THE MASTIFF. 



and attacks a liarinless stianger, on the supposition that it is resisting the 

 approach of an enemy. Sometimes the bull-dog strain is mixed with the 

 Mastiff, in order to add a more stubborn courage to the animal ; but in the 

 eyes of good judges this admixture is quite unnecessary. 



It has already been mentioned that the Mastiff is fond of affording the 

 loenefit of its protection to those who need it. As, however, the Dog is but 

 a Dog after all, it sometimes brings evil instead of good upon those who accept its 

 guardianship. 



During my school-boy days, a large Mastiff, called Nelson, struck up a great 

 friendship with myself and some of my schoolfellows, and Avas accustomed to 

 ]:)artake of om- weekly banquets at the pastrycook's shop, and to accompany us 

 in om* walks. One summer, as we Avere bathing in the Dove, a man pomiced 

 upon our clothes, and would have carried them off, had it not been for the 

 opportune assistance of some older lads of the same school, who captured the 

 offender after a smart chase, and tossed him into the river until he wt].^ fain 

 to cry for mercy. 



In order to prevent a repetition of a similar mischance, we determined to 

 take Nelson with us, and put him in charge of our clothes. The old Dog 

 was delighted at the walk, and mounted sentry over the pile of garments, 

 Avhile we recreated ourselves in the stream, and cauglit crayfish or tickled trout 

 at our leisure. Unfortunately, a number of cows had been placed in the field, 

 and, after the usually inquisitive custom of cows, they approached the spot where 

 Nelson fwas 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 Avhich 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 aAvay 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 blood- 

 iiound, 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 colour varies between a uniform reddish-fawn and different 

 brindlings and patches of dark and white. The voice is pecuharly deep and 



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