THE SCOTCH SHEEP-DOG. 



tail of the Sheep-dog is natm-ally long and bushy, but is genei*ally removed 

 in early youth, on account of the now obsolete laws, which refused to 

 acknowledge any Dog as a Sheep-dog, or to exempt it from the payment of 

 a tax, unless it were deprived of its tail. This law, however, often defeated 

 its own object, for many persons who liked the sport of coursing, and cared 

 little for appearances, used to cut off the tails of their greyhounds, and evade 

 the tax by describing them as Sheep-dogs. 



The muzzle of this Dog is sharp, its head is of moderate size, its eyes 

 arc very bright and intelligent, as might be expected in an animal of so 

 much sagacity and ready resource in time of need. Its feet are strongly 

 made, and sufficiently well protected to endm'e severe work among the harsh 

 stems of the heather on the hills, or the sharply-cutting stones of tiie high- 

 road. Probably on account of its constant exercise in the open air, and tlie 

 hardy manner in which it is brought up, the Sheep-dog is perhaps the most 

 untiring of om- domesticated animals. 



There are many breeds of this animal, differing from each other in colour 

 and aspect, and deriving their varied forms from tlie Dog Avith which the 

 family has been crossed. 



Many of these animals are sad double-dealers in their characters, being by 

 day most respectable Sheep-dogs, and by night most disreputable poachers. 

 The mixed offspring of a Sheep-dog and setter is as silently successful in 

 discovering and marking game by night as he is openly useful in managing 

 the flocks by day. As he spends the Avhole of his time in the society of 

 his master, and learns from long companionship to comprehend the least 

 gestm-e of hand or tone of voice, he is far better adapted for nocturnal 

 poaching than the more legitimate setter or retriever, and causes far 

 more deadly havoc among the fm-red and feathered game. Moreover, he 

 often escapes the suspicion of the gamekeeper by his quiet and honourable 

 demeanoiir during the daytime, and his devotion to his arduous task of 

 guarding the fold, and reclaiming its wandering members. It seems hardly 

 possible that an animal which works so hard during the day should be 

 able to pass the night in beating for game. 



Sometimes there is an infusion of the bull-dog blood into the Sheep-dog, 

 but this mixture is thought to be unadvisable, as such Dogs are too apt to 

 bite their charge, and so to alienate from themselves the confidence of the 

 helpless creatm'cs whom they are intended to protect, and not to injure. 

 Unless the sheep can feel that the Dog is, next to the shepherd, theii' best 

 friend, the chief value of the animal is lost. 



It is well observed by Mr. Youatt, in his valuable work on these Dogs, 



J 0.0 



