant at the royal kennel at
feeding-time^ and many of the royal funily hare also
heen to see the hounds fed at that place.

Close to the Duke of Beaufort's kennel at Bad-
mington a tame fox was confin^^ and between it and
the foxhounds a great friendship existed. Mlien the
hounds were let out they played with the fox^ who^ on
his part^ was equally ready to greet them. This re-
ciprocal kindness had continued some time^ until one
day a hunted fox^ much exhausted^ ran for shelter
into a bush close to the hutch of the tame one. The
hounds^ in the eagerness of the chase, ran into the
latter, mistaking him for the other, and instantly
Iplled him. No sooner, however, were they aware of
their having occasioned the death of their old acquaint-
ance, than each hound slunk away, appearing conscious
and ashamed of what had been done, nor could they
be induced to touch the dead fox when thrown amongst
them.

Amongst other curious anecdotes of foxhounds,
the following may be mentioned. Some years ago,
Sir John Cope had a hound called Clermont, which
was in the constant habit, when the pack killed a fox,
of taking possession of the animal's head. This he
invariably carried in his mouth, as if it was a trophy,
and on arriving at the kennel would put it down at
the kennel door. In this way he must have imposed
a severe task on YmnAc^, «a ^<& ^%k^ XaI^ ^xm^coss^

THE FOXHOUND. 425

twenty miles to go home when the chase was over.
The weight was not indeed great ; but the dog^s
BHmth being distended the whole time must have
made the task anything but a pleasant one.

Some honnds are possessed of extraordinary in-
stinct^ which enables them to find their way back to
their kennels oyer country which they had never before
traversed. When (jcorge III. kept hounds in the
Home Park^ Windsor^ General Manners^ one of the
equerries^ took a hound named Bustler with him in
his carriage to London. He remained there a few
days^ and then travelled to Bloxholm in Lincolnshire^
the dog being still his companion inside the carriage.
In less than a months however^ Bustler found his way
back to Frogmore.

The captain of a vessel informed me that he had
once picked up a dog in mid-channel between Brighton
and Calais^ swimming boldly and strongly towards the
French coast. If this dog was endeavouring to make
bis way back to a beloved master^ it was an extraor-
dinary instance of affection.

A few years ago some hounds were embarked at
Liverpool for Ireland^ and were safely delivered at a
kennel far up in that country. One of them^ not pro-
bably liking his quarters^ found his way back to the
port at which he had been landed from Liverpool. On
arriving at it, some troops were being embarked in a
abip bound to that place. This was a fortunate cir-
eamatance for the old hound, aa dxmxi^^<&\^^^^^^^

426 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

was not noticed. He safely arriyed at Liverpool^ and
on his old master^ or huntsman rather^ coming down
stairs one mornings he recognised his former acquaint-
ance waiting to greet him.

A similar circumstance happened to some hounds
sent by the late Lord Lonsdale to Ireland. Three of
them escaped from the kennel in that country^ and
made their appearance again in Leicestershire.

The love of home^ or most probably affection for a
particular individual^ must be strongly implanted in
dogs to induce them to search over unexplored and
\mknown regions for the being and home they love.
H\mger^ it might be supposed^ would alone stop the
ardour of their pursuit^ and induce them to seek for
nourishment and shelter at a stranger's door. But
such is not the case. Hungry^ foot-sore^ fatigued^
and exhausted^ the noble and faithful animal presses
onward^ guided by an instinct which man does not
possess^ and proving the strength of his love by his
indefatigable and ardent exertions. Foor^ faithfiil
animal ! and is it possible that you are subjected
to ill treatment, cruelty, and neglect by those who
owe you a large debt of gratitude ? Your exertions
procure amusement, your watchfulness and fidelity
give protection, and neither sickness nor misfortune
will induce you to forsake the object of your attach-
ment.

But it is time to resume our anecdotes of fox-
hounds, and the ioWowi^ *v& ^ ^tqrH ^^ "^^ ^^

THE FOXHOUND« 427

courage they so often display^ as well as their emula-
tive spirit.

In drawing a strong covert^ a young bitch gave
tongue very freely, whilst none of the other hounds
challenged. The whipper-in rated to no purpose^ the
huntsman insisted she was wrong, and the whip was
appUed with great severity, in doing which the lash
most unfortunately took the orb of the eye out of the
socket. Notwithstanding the excruciating pain she
must inevitably have laboured under, the poor suffer-
ing animal again flew to the scent, and exultingly
proved herself to be right, for a fox having stole away,
she broke covert after him unheeded, and continued
the chase alone. After much delay and cold hunting
the pack at length hit off the chase. At some dis-
tance a farmer made a signal with much vehemence to
the company, who, upon coming up to him, were
informed that they were very far behind the fox, for
that a single hound, very bloody about the head, had
passed a field from him, and was running breast-high,
and that there was little chance of getting up to him.
The pack, however, at her coming to a check, did at
length get up, and, after some cold hunting, the bitch
again hit off the scent, and the fox was killed after a
severe run. The eye of the poor but high-spirited
dog, which had hung pendent during the chase,
was removed by a pair of scissors after the fox was

428 ANECDOTES Of DOGS.

The following is another instance of the persevering
strength and spirit of foxhounds : —

A gentleman of the name of Pearson^ residing in
Essex, had a couple and a half of yonng and newly-
entered hounds. One day they accidentally followed
him in his ride, imd atniyed into a large covert by the
roadside, and presently found something which th^
eagerly hunted. After trying a long time to halloo
them off, Mr. Pearson proceeded to Colchester^ where
his business detained him some hours. Upon his
return he heard them in the covert, and found, hj
some people at work by the side of it, that they had
continued running during his absence, and had driveii
a fox over the field in which they were at work back-
ward and forward several times. Mr. Pearson got as
near to them as possible, continuing to give them every
encouragement. After hunting the fox a long time in
the covert he at last broke, and was killed after a nm
of some miles. The time these hounds were hunting
was seven hours. Hounds have even be^i known to
have continued a chase for ten hours^ great part of the
time being hard running. A fox was once unkennelled
near Boroughbridge in Yorkshire, at twenty-seven mi-
nutes past nine, and except half-an-hour taken up in
bolting him from a rabbit-burrow, the hounds had a
continued run until fourteen minutes past five in the
evening, when they killed the fox in good style. During
thia space of nearly eight hours of most severe ran-

THE FOXHOUND. . 429

Dingy seyeral horses died in the field, and others were
severely injured.

A honndy the property of Mr. Teasdale of Onsby,
Cumberland, during a storm, took the quest of a fox,
which he pursued for the extraordinary space of thirty
hours, four of which were run within view of some
miners, who were employed upon Dalton Fell. The
dog and fox were at that time running round the
bottom of a hill. The arch dog, still keeping on the
side of Reynard which led to his clift in the rock, at
last came up to him; but being so much exhausted by
his toilsome chase, he was unable to make him his prey
for some time, and they lay as if lifeless together. The
miners then made up to his assistance ; but so ardent
was his desire to finish Reynard himself, that he would
not suffer them to come near till he had destroyed him.

A foxhound bitch, in the middle of a chase, was
taken in labour, and brought forth a puppy. Ardour
for the pursuit, united to attachment for her pro-
geny, induced her to snatch it up in her mouth, and
follow her companions, with whom she soon came up,
tmd in this interesting situation she continued the
whole day, — a discredit to the huntsman, and all who
joined in the pursuit, to allow the poor animal to
imdergo so violent an exercise under such circum-
stances.

In order to account for the power of endurance
which foxhounds are known to possess, it should be

430 « ANECDOTIS Of DOGS.

mentioned that their strength is very great. A well-
bred hound has been known to measure as much round
the arm of the fore-leg as a moderate-sized horse does
below the knee. I was assured of this fact by a well-
known huntsman^ and it may serve in some measure to
account for the following instance of undeviating perse-
verance in a foxhound^ related by Mr. Daniel in his
Supplement to his " Rural Sports.^'

The circumstance took place in the year 1808^ in
the counties of Inverness and Perth, and perhaps sur-
passes any length of pursuit known in the annab of
hunting. On the 8th of June in that year, a fox
and hound were seen near Dunkeld in Perthshire, on
the high road, proceeding at a slow trotting pace. The
dog was about fifty yards behind the fox, and each was
so fatigued as not to gain on the other. A countryman
very easily caught the fox, and both it and the dog
were taken to a gentleman^s house in the neighbour-
hood, where the fox died. It was afterwards ascer-
tained that the hound belonged to the Duke of Gordon,
and that the fox was started on the morning of the 4th
of June, on the top of those hills called Monaliadh,
which separate Badenoch from Fort Augustus. From
this it appeared that the chase lasted four days, and that
the distance traversed from the place where the fox was
unkennelled to the spot wliere it was caught, without
making any allowances for doubles, crosses, &c., and as
the crow flies, exceeded teveuty miles.

THE FOXHOUND. 431

It is a curious fact^ that if a foxhoiind is taken for
the first time into a new and strange country^ and he is
lost^ when he returns to his kennel he does so across
fields where he had never been before^ and not by roads
along which he had been taken out. A gentleman who
kept foxhounds had an opportunity of observing this.
His house and kennel were on the banks of a river,
and a new hound accompanied the pack^ which went
across a bridge near the kennel. He was lost, and
came back over the fields direct upon the kennel,
and howled when he arrived on the banks of the river.
We know but little of the peculiar instinct which
thus enables dogs to find their way across a strange
country.

Let me here give an anecdote that was communi-
cated to me by the brother of the gentleman to whom
it occurred. This gentleman was a rigid Roman Catho.
lie, and his constant companion was a foxhound. As
soon as the forty days of Lent began, this dog left his
master and came to the house of my informant, some
miles distant, where he found food to his liking, and
stayed with hun during Lent, at the end of which he
returned to his owner. He must have measured time
very accurately, and has continued the practice for
some years.

In the year 1813 some hounds belonging to his
late Majesty, George III., were sold to Mr. Walker, of
Mitchell Grove, near Worthing, A. fe^ ^^ri«A v&jet
tbeir arrival at that place, one cou:p\& oi XJasojL^^^ ^kq^.

482 ANICDOTES OF Dooa.

in a stage-waggon to Dr. Willis^ then living near Stam-
ford in Lincolnshire. The wagon went through London^
and from thence to Dr. Willis's seat. However sur-
prising it may appear^ one of these dogs^ in less than
a month after he had left the kennel near Windsor^
found his way back to it. It might be supposed that
in this length of time all recollection would have ceased^
but such we have seen was not the case.

The circumstance which happened to the late Duke
of Northumberland's pack proves the foxhound's eager-
ness after his game. In 1796 the hoimds ran a fox
into a very large furze-cover near Alnwick^ called Bun-
ker's Hill^ where he was lost in an earth which no one
knew of. Upon the dogs coming to the kennel two
couple and a half of the best of them were missings
and not returning that nighty it was thought they had
found a fox^ and had gone off by themselves in pursuit
of him. Several men were sent in search of them to
all the earths and crags for twenty miles rounds but no
tidings could be gained of them. The course where
the fox was lost was then searched^ and the earth dis-
covered^ and in digging about two yards deep^ one dog
was found; several yards further three more^ fast in
the ground ; and two yards deeper the fifth was dug up.
They were all dead.

It is well known to those who served in the Penin-
sular War^ that the late Lord Hill kept a pack of fox-
hounds while he coT[mi'dxi!&fi,d «b division of the armj.
During a period oi le^o^ «l Iqx. ^%a ^aii8«Ba.^^\s^^

THE FOXHOtTNS. 488

neighbourhood of Corja^ in Spain. The run was severe
for the space of thirty minutes^ when the fox^ being
sharply pressed by the leading hounds^ leaped down a
precipice of sixty yards perpendicular. Seven couple
of the hounds immediately dashed after him^ six couple
of which were killed on the spot. The remainder of
the pack (twenty-two couple) would probably have
shared the same fate^ had not the most forward riders
arrived in time to flog them off^ which they did with
difficulty^ being scarcely able to restrain their impetu-
osity. The fox was found at the bottom^ and covered
with the bodies of the hounds.

I might have hesitated to mention the following
&ct, had it not been witnessed by some well-known
qxnrtsmen of the present day.

During a severe chase^ and towards the termination
of it^ when the fox was in view^ another fox was seen^
to the astonishment of the forward riders^ running in
the middle of the pack of hounds^ perfectly unnoticed
by them. It is supposed that the dogs ran over this
fikx, who, finding himself in the midst of them, probably
thought it the safest and wisest plan he could pursue to
continue with them till he had an opportunity of making
his escape.

In relating anecdotes of foxhounds it is almost
unavoidable not to mention fox-hunters, and we know
not how we can give to our readers a better notion of
the stirring spnrit and devotion to their sporty dia-

434 ANECDOTES OJP DOGS.

tinguishing them beyond all other sportsmen^ than by
offering some extracts from the pen of the late Colonel
Cook^ a master of hounds^ beloved by all who knew
him^ and venerated by those who hunted with him.

Hounds will not work through di£Biculties^ nor
will they exert themselves in that killing sort of man-
ner when they are out of blood. If after all you should^
owing to ill-luck and bad weather^ be in want of it^ the
best way is to leave an earth open in a country where
you can spare a fox^ and where you can without much
trouble dig him^ give him to the hounds on the earthy
and go home. But whatever you do, never turn out a
bag-fox ; it is injurious to your hounds^ and makes them
wild and unsteady : besides^ nothing is more despicable,
or held in greater contempt by real sportsmen^ than the
practice of hunting bag-foxes. It encourages a set of
rascals to steal from other hunts; therefore keep in
mind, that if there were no receivers there would be no
thieves. What chiefly contributes to make fox-hunt-
ing so very far superior to other sports is the wildness
of the animal you hunt, and the difficulty in catching
him. It is rather extraordinary, but nevertheless a
well-known fact, that a pack of hounds^ which are in
sport and blood, will not eat a bag-fox. I remember
hearing an anecdote (when I was in Shropshire many
years ago) of the late Lord Stamford^s hounds^ which
I will relate to you as I heard it. Lord Forester,
and his brother, Mr. Frank Forester, then boys,

THE FOXHOUND. 435

were at their uncle's for the holidays. A farmer

came to inform them a fox had just been seen in a tree.

All the nets about the premises were collected^ and the

fox was caught ; but the Squire of Willey^ a sportsman

himself^ and a strict preserver of foxes^ sent the fox

immediately to Lord Stamford by one of his tenants^

that he might be informed of the real circumstance.

The next day the hounds were out^ and also the

Squire's tenant; they had drawn some time without

findings when the farmer reminded his Lordship of the

fox caught. 'Do you think/ said he, ' I will allow

my hounds to hunt a bag-fox? I should never be

forgiven by my huntsman!' At last, after drawing

several coverts without finding, his Lordship gave his

eonsent (but it was to be kept a great secret), and the

bag was to be touched upon the ground in a line for a

covert they were going to draw, to have the appearance

of a disturbed fox, and the fox to be turned down

in it.

On going to covert, a favourite hound, called
Partner, feathered on the scent. The huntsman ex-
claimed in ecstacy, ' Old Partner touches on him ; we
shall certainly find in the next covert.' They found
the bag-fox, and had a tolerable run ; but when they
kifled him, not a hound would eat him ! ' Now, Sir,'
«ud his lordship to the farmer, ' you have deceived the
huntsman and the field, but you cannot deceive my
hounds.'

486 ANVCDOTBS OF DQBM.

Next to turning out bag^men, lifting of hounds
it the most prejudicial. They should seldom be taken
' off their noses/ nothing is gained by it in the end ;
hounds that are seldom lifted will kill more foxes in
the course of a season than those that frequently are.
Some years ago, when hunting with the Duke of
Grafton's hounds in Suffolk, they came to a check all
in a moment, at a bam near some cross-roads ; they
were left alone, and made a fling of themselves, in a
perfect circle, without hitting the scent; many gentle-
men exclaimed, 'It is all over now, Tom; the only
chance you have is to make a wide east' 'Ho/
answered the huntsman, ' if the fox is not in that bam,
my hounds ought to be hung/

Dick Foster, the whipper-in, now huntsman to
Mr. Yillebois (and a very good one he is), was ordered
to dismount and see if he could discover the fox; he
returned and said 'he was not there.' Tom Rose
still was positive; at last he was viewed on a beam
in the bam, and they killed him, after a further mo
of about a mile. I mention this trivial circumstance
to show you clearly, that if the hounds had been
hurried up either of the roads on a wide cast, made bj
an ignorant huntsman, the fox would inevitably hsM
been lost.

Were I to have some sporting friends coming to
see my hounds in the field, .1 should prefer going
away close at him for twenty minutes, then a short

THE nOBOUMD.

437

duck, to bring the hoauds to a hnntiDg Bcent, and a
{nick thing at last, and run into him, in order that my
oienda might be convinced the hounds could hunt as
veil as run; for of this I am certain, if they cannot do
both, they ment not the name of foxhounds.

THE BEAGLE.

The beagle may be mentioned as a sort of foxhound
in miniature^ and nothing can well be more perfect
than the shape of these Bmall dogs. But how dif-
ferent are they in their style of hunting ! The hea^
which has always his nose to the ground, will puzzle
for a length of time on one spot, sooner than he will
leave the scent. The foxhound, on the contrary, fall
of life, spirit, and high courage, is always dashing and
trying forward. The beagle, however, has extraordi-
nary perseverance, as well as nicety of scent, and alsD
a liveliness of manner in hunting, which, joiaed to Ha
musical and melodious note, will always afford plet-
Bure to the lovers of the chase, or at least to those who
are unable to undertake the more exciting sport of foi-
bunting, la rabhit-Bhooting, in gorse aod thick cover,

THE BKAGLG. 4f39

nothing can be more cheerful than the beagle; and
they bare been called rabbit-beagles from this employ-
ment, for which they are peciUiarly qualified, especially
diose dogs which are somewhat wire-haired.

In the reign of Queen Elizabeth a race of beagles
had been bred so small, that a pack of them could be
carried out to the field in a pair of panniers. That
Princess is said to have had little tinging beagles,
i ungle one of which could be placed in a man's glove,
and they probably at this time received the name of
'iip-ijojr beagles. Dryden, in his "Fables," alludes to
these dogs as follows : —

" The gncefal goddess was array'd in ^nen ;
Aboat hcT feet were little beagles seen,
That watch 'd with npwird eyes the motianB of their queen."

Pope also mentions them, —

THE MASTIFF.

" Great BritUiD wu bo naVd br iti Mutiffi, that tlu RnMi
Emperors ■ppoiaUd in OBScer in thii Iiluid, with the titlt of
Pracnratar Cjnegii. wfaow sole bDnnim m* to breed, ukd tcuM''
rrom h«u:e to the Amphitheatre, inch u would prove eqiul to Ae
combiia of the place :

Magrnqne tuuonuB fisotoii colli BiitMiiU."

This noble dog, which, like the bull-dog, u anppoMil
, to be an original breed peculiar to this country, is not
seldom to be met wiJfti 'v^ "*fc y'"* »^a!<R, ii hisa^
been croaaed and. tattwaea. wflu. olOttst ij«ff.. "^Aaof

THI BfASTIFF. 441

the finest specimen now to be fonijd is one at Chats-
worth (where also is to be seen a noble Alpine
mastiff). It is a dog of gigantic size^ of a yellowish
colour, with a black muzzle. There is also another at
Elvaston Castle in Derbyshire, not so large as the one
it Chatsworth, but apparently of the true breed, and
&r wUdL we believe Lord Harrington gave the sum of
fifty gaiaeas.

Iliese dogs are brave, faithful to their trust in an
ca[tmovd]nary degree, and have a noble disposition.

Tkea strength also is very great, and their bark
deep and loud. Sir Walter Scott^s remarks on the
dnnuter of the dog may be well applied to the
maitiff,— *' The Almighty, who gave the dog to be
tiie companion of our pleasures and o\ir toils, hath
invested him with a nature noble and incapable of
deceit. He forgets neither friend nor foe — remem-
bers, and with accuracy, both benefit and injury.
He hath a share of man's intelligence, but no share
of man's falsehood. You may bribe a soldier to slay
t man with his sword, or a witness to take life by
ftke accusation, but you cannot make a dog tear his
leDe£Eu;tor. He is the friend of man, save when man
justly incurs his enmity.''

The mastiff, indeed, usually shows a remarkable

iod peculiar warmth in his attachments ; and, on the

<tiier hand, he will evince his dislike in the strongest

iKUumer. It has been observed of hixa^ th&t \£ bLf^ \&

^ee aewercly corrected or iiuraltedL, Vs. S& ^JSaaasX. \ss^'

442 ANECDOTES OF DOOS.

possible to eradicate the feeling from his memory,
and it is no less difficult to attain a reconciliation with
him. He seems conscious of his own strength^ power,
and authority, and will seldom condescend to lower his
dignity by servile fawning ; while he appears to con-
sider his services as only befitting a trust of the
highest importance. He is naturally possessed of
strong instinctive sensibility^ speedily obtains a know-
ledge of all the duties required of him^ and discharges
them with the most punctual assiduity. His vigilance
is very striking. He makes regular rounds of the
premises committed to his care, examines every part of
them, and sees that everything is in a state of perfect
security. During the night he will give a signal of
his presence by repeated barkings, which are increaaed
upon the least cause of alarm. Unlike the bull-dog,
the mastiff always warns before he attacks. His voice
is deep and powerful in tone.

Such is the animal of which I now propose to give
a few characteristic anecdotes.

About the year 1742, a ladjT, who resided in a lone
house in Cheshire, permitted all her servants, except
one female, to go to a supper and dance at a Christmas
merry-meeting, held at an inn about three miles dis-
tant, and kept by the uncle of the maid who had
remained in the house with her mistress. The servants
were not expected back till the morning ; consequently
the doors and windows were, as usual, secured, and the
lady and her servant were going to bed, when they

THE MASTIFF. 443

were alarmed by the voice of some persons apparently
attempting to break into the house. Fortunately a
great mastiff dog^ named Caesar^ was in the kitchen^
and set up a tremendous barkings which^ however^ had
not the effect of intimidating the robbers. The maid-
servant distinctly heard that the attempt to enter the
boose was made by the villains endeavouring to force
a way through a hole under the sunk story in the
adjoining back-kitchen or scullery. Being a young
woman of courage^ she went towards the spot^ accom-
panied by the dog^ and patting him on the back^
exdaimed^ '^ At him^ Caesar ! " The dog made a
fiuious attack on the person who seemed to be at the
hole^ and gave something a violent shake^ when all
became quiet^ and the animal returned to her with his
mouth all besmeared with blood. She afterwards
heard some little bustle outside of the house^ which
soon was stilled. The lady and servant sat up until
morning, without farther molestation^ when, on going
into the court, a quantity of blood was found on the
outside of the wall. The other servants, on their return,
brought word to the maid that her uncle, the innkeeper,
had died suddenly during the course of the night — ^they
Understood of a fit of apoplexy — and was intended to be
buried that day. The maid got leave to go to the
ftneral, and was surprised to find the coffin on her
snival screwed down. She insisted on taking a last
▼icw of the body, which was most xjoa^w^fixxv^ ^j»x>is^\\
*4cn> to her great surprise and la^ottoT, ^^ iokXssA^^

444 ANECD0TE9 OF 9D06S.

death had been occaaioQed from his throat being tan
open. What had happened the evening befoie imme-
diately rushed to her imagination, and it appeared too
evident to her that she had been the innocent cause of
her nucleus death ; and^ upon furtlier inquiry^ it was
proved that he and one of his servants had formed &t
design of robbing the house and murdering the lady,
in her unprotected condition, during the absence of her
servants ; but, by the watchfulness and courage <^ her
dog, their design was frustrated.

An anecdote is related of a mastiff, who, in the
reign of Queen Elizabeth, when Lord Buckhurat was
ambassador at the Court of Charles the Ninth, alone
and unassisted, successively engaged a bear, a leopard,
and a lion, and pulled them all down.

Very extraordinary stories have been told of these
and some other kinds of dogs discovering and circum-
venting plans to injure the persons of their masters, is
which it is difficult to place implicit credit. We gi?c
one of the most marvellous of these anecdotes, as it is
usually related : —

Sir H. Lee, of Ditchley, in Oxfordshire, ancestor of
the late Earls of Lichfield, had a mastiff which guarded
the house and yard, but had never met with any par-
ticular attention from his master. In short, he wai
not a favourite dog, and was retained for his utility
only, and not from any partial regard.

One night, as Sir Harry was retiring to his cham-
ber, attended by his favourite valet^ an Italian, tk

THI MASTIFF. 44&

silently followed them up-stairs^ which he had
lever been known to do before^ and, to his mas-
er^s astonishment, presented himself in the bed-roonu
Mag deemed an intruder, he was instantly ordered to
)e turned out; which, being complied with, the poor
mimal began scratching violently at the door, and
bowling loudly for admission. The servant was sent
to drive him away. Discouragement, however, could
Dot check his intended labour of love; he returned
again, and was more importunate to be let in than
before. Sir Harry, weary of opposition, though sur^
prised beyond measure at the dog^s apparent fondness
tog the society of a master who had never shown him
the least kindness, and wishing to retire to rest, bade
die servant open the door, that they might see what he
wanted to do. This done, the mastiff, with a wag of
die tail, and a look of affection at his lord, deliberatdy
walked up, and crawling under the bed, laid himself
down, as if desirous to take up his night^s lodging
there.

To save farther trouble, and not from any partiality
&r his company, this indulgence was allowed. The
^et withdrew, and all was still. About the solemn
lioor of midnight the chamber door opened, and a
penon was heard stepping across the room. Sir Harry
started from sleep; the dog sprung from his covert,
vnd seizing the unwelcome disturber, fixed him to the
^t. All was dark : Sir Harry rang his bell in great
^daiion, in order to procure a \i^V.» ^^'^ ^«c»ssv

446 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

who was pinned to the floor by the courageous mastiff
roared for assistance. It was found to be the favourite
valet^ who little expected such a reception. He endea-
voured to apologise for his intrusion^ and to make the
reasons which induced him to take this step appear
plausible; but the importunity of the dog, the time,
the place^ the manner of the valet, raised suspicions in
Sir Harry's mind, and he determined to refer the in-
vestigation of the business to a magistrate.

The perfidious Italian, alternately terrified by the
dread of punishment and soothed by the hope of
pardon, at length confessed that it was his intention
to murder his master, and then rob the house. This
diabolical design was frustrated solely by the una^
countable sagacity of the dog and his devoted attach-
ment to his master. A full-length picture of Sir
Harry, with the mastiff by his side, and the words,
" More faithful than favoured,^' is still preserved among
the family pictures.

Presentiments of approaching danger, such as those
now related, are to be traced only to the animal's
close obser\'ation and watchful jealousy of disposition.
Looks, signs, and movements are noticed by him whidi
escape an ordinary observer. The idea .that dogs have
presentiments of death, and howl on such occasions, is
a superstition now all but vanished.

In October 1800, a young man going into a place
of public entertainment at Paris, was told that to
dog (a fine mastiff) could not be permitted to enter,

THE MASTIFF. 447

and he was accordingly left with the guard at the
door. The young man was scarcely entered into
the lobby, when his watch was stolen. He returned
to the guurd, and prayed that his dog might be
admitted, as, through his means, he might discover
the thief: the dog was suffered to accompany his
master, who intimated to the animal that he had lost
something; the dog set out immediately in quest of
the strayed article, and fastened on the thief, whose
guilt on searching him was made apparent : the feBow
had no less than six watches in his pocket, which being
laid before the dog, he distinguished his master^s, took
it up by the string, and bore it to him in safety.

At the castle of a nobleman in Bohemia, a large
English mastiff was kept, that never failed to go every
Sonday to the village church. The other dogs in the
neighbourhood used to follow him thither, so that the
church was often full of these animals. This being
considered a nuisance, orders were given by the ma-
gistrates, at one of the petty courts held for regulating
the affairs of the village, that the inhabitants should
be enjoined to keep all their dogs locked up every
Sunday during the time of divine service. The ma-
gistrate who presided in this court said, in a loud and
authoritative tone of voice, " I will suffer no dogs in
the church ; let me not see one there in future.^^ The
mastiff happened to be lying under the table in the
court when these words were spoken, to which he aij-
peued to liaten with great attentioxL. 0\i ^^ teos^^s^.^

448 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

Sunday the dog rose at an early hour, ran firom house
to house through the village^ barking at the windo¥rSy
and at last took his station before the church-door, to
see whether any of his companions would venture to
approach it, notwithstanding the prohibition. Unfor-
tunately one of them appeared. The mastiff imme-
diately fell upon him with the utmost fury, bit him to
death, and dragged him out into the street. He con-
tinued in the same manner for several subsequent
Sundays to stand sentinel, without ever entering the
church.

Captain Brown gives an interesting instance of the
gentleness of a mastiff towards a child. He says that
a large and fierce mastiff, which had broken his chain,
ran along a road near Bath, to the great terror and
consternation of those whom he passed. When sud-
denly running by a most interesting boy, the child
struck him with a stick, upon which the dog turned
furiously on his infant assailant. The little fellow, so
far from being intimidated, ran up to him, and flung
his arms round the neck of the enraged animal, which
instantly became appeased, and in return caressed the
child. It is a fact well known, that few dogs will
bite a child, or even a young puppy. Captain Brown
adds, that he possesses a mastiff, which will not allow
any one of his family to take a bone from him except
his youngest child.

A chimney-sweeper had ordered his dog, a mastiff
crossed with a \)\iJ\-do^> \a \vfc ^wra. ^\sl Vy^ ^oot-bag,

THE MASTIF7. 449

which he had placed inadvertently almost in the middle
of a narrow back-street in the town of Southampton.
A loaded coal-cart passing by^ the driver desired the
dog to move out of the way. On refusing to do so^
he was scolded^ then beaten^ first gently^ and after-
wards with a smart application of the cart-whip^ but
all to no purpose. The fellow^ with an oath^ threat-
ened to drive over the dog^ and he did so^ the faithful
animal endeavouring to arrest the progress of the wheel
by biting it. He thus allowed himself to be killed
sooner than abandon his trust.

A masti£F-dog^ who owed more to the bounty of a
neighbour than to his master^ was once locked by
mistake in the well-stored pantry of his benefactor for
a whole day^ where milk^ butter^ breads and meat,
within his reach, were in abundance. On the return
of the servant to the pantry^ seeing the dog come out,
and knowing the time he had been confined, she
trembled for the devastation which her negligence
must have occasioned ; but, on close examination^ it was
foand that the honest creature had not tasted of any-
thing, although, on coming out^ he fell on a bone that
was given to him, with all the voraciousness of hunger.

These dogs are alive to injuries^ and not slow in
resenting them.

A carrier had a mastiff remarkable for his sagacity.
It happ^ied unfortunately one day, that one of the
waggcm-horses trod accidentally uifOT^\3MJCL\xi^^^^aAL.
Be dog became fdrious, and ^oxxiA. \\a?ife ^^Xa^^^*^^

450 ANECDOTES OF D008.

horse had he not been prevented. It was nsoal for
the dog to remain with the horses at night in the
stable. After the men had retired, the mastiff selected
out the animal which had trod upon him, and, no
doubt; would have put an end to his existence, had not
the carters, who were at hand, hearing an unusual noise,
come to his assistance.

The widow of a farmer had two mastiffs, which,
from their fierceness, rendered some precaution neces-
sary in approaching the house. Their mistress was
taken suddenly ill and died, and in the afternoon of
her death the benevolent wife of the clergyman of
the parish called to see if she could render any as-
sistance. After knocking in vain at the front door,
she went to the back of the house with fear and
trembling. On entering the kitchen, to her dismay
she saw the two dogs on the hearth. They appeared,
however, to be sensible of what had taken place, for
they only lifted up their heads mournfully, looked at
the intruder, and resumed their former attitude.

My neighbour, Mr. Penrhyn, has two noble mastiffs
of the Lyme breed, which I believe is now nearly
extinct. It is probably, however, preserved by Thomas
Leigh, Esq. of Lyme Park, in Cheshire, who has also
the wild breed of cattle, now only, I believe, found at
Lyme Park, and at Chillington, in Yorkshire, the seat
of Lord Tankerville. There is a story current at Ljrme
Park, that some year^ «i.^o «l &o^ Ql\k^ breed in ques-
tion, whilst walkmg mlV \)afc ^X^^^t^Ssi^^^'s^^^Nw^

THE MASTIFF. 451

offence at one of the wild bulls^ and would instantly
have attacked it^ but was with difficulty restrained by
the steward. The dog returned home^ evidently bearing
the offence in mind^ and the next mornings the steward^
seeing him covered with blood, suspected something
amiss, and on going into the park, found that not only
the bull, but two cows had been worried by him.

A mastiff belonging to a tanner had taken a great
dislike to a man, whose business frequently brought
him to the house. Being much annoyed at his anti-
pathy and fearful of the consequences, he requested the
owner of the dog to endeavour to remove the dislike of
the animal to him. This he promised to do, and
brought it about in the following manner, by acting on
the noble disposition of the dog. Watching his oppor-
tunity, he one day, as if by accident, pushed the dog
into a well in the yard, in which he allowed it to
struggle a considerable time. When the dog seemed
to be getting tired, the tanner desired his companion
to pull it out, which he did. The animal, on being
extricated, after shaking himself, fawned upon his
deliverer, as if sensible that he had saved his life, and
never molested him again. On the contrary he received
him with kindness whenever they met, and often ac-
companied him a mile or two on his way home.

A personal friend of the writer's, some time since,
on a visit at a gentleman's house in the country, was
taking a moonlight walk througla. \Jckft ^VLT>o5tJ^^\:^ ^ccl^
pleaaure-grounds, when he was stwr^iXfc^ Vj ^ \sssNafc

452 ANBCDOTBS OF DOGS.

bdiiiid him ; on tommg his liead, lie p^ioeiyed t krge
mastiff, which was ordinarily kt loose as eyening dosed,
and which had tradnd him throng the grounds. The
dog with a fierce growl roughly seiaed him ; our friend
wisely deemed passive obedience and non-resistance the
most pradent if not the most ooorageons part for him
to play, and was unceremonioosly led back through the
gronnds to the haU-docnr ; here he was relieved by the
masto* of the hoose. Sabseqoently assured that he
had no cause to fear, he repeated his walk; the dog
was again at his side, hot walked quietly with him, and
acknowledged in the usual way his words of concilia-
tion. On these instances of sagacity (sagacity of a
kind very different from that displayed by the shep-
herd's dog or the setter) there needs no comment.

A gentleman in Ireland had a mastiff which was
kept to guard his premises. A small dog, belonging to
a poor man who came to the house on business, had
barked at and annoyed him, but he was obliged to
submit to the insult at the time with sullen patience,
as his chain prevented him from taking any immediate
revenge. A few evenings afterwards, however, he con-
trived to escape from the back-yard, and immediately
made his way to the cabin of the cur's master. Find-
ing the door open, more HiberMcarum, he entered
without even a premonitory growl, to the dismay of
the humble inmates, who were eating their supper of
potatoes and milk, seized the offender, and killed it.
Another mastiff behaved in a very different manner.

THE MASTIFT. 468

He had also been annoyed hj a little cnr as he paased
along the streets, which he bore with great patience for
a long time; at laat his persecutor became so trouble-
some that he could hear it no longer. He, therefore,
one day caught his contemptible adversary by the neck,
earned him to the edge of a wharf, and dropped hitn
gmtly into the water.*

The instinctive appreciation of the nature of pro-
perty aa shown in dogs is exemplified in the following
instance : — A lady at Bath, walking out one day, was
impeded in her progress by a strange mastiff dog. She
beeame alarmed, and at the same time perceived that
■he had lost her veil. Upon retracing her stepa, the
dog went on before her, till the lost article was dia-
coreredi "iid as soon as it was picked up, the animal
hastened after his own mwta.

* In p. 147anmilBr anecdoto has been recorded of a Nevfoimdland
do; tnd B ■poniel ; and in p. 221 an ingUocc ii ffren of the raro^e
tikai bj B Colley on s ttulor'a dof .

ock- fight, on produce

■C-^^ . '"■'' - .^^^^ . brought U|i under their tuition, iriio

- : '^'' / have done MTvice to thor conntij,

..jt'"-''' bat sbuodant &re the tettimoaics

which have been reglit«red at Qie gallowi of her devoted Tiduu,

trained up to the piumiili of bull-baiting." — Db. Bakbt.

The bull-dog hais been called the most courageooB
sDimal in the world. He is low in statore, altbongli
remarkably deep-chested, strong, and mnacular. From
the projection of his under jaw, which occasiona hia
teeth always to be seen, and from his eyes b^g diatant

THE BULL-DOG. 455

from each other^ and somewhat prominent^ he has an
appearance which would prevent a stranger from at-
tempting any familiarity with him. He is, however, a
dog capable of strong attachment to his master, whom
he is at all times ready to defend. His strength is so
great, that in pinning a bull, one of this breed of dogs
has been known, by giving a strong muscular twist of
his body, to bring the bull flat on his side. In con-
sequence also of his strength, high courage, and perse-
verance, a bull-dog has gone a greater distance in swim-
ming than any other dog has been known to do.

It is universally known amongst the lovers of
bull-dogs, that when once exasperated by an opponent
or encouraged by the owner, no pain or punishment
will induce him to swerve from his purpose, or in the
least relax the violence of his endeavours to subdue
whatever may be the object of his dislike or resent-
ment. Amidst the many instances which might be
adduced in support of this assertion, we shall notice
one which is well- authenticated. Some years since,
when bull-baiting was more common than in the present
improved state of civilization, a juvenile amateur, at an
entertainment of this kind in the north of England,
confident in the courage and purity of blood in his
bull-dog, laid a wager '^ that he would at four distinct
intervals deprive the animal of one of his feet by
amputation, and that after every individual depriva-
tion he should still attack the bull with his previous
ferocity; and that, lastly, he should continue to do so

456 ANBCDOTXS OF ]K)OS.

upon his stumps/' Shocking as the recital must prove
to the feelings of every reader^ the experim^it was
madci and the dog continued to seize the bull with the
same eagerness as before. In a match which was made
for the purpose^ one of these animals fought and beat
two powerful Newfoundland dogs.

It must be a matter of congratulation to every
humane person^ that the barbarous and cruel custom of
bull-baiting no longer exists in this country. That it
tended to brutalize the working classes^ whatever its
advocates may have stated to the contrary^ cannot be
doubted. In the part of Staffordshire in which I
form^ly resided^ and where the custom was extremdj
prevalent^ idleness^ drunkenness and profligacy, were
conspicuous amongst those who kept bull-dogs. Evoi
females might be seen at a bull-baitings in their work-
ing dresses as they came out of a factory, their arms
crossed and covered with their aprons, standing to enjoy
the sport, if such it could be called.

The breed of dogs kept by the persons referred to
was said to be of the purest kind, and large sums were
frequently given for them. Lord Camelford purchased
one for eighty guineas ; forty and fifty pounds was no
uncommon price for one. These dogs would appear to
have a natural antipathy to the bull, as puppies wiD
attack them when only a few months old, and if per-
mitted to continue the combat, will suffer themselves to
be destroyed rather than relinquish the contest. A
well-bred dog always attacks the bull in front, and

THB BX7LL-DOO. 457

e&deayoun to seize on the lip as the most sensitive
part.

A nobleman had a favourite bull-dog, which was
his constant companion in his carriage to and from his
seat in Scotland for many years. The dog was strongly
attached to his master, and was gentle and inoffensive.
iU be grew old, it was determined to leave him in
London. The carriage came to the door, his master
entered it, and drove off, taking another dog for his
eompanion. The packing — the preparations — had all
been witnessed by the faithful bull -dog, who was
eridoitly aware that he had been deserted by the only
being he loved. From that moment he became melan-
choly. He refused to eat, and notwithstanding all the
care taken of him, he pined and died.

A bull-dog, not many years since, saved a ship-
wrecked crew by towing a rope from the vessel to the
shore, after two fine Newfoundland dogs had perished
^ the attempt. This success may be attributed to his
Uidomitable courage, which prevented him from giving
^p his exertions while life remained.

I remember many years ago hearing of some rob-
beries, which took place by means of a bull-dog in the
Neighbourhood of London, one of which was near my own
^sidence. A gentleman in riding home one winter^s
^vening^ had one of the hocks of his horse seized, as he
'Was trotting along the road, by a buU-dog, who kept
liis hold, and brought the horse to l\ift ^ovrnd. kxsjsss^
tben came up, and robbed the geii^XftTMSioi\i^^Y^i2^

458 AMicDoras of dogi.

Xt wu common in Staffordshire, before yom^
dogs were able to cope with a bull, to practise them
with a man, who stood proxy for the boll. On one
occasion of this sort, Mr. Deputy Boll being propaljr
staked, began to perform bis part by snorting and
roaring lustily. The dog ran at him, but was re-
pulsed,— the courage of the animal, however, inaxased
with every struggle, and at last be seized his biped
antagonist by the cheek, who, with mefol conntenance,
endured it for some time, till at length he was com-
pelled to cry out to bis companion to take the d<^ off;
but he, unwilling to damp the conrage of his iSxt,
vociferated, " Woot spoil the pap, man ? — let 'em tatte
bloode first ! "

BuIl-dogH are now much less common than thi^
were. A cross breed between them and a good terrier
is said to produce better fighters and harder biters thm
the pure bull-dog. If one of these dogs is crossed with i
greyhound, the offspring is found to be too courageoni,
and from this cause in attacking deer they have bcai
frequently killed.

THE DALMATIAN. OR COACH-DOG. 459

THE DALMATUN OR COACH-DOG.

This dog^ says Mr. Bewick^ lias been erroneously
called tlie Danish dog by some authors^ and by BujOFon
the harrier of Bengal ; but his native country is Dal-
matian a mountainous district on the Adriatic coast.
He has been domesticated in Italy for upwards of two
centuries^ and is the common harrier of that country.
The Dalmatian is also used there as a pointer^ to
which his natural propensity more inclines him than to
be a dog of the chase : he is said to be easily broken^
and to be very staunch. He is handsome in shape,
something between the British foxhound and English
pointer ; his head more acute than that of the latter^
and something longer : his general colour white, and his
whole body and legs covered with small irregular-sized
black or reddish-brown spots. The pure breed has
taimed cheeks and black ears. He is much smaller
^han the large Danish dog. A singular opinion pre-
vailed at one time in this country, that this beautiful dog
"Was rendered more handsome by having his ears cropped :
this barbarous fancy is now fast dying away.

The only use to which this elegant dog is applied
^ as an attendant upon a carriage, for which the
symmetry of his form and beauty of his skin pe-
^^^diarly fit him. He familiarises readily with horses,
*i^d is therefore invariably entrusted to the «tabW.
-^ oiost erroneous notion has long'jiteNiAe.^^'aX.T^^^ji^^st

460 ANECDOTES OF DOG8.

this nor the great Danish dog has the sense of smell.
They have been indismminately eaUed the Coach-dog.

Mr. Dibdin^ in his '' Tour through England^^' says,
'^I took with me last summer one of those spotted
dogs called Danish, but the breed is Dalmatian. It
was impossible for anything to be more sportive, yet
more inoffensive, than this dog. Throughout the moun-
tainous parts of Cumberland and Scotland his delight
was to chase the sheep, which he would follow with
great alertness even to the summits of the most rugged
steeps; and when he had frightened them, and made
them scamper to his satisfaction (for he never attempted
to injure them), he constantly came back waging his
tail, and appearing very happy at those caresses which
we, perhaps absurdly, bestowed upon him.

" About seven miles on this side of Kinross, in the
way from Stirling, he had been amusing himself playing
these pranks, the sheep flying from him in all direc-
tions, when a black lamb turned upon him, and looked
him full in the face; he seemed astonished for an
instant, but before he could rally his resolution, the
lamb began to paw and play with him. It is im-
possible to describe the effect this had upon him ; his
tail was between his legs, he appeared in the utmost
dread, and slunk away confused and distressed : pre-
sently his new acquaintance invited him, by all manner
of gambols, to be friendly with him. What a moment
tor Pythagoras or lia.N«A.e.T \ ^t«c4»»\Vj wercoming his
fesLTs, he accepted \\i\* \itQiOwetV3 ^as^'esi^^, vsxA. "^^

THB DALMATIAN^ OB COACH-DOO. 461

raced ftway together^ and rolled over one another like
two kittens. Presently appeared another object of
distress. The shepherd's boy came to reclaim his
Iamb ; but it paid no attention except to the dog^ and
they were presently at a considerable distance. We
slaekened our pace for the convenience of the boy^ but
nothing would do ; we could no more call off the dog
than he could catch the lamb. They continued sporting
in this manner for more than a mile and a half. At
lengthy having taken a circuit, they were in our rear ;
and after we had crossed a small bridge, the boy with
his pole kept the lamb at bay, and at length caught
him; and having tied his plaid round him, it was
impossible for him to escape. Out of fear of the boy,
and in obedience to us, the dog followed reluctantly ;
but the situation of the lamb all this time cannot be
pictured ; he made every possible attempt to escape from
the boy, even at the risk of tumbling into the river,
rather than not follow the dog. This continued till
the prospect closed, and we had lost sight of our new
ally, whose unexpected offer of amity to the Dalmatian
aeemed ever after to operate as a friendly admonition,
for from that day he was cured of following sheep.''

Lord Maynard, some years since, lost a coach-dog
in France, which he in vain endeavoured to find. He
returned to England, where he had not long arrived
before the dog appeared ; but the mode of his return
remained for ever unexplained, tkoxi^ \\. \& Tsssstfc \5mssl
probable that the dog's sagacity, '^\iexi\L'&V^xQ»^^^sjsa.

462 ANECDOTES OF D008. *

escape from confinement^ prompted him to go to the
sea-coast, where he found means to get on board some
vessel bound for the opposite shore.

The late Mr. Thomas Walker, of Manchester, had
a small Dalmatian dog, which was accustomed to be in
the stable with two of his carriage-horses, and to lie in
a stall with one of them, to which he was particularly
attached. The servant who took care of the horses
was ordered to go to Stockport (which is distant about
seven miles), upon one of the horses, and took the one
above mentioned (the favourite of the dog), with him,
and left the other with the dog in the stable; being
apprehensive lest the dog, which was much valued by
his master, should be lost upon the road. After the
man and horse had been gone about an hour, some
person coming accidentally into the stable, the dog
took the opportunity of quitting his confinement, and
immediately set off in quest of his companion. The
man, who had finished the business he was sent upon,
was just leaving Stockport, when he was surprised to
meet the dog he had left in the stable, coming with
great speed down the hill into the town, and seemed
greatly rejoiced to meet with his friendly companion^
whom he had followed so far by scent. The friendship
between these animals was reciprocal ; for the servant,
going one day to water the carriage-horses at a large
stone trough, which was then at one end of the ex-
change, the dog ^ usual accompanying them, was
attacked by a large ixi«&\ASS.> wA m ^ssi^^ ^\ \sk«sm^

THE GREAT DANISH DOG. 463^

much worried, when the horse (his friend), which was
led by the servant with a halter, suddenly broke loose
from him, and went to the place where the dogs were
fighting, and with a kick of one of his heels struck the
mastiff from the other dog clean into a cooper^s cellar
opposite; and having thus rescued his companion,
returned quietly with him to drink at the conduit.

THE GREAT DANISH DOG.

Buffon was of opinion that this variety, which is
chiefly found in Denmark, Russia, and Northern
Grermany, is only the M&tin (the usual sheep-dog
of France) transported into a northern latitude. The
colour of this dog is generally white, marked all over
his body with black spots and patches, in general
larger than those of the Dalmatian, of which some
have supposed him to be a congener. His ears are for
the most' part white, while those of the Dalmaiian are
usually black.

The great Danish dog is a fine sprightly animal,
but is of little use either for sporting or watching.
Like the Dalmatian, he is chiefly used in this country
as an attendant on carriages, to which he forms an
elegant appendage.

Mr. Johnson, a traveller from Manchester, on his
route through Scotland on horseback, ^^% \i^\i3^Es^^^^
and coming to a small public-Viouse on \)ckfc xoa^,"^'^

464 ANECDOTES OF D068«

thought it better to take up his lodgings there^ if
possible^ than to proceed further that night. On
entering the house^ he found only an old woman^
who^ to his inquiries^ answered she would accommodate
him with a bed^ and provide for the horse in a small
shed^ if he would assist her in carrying hay and litter^
as there was no other person then in the house. This
was readily agreed to by Mr. Johnson^ who, after
having done so, and taken a little refreshment, was
shown by the old woman to his bedroom.

A large Danish dog, which accompanied him on
his journey, offered to go up to the room with him,
which the old woman strongly objected to, but Mr.
Johnson firmly persisted in having him admitted.
The dog, on entering the room, began to growl, and
was altogether very unruly. His master in vain at-
tempted to quiet him, — he kept growling and looking
angrily under the bed, which induced Mr. Johnson to
look there likewise, when, to his utter astonishment,
he saw a man concealed at the farther end. On en-
couraging the dog, he sprang immediately at him,
whilst Mr. Johnson seized his pistols, and presenting
one at the stranger, who had a large knife in his hand,
and was struggling with the dog, declared he would
instantly shoot him if he made further resistance.
The man then submitted to be bound, and ac-
knowledged that his intention was to rob and murder
Mr. Johnson, w\i\c\i ^«a XJoxva y^^'^^^^^Y prevented
by the v^onderfui »3.^\V3 ^i \2cs& l«iHk&^ ^^. >kt.

THE GBBAT DANISH DOG. 465

Johnson^ after securely binding the man and fastening •
the door^ went (accompanied by his dog) to the shed
where his horse was left^ which he instantly mounted^
and escaped without injury to the next town, where he
gave to a magistrate a full account of the murderous
attempt^ and the culprit was taken into custody and
afterwards executed.

A gamekeeper belonging to the castle of Holstein
(in Denmark)^ returned one evening from a long and
fatiguing chase^ and deposited the game in the larder^
without being aware that he had locked up his dog at
the same time. Business of importance unexpectedly
called him away immediately afterwards^ and he did
not return for five days ; when, mindful of his game, he
went to the larder, and beheld his dog stretched dead
at the door. The gamekeeper stood extremely affected ;
but what were his sensations, when he saw on the table
eleven brace of partridges, and five grouse untouched !
This admiration increased his grief, when he found the
poor dog had suffered starvation rather than transgress
his duty.

At a convent in France, twenty paupers were served
with a dinner at a certain hour every day. A m^tin
dog belonging to the convent did not fail to be regularly
present at this repast, to receive the scraps which were
now and then thrown to him. The guests, however,
were poor and hungry, and of course not very wasteful,
so that their pensioner did little thot^ \)a»xi ^^^^^5^ *^^
fewstj oi which he would fain "hwe ^««\ake^» ^^^^

466 AiifMfiDqtfif Of iKJ^Ofi^.

portioDf were mrred by • petwm at tlie ipogiii§ cif i(
bell^ and delurc^n^ oot by meant of what in leliguwi
boiuea ia termed a /imr— a machine Ul(e tbe aaetioa
of a caak^ that, by tiuning round on. a^ pi^wtf esbibito
whatever, ia placed on the concare aide^ without iiih
Qovering the penon who movea it* One daf thi^,di^
who had only received a few acrapa^ wajted till th^
paupora were all gonc^ tpok the rope in bia.mooilii and
rang the bell. Hia atratagem sncceeded. He repeated
it the next day with the aame goo4 fortune* At leqgtk
the cook^ finding that twenty-one portipna were girei^
out inatead of twenty^ waa determined to, diaeover. tb^
culprit* In doing which he had no great diileuby;;
for> lying in wait» and noticing the panpera aa thqr;
came for their different portioDM^ and that there waa do
intruder except tbe dog^ he began to auapect tbe tnitb ;,
which he waa confirmed in when he aaw the aniinal;
continue with great deliberation till the viaitora were
all gone, and theA pull the belL Tbe matter waa related
to the community; and to reward him for hia ingenuity,,
the dog wan i>ermitted U) ring the bell every day for hia
dinner, on which a meaa of broken vietuab waa alwayi
afterwarda aerved out to him.

THE CUR DOG.

Almoat every dog which ia croaa-bred ia ranked aa
a cur dog or iuou{|;;ce\| Wx. VVal icV^b ia apeeially
deacribed by YouaXt, Va l\kfc iia«^wa«% ^ wnt^

witii the terrier; and ik ne^lf silKOoth-^ bat- bie ib con- .
sidamMy Ibnger in tbe legs^ in prt^por<ioii to the size
ofthis body^ is: strongear in the make^ haar half-pricked
0Br8> ia generally bla^k and wfaite^ although sometimes
dl. blacky and has rather a shdrt tail. In the north
of England' and^ southern counties of Scotland great
attention is paid* to the breeding of this dog^ and to
breaking him in- for driving and tending cattle, which
He doea with gr^tintdligence; indeed'his^sfi^acity in
everything is uncommonly great, and he is very trusty;
These dogs^ bite very keenly, and always mafcc their tft--
taek:at the heels of cattle, who, on this account; having
DO. defenee a^^dnst them, are quickly compelled to run.
Hie cur has long and somewhat deservedly obtained
a^very bad'name ad' a; bully and a<;oward ; and cert^nly '
Uia habit of barking at everything that passes, and
%ing at the heeb of the horde, renders him often a'
very dangerous nuisance. He is, however, valuable tb
the cottager) he is a fi^ithful defender of his humble
dwelling; no bribfe can seduce him from liis duty ; and'
he is a useful and an effectual guard 'over the clothes >
and scanty provisions of the labourer, who may be
\9orking in some distant part of the field. All day long '
he will lie upon' his master^s^ clothes seemingly asleep,
but giving immediate warning of the approach of a
supposed marauder. He has a propensity, when at
home, to fly at every horse and every strange dog;
and of yotmg gXB^ of every kimSi Wnetfe Ssai Tit^. "^ \oss^
ratibieai^idBgtmyepthhjk the village co^*

i

468 ANECDOTES OF D0G8.

The following story is strictly authentic: — ^'Not
long ago a young man^ an acquaintance of Lord Fife's
coac^man^ was walkings as he had often done^ in his
lordship's stables at Ban£f. Taking an opportunity
when the servants were not regarding him, he put a
bridle into his pocket. A Highland cur that was
generally about the stables observed the theft^ and
immediately began to bark at him ^ and when he got
to the stable dOor would not let him pass^ but held
him ^ercely by the leg to prevent him. As the
servants had never seeai the dog act thus before^ and
the same young man had been often with them^ they
could not imagine what could be the reason of the
dog's conduct. However, when they perceived the
end of a valuable bridle peeping out of the young
man's pocket they were able to account for it, and
on his giving it up the dog let go his hold and
allowed him to pass."

" I recollect/' says Mr. Hall, ^^ when I passed some
time at the Viscount Arbuthnot's at Hatton, in the
parish of Marykirk, one of his lordship's estates, that
when the field-servants went out one morning they
found a man whom they knew, and who lived a few
miles' distance, lying on the road a short way from the
stable with a number of bridles, girths, &c. &c. near
him, and the house-dog, which was of the Highland
breed, lying also at his ease, holding the seat of the
man's breeches in hk mouth. The man confessed his
crime, and told tlcieiii t\i^\. \)cife ^LCy^^aa.^ ^yoj^^^ -^bS^

THE CUR DOG. 469

him^ and held him in that position for five hours ; but
that immediately after the servants came up he let go
his hold/'

The following anecdote is well known. In London^

»

a few years since, a boy, properly directed, was sent to ;
a merchant's shop to he there all night, and be shipped
off with other goods next morning. A dog, which
accidentally came into the shop with a customer, by
smelling the box, and repeatedly barking in a pecuhar
way, led to the discovery that it did not contain goods,
but a fellow who intended to admit his companions and
plunder the shop in the night-time.

John Lang, Esq., deputy-sheriff of Selkirk, had
a female cur big with pups, which on one occasion,
when out in the fields attending the cattle; was taken
in travail, and pupped on the moor. She concealed
her litter in a whin-bush, brought the cattle home
at the usual time with the utmost care, and, having -
dehvered her charge, returned to the moor and brought
home the puppies one by one. Mr, Lang, with that
humanity which marks his character, preserved the
whole Utter, that he might not give the least cause
of pain to so faithful and so affectionate an animal.

In Lambeth Church there is a painting of a man
with a dog on one of the windows. In reference to
this, we learn by tradition that a piece of ground near
Westminster Bridge, containing one acre and nineteen
roods (named Pedlar's Acre), waale&\ft\!Q\^^«si>^Ns^
a pedlaTj upon condition that Yiia ^^eXxsit^^ «xA 'Osa^ ^

/470 AXi^wsT^ Q9 poon.

',t)ie dog^ BliQTild be perpetuAUy jxresec^ed on painted
glass Qu on^ of ibe wmdows of tlie pbnrahj whioh th^
parishioners have carefdlly performed. The jtime qf
ihk gift was in 15049 :Nhm the ;groiind was kt at
28. 8J. .per an^l^n.; but in the yeiur XTQSt it was let g«l
leaseat lOOJLperyjSfu;;, (indafin^of 800/..; andianow
worth more than 25Q/. je^lj.. The reason allied
for the pedlar'^ request lis, that beii^g wery .pooir^ aad
jpassiAg the aforemention^ pieee of gismki^ he ,conl4
by no means get his dog .away, whicih kept jiemtchiqg
;a partipuhur spot of earth, wtahe attraistedhis master'a
notice; who going ba<dc to eiamine thie cana^ and
pi^essing with Jus stick, found sometihing hard* miiich,
on a neurer inspection, proved to be a jpot of gold*
With part of this money he purchased the land, and
^settled in the parish; to which he bequeathed it 09
the conditions aforesaid.

" It was with pleasure,'^ observets j&fr. Taylor, in
his " General Character of the Dog,'' ''that I watched
the motions of a gratefal animal belo^^;^ to one of
the workmen employed at Portsmouth /iockydxiL This
man had a large cur dog, who iiegalarly every itf
brought him his dinner upwajcds of a mil^. Wh^ his
wife had prepared the repast, she tied it up ni a ^eloth,
and put it in a hand-basket ; then calling Trusty (fgr
so he was properly named), desii«4 hivi to be e^p^
ditious^ and carry his jnaster's dianer, and be wise not
to atop by the way. The dog, who f&rkeiif wcfl
^^deratoo<i bia oideia, Vavmi^A^aX^ ^^s^rtI^Xs*^ ^a^Ks^^

THS ccm H^. ^491

the handle of t^ke basket in his tti6i:^^ %^d 1)egan hfis
goumeyw It was laughable to db&i^rvHg th^t^ '^hen tired
by the way, he would yeiy eatttionsly ^set the bteket iih.
the ground ; but by no means wotdd thiffer any pdrsdn
to come near it. When he had suffim^intly reisted
himself, he again took vtp hifii load, and -^roiieeded
forward until he came to the dock gatet. Here he ink
frequently obliged to l^top, mA ^ait with patience until
the porter, or some other fi^irdoKi, opened the door.
His joy was then visible to every one. Hi& 'pace in-
creased ; and with wagg^ tail, exipressive of hi^
pleasure he ran to his master with the refreshment.
The caresses were thein mutual ; and after receiving hilb
morsel as a recompense for his fidelity, he was oi^dered
home with the empty basket and plates, which he
earned back with the greatest precision, to die high
cKversion of all spectators.'*

Scmre years since^ la distiller, Who lived at Chelsea,
in Middlesex, had la middle-sized brown ^r dog,
crossed with the )spaniel> which had received so com-
plete an education from ihie porter, that he was cdn^
sidered a very valuable acquisitioti. This portei* used
generally to carry out the liquors to the neighbouring
customers in small casks, tied up in a coarse b%, or
put in a barrow ; and whenever the man thought proper
to refresh himsdf (which wieis frequently the Caise), he
would stop the barroW, and caUing Basto (which was
Ae dog's name), in ^ very p«:€fea.^lot^ TaajNasst VsA.
i^ imnd the bag; and aWtej Vfe -^^ssA. V» ^sns^&'S ^*ss^

47? ANpqDOTES OF DOGS.

frequently. l^ffc the barrow in the middle of the stred;.
Basto always rested hear his trust, and sometimes
apparently asleep ; which induced many idle people,
who, seeing a bag in the road without an owner, to
attempt stealing the same. But no sooner had they
endeavoured to decamp with the prize, than this vigilant
creature flew at them with such outrage, as obliged
them immediately to relinquish the undertaking ; and
glad were they to escape with a few bites and whole
bones, and leave the tempting bait to catch other dis*
honest rogues, as it had done them.

One day, a person having particular business with
the master, which required dispatch, went to the dis-
tillery adjoining the dwelling-house, thinking it very
likely he might meet him there giving orders to the
servant; and finding the outward door open, walked
into the still-room : but no sooner had he gone a few
steps than a fierce growl assailed his ears, and almost
imperceptibly he was pinioned by fear to the wall.
The affrighted person called loudly for help ; but the
family being at the other part of the house, his cries
were fruitless. The generous animal, however, who had
the frightened man close in custody, scorned to take
a mean advantage of his situation by recommencing
hostilities. He remained perfectly quiet, unless the
delinquent attempted to stir — he then became as furious
as ever ; so that the prisoner prudently remained like
a statue fixed against the wall, while Basto, like a
sentinel on his post, te^t «i %Xm\. ^«t^» \^%k.>\r. '^^>Si^

THE CUB DOG. 478

escape before the family arrived. In about twenty
minutes the master, in coming from the parlour to the
counting-house, beheld the prisoner, and Basto walking
backwards and forwards beside him. The dog, by a
thousand gesticulations, seemed to wish a proper ex-
planation might take place. The master laughed
heartily at the poor fellow^s expense, as did he likewise
when liberated; but he had ever after the prudence,
when business brought him to the house, to ring loudly
at the door, notwithstanding it frequently stood wide
open.

A carrier on his way to Dumfries had occasion to

leave his cart and horse upon the public road, under

the protection of a passenger and his dog Trusty.

Upon his return, he missed a led horse belonging to a

gentleman in the neighbourhood, which he had tied to

the end of a cart, and likewise one of the female pas-

q^ngers. On inquiry he was informed that, during his

absence the female, who had been anxious to try the

mettle of the pony, had mounted it, and that the

ammal had set off at fhn speed. The carrier expressed

much anxiety {or the safety of the young womsn,

easdng at the same time an expresthre look at his dog.

TEnistj observed his master's eye, and aware of its

meaning, instantly set off in pursuit of the pony, wUdi

lie came up with socm after he had passed the 6nt tolt

WoQ the Dalbeattie road; when he made a snddes

^ring^ seiied the hidle, and ^K^i li!be vmoM^

Softnlftofie hafing oliserred the axcamaftanc^

474 anM^o^^Ii chf l>oos.

the perilous dtuatk^ ei ^he pA, ^cAtne t(> her l^lrdf.
The dog, ^cmtvm, n6t^h&Utnimg ^h^ repeiited
•endesvourS) wocild »Cft 'qtstlt hk iiola of l!he biidte ; lstid
the pony wtfs actually M Mo ^he stable with tlKe ^og^
till such time ixd the (»)4^ shotild ^e^rii/'e. ^ffOh ^le
carrier entering the stable, Trasty wttgged Ins taal ib
token of satisfstt^ioie^, Wd immediately l:eKnq[ttii&ed the
bridle iw bis MttSti^.

(A. vbofTt time ago -a latfg^ ^ati*, beliMighig %o a gfeh-
tleman lit lUcfaMtfcmd, 'in ¥(A'k&bin&, "ttCcid^trtaBy Ml
into a well, and for the moment he gave him tip ^
lost, fiat as :a mA *<tf d^sp^rate effort to slave the dog,
he directed a bo^ to let <d<twn ^ ^pe he had into the
welly m the hope that pos^bly it might ^tch aronnd
his 1^ or necks No sfikmet, ho^wever, tKd the rope
coiioe within resueh, than the dog iseiised it with his
teeth, and the parties above fin^ding it had secured him,
began to "d^aw up 5 when, about half-way tip, he lost
his hold asid fell beck^ Again the rope was let down,
and again l^e ddg ^ized it, and he was drawn nearly
to the mouth of the well 5 when his bite gave way, and
the third imie he fell int6 the water. Once more the
rope was let down, and this time the dog took so
thorough a hold, that he was brotight triumphantly
up; and when set down in safety, shook the Water
from his hair, and wagged his tail, apparently as ptOnd
of the exploit as the other parties were gratified with it.

THE LUBCHXB. 478

THE LURCHER.

{Qus YBcietjr .is -flmaller ithan .tiie igrejQioimd, .with
its ;timb8 jstronger and jshocter^ the heaflkss acnte^ witJh
ahort, lecBcst^ land iialf-^icked ears : 'tiie whole body aDsd
tfiil ave ccxvcemd with rough coarse hair^; it >i8 giizcljr
about the muzzle^ of a pale sand-colouE, or iron-^gvey^
end oof sullen aspect.

The hn-cher h Buppoaed to hare been originally
a cross between the igreyhaimd iand the shepherd^s do^
«e-cro8sed with the toxier ^ hence the quickness of his
seent^ his speedy and isrtelligenoe. Hie habits of this
dog lead him to oonceailineiit and cuxining^ a»d he ^is
ai0ldom found «n the possession lof honourable sports*-
men. He is often employed by poachers in "killing
h»«e6 and rabbits in the obscurity of nighty and when
taken to the warren, he lies squat, or steals o«it with
^tibe utmost precaution, and on seeing or scenting tte
rabbits, darts upon them with exceeding qmdkness ot
runs them 4own at a ^peibch, without barking or
making the 'least noise. He is <3«ined to bring the
booty to his master, who often waku at eome distance
to receiye it. One 4^ these dogs will kill a gtesSt
many rabbits in t^ course of a night. Col. Hamilton
Smyth says, ^^The lurcher occasionally makes great
havoc among sheep and deer, and acquires the wUd
scent of game. Sometimes l^se dogs become feral)
when Hieir owners ba^eu t() \^^ ^9N^xa»^ ««3Ei^ '^ss^i-
prisoned. They have been. togoSks:^ \saaN^ -^sr^^

476 ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

hounds^ but seldom destroyed^ because when the chase
came up with them, the pack seemed to be surprised
at finding that it was only a dog they had followed.
At other times/ however, when a lurcher had snapped
up, 6r attacked the game the pack was hunting, the
dogs on coming up have torn him to pieces, as if he
had been a wild beast/'

Bewick says that in his time this breed was so
destructive that it was proscribed, and is now almost
extinct. '^ I have seen a dog and bitch of this kind,''
he observes, ^^in the possession of a man who had
formerly used them for the purpose above described.
He declared, that by their means he could procure
in an evening as, many rabbits as he could carry
home/'

'^In the year 1809," says Capt. Brown, "I resided
for some time on Holy Island, coast of Northumberland,
and had occasion one day to be in Berwick at an early
hour. I left the island on horseback at low- water, by
moonlight. When I reached Goswick-warren, I came
upon two men sitting by the side of a turf-dyke. I
spoke to them ; and while I was in the act of doing so,
a dog of this breed approached with a rabbit in his
mouth, which he laid down and scampered off. Being
convinced they were engaged in rabbit-stealing, I
entered into conversation respecting the qualities of
their dogs, which I was anxious to learn; and upon
my declaring that I was a stranger, and that I would
not divulge their deUnquency, they readily gave me a

THE LURCHER. 477

detail (^ thenu Ttey had scarcely commenced when
another dog made his appearance with a rahbit^ and
laid it down, but did not, like his companion, make off
when he had done so. One of the men said to him,
'Go off, sir,' when he immediately left them; and
he told me he was a young dog, little more than a year
old. They informed me, that such was the keenness
of the older dog, and another which had shortly before
died, for hunting rabbits and hares, that they would
frequently go out of their own accord, when it was
inconvenient for their owners to attend them, and that
they invariably fetched in a hare or rabbit. Indeed,
their ardour was such, that they would sometimes go
to a rabbit-warren, at a distance ol eight miles from
their dwelling, in pursuit of game ; in consequence of
which it became necessary for their masters to chain
them every night when they did not accompany them
in this pursuit. The dogs never attempted to leave
home during the day, for which reason they were
allowed to go at full hberty. When the men intended
on an evening to hunt rabbits, they threw down the
sacks in which they carried their booty in a comer
of their house, when the dogs lay down beside them,
and would not stir till their masters took them up.
These dogs scarcely ever barked, except on the way
either to or from this plunder; on which occasions
they always preceded their owners about fifty yards.
If they met any person coming, they invariably
made a noise, but never were known to bite any

478 ANiscDOTift orr dogs.

one. I asked them; if thb watc aa.iiiBtinetiverparopertjry
and they informed me tbej. wooet trained^ to it. A»
tliey found it necessaiy in vanouii! jdacer^ to leave
the highway to avoid villages^ ihur. dogs, never
ftdled to quit the road at the veiy.^ places, where'
they usually deviated^ although at that, distance before:
them. Sometimes one ot the dogs wouldiretum back:
to the party while on the road,, and: wag His tail,
but they seldom or never did so together; and if>
he showed a. desire to remain by his master, die latter'
had only to say,. 'Go on> sir/ when: he set off at:
full speed to his post a» one of. thet advanced guard.
During the time I was conversing/: with them these:
dogs brought in i^even rabbits/'

The following curious relation, in which a lurcher'
signalised himself characteristically but fatally, we had
from a sporting clergyman of one. of the midland
counties. A gentleman kept a pack ;of five-^and-twenty
couple of good hounds, among which were some of the-
highest-bred modem foxhounds, and some as near to
the old bloodhound as could be procured. They were
high-fed and underworked; of course, somewhat riotous.
One day, after a sharp run of considerable, length, in
which the whole field, huntsman, whipper-in, and all,
were suddenly thrown out, Reynard, in running up a^
hedgerow, was espied by a lurcher, accompanying the
farmer his master. The dog instantly ran at the chase ;
and being fresh, chopped upon it as he would havd
done upon a rabbit or hare. . The fox turned and fought

TBB. BAN WOv, 489-

bmv€ly ; fmcL whOat the fanner wa» contemplating with
99toni8hment this singular combat, he waa destined to
behold a spectacle still more remarkable. The hounds'
arrived in full cry, and with indiscriminate fury tore
bpth.the combatants to pieces; the whipper-in, and the
Proprietor of the pack, and two> or tbcee^ gentlemen the
best mounted, arriving in time to whip the dogs off,
obtain the brush, and pick up some scattered remnants*
of the limbs and carcase of thei poor lurcher;

\ , If '7 1 ' 1 ■ »

THE BAN DOG*.

This variety, which seems almost extinct, is lighter,
smaller, and more active than the mastiff, from which
he is descended by a cross with the foxhound. He
is not nearly so powerful a dog as the former, but is
more fierce in his natural disposition; and from his,
descent possesses a finer sense of smelling. His
bair is rougher, generally of a yellowish or sandy
grey, streaked with shades of black, or brown, and
semi-curled over his whole body, excepting his leg?s,
which are smooth. Although he generally attacks
his adversary in front, like the mastiff and bull-dog,,
it is not his invariable practice, for he is sometimes
seen to seize cattle by the fiank. His bite, says
Bewick, is keen and dangerous.

480 ANSCDOTIS 07 B0G8.

Two near neighbours in the county of Suffolk^
a tanner and a farmer^ entertained great friendship
for each other, and kept up a close intimacy by
frequent visits. The tanner had a large ban-dog
for watching his yard, which, from some unknown
cause, had conceived such an inveterate hatred to
the farmer, that he could not go with safety to call
on his friend when the dog was loose, and on this
account the tanner loaded him with a heavy clog,
that he might not be able to fly at him.

As the farmer and one of his ploughmen were
going about the grounds together one day, the latter
espied at a distance something on a stile. As they
drew near, they perceived it was the tanner^s dog,
which, in attempting to leap the wall, had left the
clog on the other side, and was thereby almost
strangled. The ploughman, knowing the enmity which
the dog had to his master, proposed to despatch him
by knocking him on the head; but the latter was
imwilling to kill a creature which he knew was useful
to his friend. Instead of doing so, he disengaged
the poor beast, laid him down on the grass, watched
till he saw him recover so completely as to be able
to get up on his legs, and then pursued his walk.
When the farmer returned to the stile, he saw the
dog standing by it, quite recovered, and expected an
attack ; but, to his great astonishment, the creature
fawned upon \mn, and expressed his gratitude in

THE BAN DOG. 481

&e most lively maaner; and from that time to tbe
day of Ma death he attached himself to his bene-
factor, and never could be prevailed upon to go
back to his fonuer master.

ON THE FEEDING AND MANAGEMENT OF DOGa

Oatiindfivm ntriaw atUterilia b^ H. 0. BtfiM.

A FEW words may not be out of place here on the feeding and
management of dogs. For all else which concerns Canine
Science the reader cannot do better than consult, amoag
modem works, "Yoiiatt on the Dog," "Blaine's Canine Pi-
thology," the article "Dog" in the EnoyclopEedia Britanniraor
Penny Oycloptedia, " Hutdiinson on Dog-Breatiog," " Radclift
on Fox-Hunting," "Mayhew on the Dog," or, "Colonel Ha-
milton Smith on Dogs," forming two of the vols, of Judine'i
Naturaliata' Library.

The natural food of the dog is flesh, and it is found tlmt thosB
in a wild state prefer it to every other kind of nutriment, bot
as raw meat engenders ferocity, it should not be given too
freely, especially to house-dogs and such as are not acti^d;
exercised. The dog can subsist on many kinds of food,andd
is a curious fact, tl^t when fed entirely on flesh he will soiM-
times get lean ; because, as has been well observed, it is net
on what animals eat that they thrive, but on what they digat
The diet of sporting doga in full work should, it is saia 1^
Borne, consist of at least two-thirds of flesh, with a judidooi
mixture of farinaceous vegetables ; hut there is great diver'**
of opinion on this subject, and in France tbey are fed all—
exclusively on soaked bread, l^gs, it is generally said, sbotla
iiave free access to fresh water, and the pans bo cleaned M"

ON THE MANAGEMENT OP DOOS. 483

daily ; but some feeders, we are told, and it seems strange,
limit the supply of water, and substitute moistened food. A
piece of rock brimstone kept in the pan will be found useful.

Although the dog is naturally a voracious animal, he can
endure hunger for a very great length of time, and be brought
by habit to subsist on a very scanty meal. In the Memoirs of
the Academy of Sciences it is stated, that a bitch which was
forgotten in a country-house, where she had access to no other
nourishment, Uved forty days on the wool of an old mattress
which she had torn to pieces and digested.

An extraordinary instance of a similar kind occurred with
a terrier bitch, named Gipsy. One day, when following her
master through a grass-park near Gilmerton, it happened that
she started a hare. During the pursuit her master suddenly
lost sight of her, and in a few days she was considered either
killed or lost. Six weeks afterwards a person happening to look
down an old coal-pit, was surprised to hear a dog howling. He
lost no time in returning to the village, and having procured a
hand-basket, let it down by a rope into the shsrft ; the dog
immediately leapt into it, and on being brought to the surface,
proved to be Gipsy, worn to perfect skin and bone. How she
had existed in this subterranean abode, and what she had
found to support her there, it is impossible to tell.

Stag-hounds, fox-hounds, harriers, and beagles, are gene-
rally fed on oatmeal, — some add well-boiled flesh to it once
in two days, — and the older the meal is the better. Store
sufficient for twelve or eighteen months* consumption ought^
therefore, always to be kept by those who have a pack ; and
before used should be well dried, and broken into grits, but
not too fine. It is best kept in bins in a granary, well trodden
down. Some persons are in the habit of using barleymeal
Unprepared, but this is thought by many to be less nutritious.
Others are of opinion that oatmeal and barleymeal in equal
proportions form a preferable food. In either case the meal
should be made into porridge, with the addition of a little
tnilk, and occasionally the kitchen offal, such as remnants of
butchers* meat, broth, and soups, the raspings and refuse of
bakers* shops, or hard, coarse, sea-biscuit (sold as dog-biscuit),
"Well soaked and boiled with bullocks* liver or horseflesh.

"Well-boiled greens — or mangel-wurzel boiled to a jelly —
are an excellent addition to the food of all dogs, and may be
given twice a-week ; but they ought to be discontinued during
the shooting-season with pointers^ setters, cockers, and grey-
bounds ; and also during the hunting season with foxhounds,
barriers, and beagles, as they are apt to render the bowels too
open for hard work.

484 ON THE FEEDING AND

Flesh for dogs should be first thoroughly boiled and then
taken out before the oatmeal is added to the broth, and left to
cooL Indeed, some feeders think that the food of a dog should
always be perfectly cold. At any rate, care must be taJcen not
to serve it out *' too hot," although, in general, dogs are saga-
cious enough not to scald themselves, as we see in Landseer's
exquisite Httle picture on the opposite page.

Dogs which are hard worked are by some said to be the
better for having two meals a-day — a very light one of mixed
food in the morning before going out, and a full meal, prin-
cipally of flesh, on their return in the evening ; but, as a ge-
neral rule, one good meal a day, towards the evening, is mi-
ficient, and they may be lefb to pick up what they can : indeed
the dealers never give more than one meal a-day. Bones to
pick may be allowed them occasionallv, but hard bones in
excess are likely to wear and damage the teeth. Nothing is
better than paunch, tripe, or good wholesome horse or cow-
flesh, boiled, and the liquor mixed well with oatmeal por^
rid^e ; the quantity of each about equal. If horse or cow-
fleim is not to be had, graves, in moderate quantity and wdQ
scalded, are a tolerable, though not very desirable, substitute.
They are generally broken small, mixed with about one-half
the quantity of oatmeal, then thoroughly soaked in boiling
water, and well stirred ; or, a better way still is to boil them
together like porridge.

Dogs, like men, require a change of food, and it has been
strongly asserted that barleymeal and oatmeal, without change,
predisposes to cutaneous disease, and even produces it ; there-
fore, a judicious feeder, like a good cook, will contrive to vaiy
his bill of fare. Porridge and milk, dog-biscuit, fariuaceous
food, the scraps of the kitchen, the oflal of bullocks or sheep,
which should be well boiled, make an excellent variety;—
but we would by no means recommend too frequent a repe-
tition of the latter food. Potatoes are also good, and althongh
not so nutritious, or easy of digestion, as oatmeal, are less
heating.

Care should be taken never to present more to a dog than
he will eat with a good appetite ; and when oatmeal and barley-
meal are given mixed, the former should first be boiled for
twenty minutes, and then the latter added, and boiled only
for about eight or ten minutes. This meal should, however,
never be given in the hunting season, as it is too heating, and
occasions the dogs to be perpetually drinking. Their food
ought, as a generS rule, to be given to them pretty thick, aa
thin porridge does not stay the stomach so well. The feeding-
troughs for hounds shoula be sufficiently wide at the bottom

MANAGEMENT OF DOGS. 485

and carefully cleaned out and scalded with hot water every
second day.

During the hunting season hounds should have sulphur
mixed up with their mess once a-week, in the proportion of
3 drachms to each. At the end of the season the same
quantity of sulphur should be given, with the addition of
H drachms of antimony. After a hard day's work a meal of
horse-flesh may be given them, as fresh-kUled as possible, or
bullocks' paunches or sheeps' trotters, all of which should be
well boiled.

Chreyhounds should be fed principally on animal food, such
as sheeps* trotters or neats' feet, boiled or stewed down and
mixed with bread, and given moderately in the morning and
afternoon, (the dog never being allowed on any occasion to eat
a great quantity at once,) or on other hard meat, as it will
enlarge and strengthen the muscular fibre without increasing
the cellular tissue and adipose substance, which has an in-
variable tendency to afiect their breathing. The butchers' meat
should be of the best quality, and not over-fat, as greasy sub-
stances of all kinds are apt to render the body gross and the
skin diseased. After they have been coursed they should be
well brushed, a little oil being used in the operation.

The kennels of greyhounds should be kept comfortably
warm and dry, be frequently replenished with dry and clean
straw, and properly ventilated. Indeed, nothing is more es-
sential to the health and efficiency of all dogs than pure air
and cleanliness. Their beds should, if possible, be placed on a
wooden bench, or at least on some dry position. On attention
to cleanliness depends, in some degree, the dog's exquisite
sense of smelling ; for, if accustomed to strong or disagreeable
effluvia, he will be but ill-adapted to trace the fail of a deer,
or scent of a fox. Indeed, even animal food too freely given is
said to have a prejudicial efiect upon the nose of a sporting
dog.

A dog employed in watching premises should not be need-
lessly exposed to the damp or cutting night winds ; but placed
in as dry and sheltered a situation as possible. If kept in
the dwelling-house he should have a place appropriated to his
mght's rest ; this may be an open box, or a basket, with a
piece of carpet or blanket, or clean straw at the bottom : if
either of the former it should be often beaten, to free it from
fleas or nits, which soon infest it, and frequently washed and
dried.

Damp is exceedingly injurious to dogs, and is very likely
to produce diseased lungs, rheumatism, and lameness in the
ahoulders and limbs.

ii2

486 ON THE FEEDING AND

To the preceding instructions, for which the compiler is
chiefly indebted to the works of Capt. Thomas Brown, Youatt^
and Blaine, and to the practical information obtained from
Mr. Herring of the New Boad, and Mr. William George, an
extensive dog-fancier at Kensall New Town, may be appropri-
ately subjoined a lively chapter from the recent work of Mr.
Francis Butler, a leaoing American authority on the subject

'' It is more important to understand the management of
a dog, than to be possessed of a thousand nominal remedies
for the cure of his various ailments ; inasmuch as the antidote
is at all times preferable to the cure.

'^ I shall first throw out a few hints on the Management of
Pets. Whilst many are sacrificed for lack of necessary attend-
ance, there are thousands who perish prematurely m>m over-
doses of kindness. Delicate breeds of dogs certainly require
great care and attention in rearing ; but overstrained tender-
ness is often more dangerous than culpable neglect. The
dear little creature that is allowed to lay under the stove, Ib
stuffed with delicacies two or three times a-day, and is never
allowed to breathe the fresh air, except under a cloudless sky,
is more subject to colds, fits, rheumatism, sore eyes and ean»
worms, &c., than the worthless mongrel which was raised on
the street, neglected and despised. 'Ilie tenderly-nursed pet is
affected by every change of atmosphere, and subjected to a
variety of diseases unknown to the dog that has been hardened
from nis birth. I ask you, then, neither to stuff nor starve ;
neither to chill nor bum.

" A house-pet should always have a sleeping-place allotted
to him, warm and comfortable, not near the fire, nor in the
damp. Anything round is best for an animal to lay in;
such as a tastefully ornamented box. In cold weather it
should not be larger than to contain him comfortably. It
is best for the following reasons : he may keep himself per-
fectly warm, and his bed may be made exactly to fit him ; it
also takes up less available space than any other shape. He
should never be fed to the full ; neither excited to eat when
he appears disinclined. Lack of appetite, so common to pam-
pered favourites, is generally the result of an overloaded
stomach and disordered digestion. This is easily cured by
medicine, but more safely and sirfiply without it. Fast him
for twenty-four hours ; after which, keep him on half his ordi-
nary allowance. If this agrees with him, and he keeps in to
condition, continue the regimen.

" Nursing in the lap is injurious ; not in itself but the
animal is thereby Bub^ected to constant chills, in emerging

MANAGEMENT OF D003, 487

from a snoozy warmth to a cold carpet or chilly bed. A dog
accustomed to the lap is always shivering after it, and renders
himself quite troublesome by his importunate addresses. A
moderate share of nursing is weU enough, but should be in-
dulged in only as an occasional treat. Great care should be
taken in the washing of delicate dogs. When this operation
is performed, they should be rubbed perfectly dry ; after
which they should be covered, and remain so till the shivering
has completely subsided.''^ The water should be only blood-
warm ; it is far better than hot, and not so likely to give
the animal cold. Injudicious washing and bad dr^g are pro-
ductive of running sore eyes, more especially visible in white
poodles, where the hidr is long and woolly, retaining the
moisture.

" Once a fortnight is often enough to wash any dog but a
white one. Washing has very little effect in the destruction of
vermin. Fleas can uve some time underwater ; which I have
often thought only makes them bite the harder and stick the
closer, when reanimated from their temporary torpidity. If
' Butler's Mange Liniment and Flea Exterminator' cannot be
obtained, the animal may be well sodden with soft soap and
washed about ten minutes after. This cannot be done with
safety, except in warm weather. In cold weather, the comb
may be used immediately after the application of the soap, as
the fleas will then be too stupid to effect their escape. * Butler's
Liniment ' destroys all vermin instantaneously, without risk of
injuring the animal ; and the quadruped may be rinsed one
minute after. No flea will remain aUve ; the skin will be
thoroughly cleansed, and the coat beautifled. Dogs should
never bo allowed to suffer the torment imposed on them by
these detestable vermin. If the owners could only realise the
importance of ridding them of these ever-noisome pests, there
would be fftr less of snappishness, mange, fits, &c. I have seen
animals literally wonied to death by fleas, perfectly exhausted
frx)m incessant irritation, at last worn to a skeleton, and
gradually extinguished by a creeping consumption. Besides,
who (for his own personal comfort), would not rid his imme-
diate vicinity of a worthless mob of blood-suckers awaiting
the first favourable opportunity of regaling themselves on
human blood ? If your dog lie on straw, bum it once a week,
as fleas harbour and propagate in the tubes of the straw. ^ If
the bed be carpet, or anything similar, let it be often cleansed

* Or if the weather be fine and warm they may run oat and dry
themselves. — Ed.

488 ON THE FEEDING AND

or changed. Vermin revel in filth, and their extirpation
depends mainly on cleanliness.

"By atten(&ng to the general health of a dog, much disease
may be avoided ; indeed, this is far more essential than pre-
scriptions for a cure. It is very easy to carry off a sUght
indisposition by gentle purgatives and a reformed diet : whilst
confirmed disease is often difficult to combat, as few of the
canine race can have the advantages which are ofttimes
essential to their restoration. The eyes, the nose, the gums,
the hair, the breath, should be carefully noted. The eyes may
be red or pale, sunken or protruded ; the nose may be hot, or
dry, or matted with dirt ; the gums may be pale, &c. It will
require but little experience to discover a disorganisation,
which may be easily detected by him who has noticed the
healthful appearance of the different parts and their variation
imder indisposition.

*' If you are in the habit of keeping your dog on the chain,
let him at least run a few minutes every day. If he be kept
indoors, he should also be allowed a little daily exercise out-
side. Change of air * and diet will sometimes renovate when all
remedies fail : a change from city to country, from gr^sy meat
to fresh milk, from a confined yard to the green fields, will
generally recruit him without the aid of medicine. Nature
(to whom physicians are so deeply indebted for so manv
wonderful restorations), often effects a cure unaided, which
might have defied the efforts of Apothecaries' Hall.

In summer, particularly, be careful to provide a supply
of fresh water and a cool shelter from the sun. Never take
your dog out during the intense heat of the day ; this is very
apt to produce fits, often resulting in sudden death. Early in
the morning is preferable for summer exercise.

" The kennel should be located in a shady spot during the
summer ; in winter it should be sheltered from the wind, and
so placed as to enable the dog to enjoy the sunshine at wilL
Above all things, never chain a dog where he cannot screen
himself from the sun's rays. He must have the option of
sunshine or shade. He should not be allowed to drink water
that has been standing in the sun, or is otherwise damaged.
If you should chance to forget to feed him for forty-eight
hours, he would not run as much risk of injury, as during
three hours of thirst in hot weather. There should be a piece

* Sea-air, however, especially during long sea-voyages, perhaps io
connexion with salt meat, has been known to produce the distemper
in dogs. — Ed.

MANAGEMENT OF DOGS. 489

of joist under each end of the dog-house, to keep it off the
ground, in order to avoid dampness. In summer an exca-
vation, two or three feet in depth, should be made under it,
and left open at both ends, that the animal may have a cool re-
treat during the heat. Those who do not object to a trifling
expense, may have the house posted on a large paving- stone,
with an excavation under it, as before recommended. All
burrowing animals seek the earth in hot weather. Everything
on the surface is heated ; their own instinct dictates the most
reasonable method of sheltering themselves from the heat, at
the same time absorbing the cool exhalations from the ground.
In southern cHmates, especially, this method is all important.
In this manner I have kept dogs from the polar regions, in
comparative comfort, whilst many native-bom and neglected
have been scalded into fits, paralysis, rabies, or hydrophobia.

** In the hot season, with young dogs, raw meat should be
avoided, except it be quite fresh, and then they should not
be over-fed, especially if debarred of abundant exercise, and
excluded from their own natural medicine, grass. A dog will
often thrive better on raw meat than on any other food, and
will grow larger ; but he should be fed with discretion, and his
health attended to, should his diet visibly disagree with him.*
He will grow fatter and be more healthy on moderate meals
than if overgorged. The better plan is to ascertain his
average consumption, and then allow him a little less. Keep
his digestion in good order, and disease wiU rarely trouble him.
His coat and ribs will generally indicate whether he be suffi-
ciently cared for, whether he be sick or sound in his digestive
organs ; feed him always in the same place, and at the same
hour : once a day is sufficient, if he be over six months old.
By being fed only once a day he is less choice, and wiU con-
sume what he might refuse, if his appetite were dulled by a
previous meal.

"Should you require your dog to be watchful at night,
feed him in the morning ; if you would have him quiet at
night, feed him late, and don't leave him bones to gnaw.
Dogs are pretty quiet, during the digestive process, when left
to themselves, and should not have much exercise after a heavy
meal. They should only be lightly fed before training-lessons,
or on sporting days ; on the latter occasions a httle refresh-
ment may be administered as occasion may require. Those

* House-dogs fed on raw meat, bones, and liver, soon become
offensive neighbours ; the more so in proportion to their want of out-
door exercise. — Ed.

490

ON THE HANAOEHBNT OP DOQH.

kept in-doora should be allowed to run a littie after meils,

wHea they generally require an evacuation.

"If a dog be regularly esercised he will seldom even soil
around his kennel, and a healthy house pet is rarely trouble-
Bome, except after eating. If a do^ be uncleanly in the house,
he should decidedly he hrtoben of it, although it would be use-
less to correct him unless he bos a fair opportunity ofaroiding
it. Be should be invariably taken to the spot, be sufhciently
twigged there, and unceremoniously scolded into the yard. The
punishment will be far more justly administered if the animal
be let out at r^ular intervals ; Uiis being done he will not
attempt to infringe the law, except in cases of dire necessity.

" I am satisfiea as a general rule, that a well-amalgamated
mixture of animal and vegetable is the moat healthful diet for
dogs of all ages, breeds, and conditions. Dogs living in the
house should on no account be fed on raw meat, as it givea
them a very oftensive smell, and is in other respects very
unsuitable."

491

INDEX.

DOG .

•

PAGE

. 479

MASTIFF .

PAOB
. 440

3LB .

•

. 438

mAtIN (FRENCH )

. 465

)DHOnND .

•

. 250

ii DOG

•

. 454

NEWFOUNDLAND DOO

67, 133

.-DOG TERRIER

•

. 16

OTTER TERRIER

. 361

m DOG

•

. 459

■EY (scotch)

t

. 185

POINTER .

. 383

DOG .

•

. 466

POODLE .
PUG DOG .

. 331
. 412

4 ATI AN

•

. 459

[SH DOG .

•

. 463

ST. BERNARD DOG .

. 240

L-HOUND .

•

. 119

SETTER .
shepherd's DOG

. 400
. 185

JIMAUX DOG

•

. 353

SPANIEL .
STAG- HOUND .

77, 300
. 116

lOUND

•

. 421

TERRIER .

20, 264

fHOUND .

•

. 367

TURNSPIT

. 418

rHOUND (PERSIAN^

. 380

WATER SPANIEL

. 300

WOLF DOG (IRISH

AND

;her

•

. 475

highland) .

85, 107

London : — Printed by G. BabculY, Castle St. Leicostor Sq.

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