BULL-DOG.—Canis familiaris. 
The same writer is disposed to think the Bull-dog to be a sadly maligned animal, and 
that his sagacity and affections have been greatly underrated. He states that the pure 
Bull-dog is not naturally a quarrelsome creature, and that it would not bear so evil a 
character if it were better taught. 
According to him, the Bull-dog is really a sufficiently intelligent animal, and its mental 
qualities capable of high cultivation. It is true that the animal is an unsafe companion 
even for its master, and that it is just as likely to attack its owner as a stranger, if it feels 
aggrieved. An accidental kick, or a tread on the toes, affords ample pretext for the animal 
to fasten on its supposed enemy; and when once it does fix its teeth, it is not to be 
removed except by the barbarous method which is considered to be legitimate for such a 
purpose, but which will not be mentioned in these pages. However, most of these short- 
comings in temper are said to be produced by the hfe which the poor Dog leads, being tied 
up to his kennel for the greater part of his time; and, when released from his bondage, 
only enjoying a limited freedom for the purpose of fighting a maddened bull, or engaging 
in deadly warfare with one of his own kind. Any animal would become morose under 
such treatment ; and when the sufferer is a Bull-dog, the results of his training are often 
disastrous enough. 
The shape of this remarkable animal is worthy of notice. The fore-quarters are 
particularly strong, massive, and muscular; the chest wide and roomy; and the neck 
singularly powerful. The hind-quarters, on the contrary, are very thin, and comparatively 
feeble ; all the vigour of the animal seeming to settle in its fore-legs, chest, and head. 
Indeed, it gives the spectator an impression as if it were composed of two different Dogs ; 
the one a large and powerful animal, and the other a weak and puny quadruped, which 
had been put together by mistake. The little fierce eyes that gleam savagely from the 
round, combative head, have a latent fire in them that gives cause for much suspicion 
on the part of a stranger who comes unwarily within reach of one of these Dogs. The 
underhung jaw, with its row of white glittering teeth, seems to be watering with desire to 
take a good bite at the stranger’s leg ; and the matter is not improved by the well-known 
custom of the Bull-dog to bite without giving the least vocal indication of his purpose. 
il, x 
