244 THE ENGLISH TERRIER. 



mounted sentry over the pile of garments, while we recreated ourselves in the stream, and 

 caught crayfish or tickled trout at our leisure. Unfortunately, a number of cows had lately 

 been placed in the field, and after the usually inquisitive custom of cows, they approached the 

 spot where Nelson was lying, in order to ascertain the nature of the strange object on the 

 river bank. Nelson permitted them to come quite close, merely uttering a few warning growls, 

 but when one of the cows began to toss a jacket with her horns, his patience gave way and he 

 flew at the offender. Off scampered all the cows, but soon returned to the charge. Nelson 

 stood firm to his post, only retreating a few steps as the cows approached the garments which 

 he was guarding, and then dashing at them again. However, the cows' hoofs and the Dog's 

 feet began to wreak such dire mischief among the clothes, that we found ourselves compelled 

 to drive away the assailants and carry our clothes to the opposite bank of the river, where no 

 cows could interfere with us. 



The head of the Mastiff bears a certain similitude to that of the bloodhound and the bull- 

 dog, possessing the pendent lips and squared muzzle of the bloodhound, with the heavy 

 muscular development of the bull-dog. The under jaw sometimes protrudes a little, but the 

 teeth are not left uncovered by the upper lip, as is the case with the latter animal. The fur of 

 the Mastiff is always smooth, and its color varies between a uniform reddish -fawn and differ- 

 ent brindlings and patches of dark and white. The voice is peculiarly deep and mellow. The 

 height of this animal is generally from twenty-five to twenty-eight inches, but sometimes 

 exceeds these dimensions. One of these Dogs was no less than thirty-three inches in height 

 at the shoulder, measured fifty inches round his body, and weighed a hundred and seventy- 

 five pounds. 



THE CUBAN MASTIFF is supposed to be produced by a mixture of the true Mastiff with 

 the bloodhound, and was used for the same purpose as the latter animal. It was not a native 

 of the country where its services were brought into requisition, and from which it has conse- 

 quently derived its name, but was imported there for the purposes of its owners, being taught 

 to chase men instead of deer. 



This Dog was employed with terrible success in the invasion of America by the Span- 

 iards, and was, in the eyes of the simple natives, a veritably incarnated spirit of evil, of which 

 they had never seen the like, and which was a fit companion to those fearful apparitions 

 which could separate themselves into two distinct beings at will, one with four legs and the 

 other with two, and destroy them at a distance with fiery missiles, against which they were as 

 defenceless as against the lightning from above. 



Even in more recent times, the services of these Dogs have been rendered available against 

 the rebel forces of Jamaica, when they rose against the Government, and but for the able 

 assistance of these fierce and sagacious animals, would apparently have swept off the European 

 inhabitants of the island. 



THE TERRIER, with all its numerous variations of crossed and mongrel breeds, is more 

 generally known in England than any other kind of Dog. Of the recognized breeds, four are 

 generally acknowledged ; namely, the English and Scotch Terriers, the Skye, and the little 

 Toy Terrier, which will be described in their order. 



The ENGLISH TERRIER possesses a smooth coat, a tapering muzzle, a high forehead, a 

 bright intelligent eye, and a strong muscular jaw. As its instinct leads it to dig in the ground, 

 its shoulders and fore-legs are well developed, and it is able to make quite a deep burrow in 

 a marvellously short time, throwing out the loose earth with its feet, and dragging away the 

 stones and other large substances in its mouth. It is not a large Dog, seldom weighing more 

 than ten pounds, and often hardly exceeding the moiety of that weight. 



Although a light, quick, and lively creature, and fuming with anxiety at the sight or 

 smell of the animals which are popularly termed "vermin," the pure English Terrier will 

 seldom venture to attack a rat openly, although it will be of the greatest service in discovering 

 and unharboring that mischievous rodent. The sport which this Dog prefers is, that itself 

 should startle the rats, while its master destroys them. If a rat should fasten upon this 



