THE CUR DOG THE GREENLAND DOG. 113 



could be performed by two or three men, without mentioning the 

 attentive fidelity with which, in his master's absence, he executes 

 his office of a guardian. 



THE CUR DOG, 



Although not considered by naturalists as a distinct race, is, 

 notwithstanding, esteemed such in some parts of England , 

 and its utility to the farmer and grazier is so great, that in many 

 places no small attention is paid to the breed. They are ex- 

 tremely useful in driving cattle, and exceed the shepherd's dog 

 in size, fierceness, and strength. Some dogs of this kind pos- 

 sess an astonishing degree of sagacity: they know their mas- 

 ter's fields, are attentive to the cattle that are in them, go of 

 their own accord their daily rounds, and if any interlopers have 

 got among the herd, will quickly drive them out of the grounds. 



THE GREENLAND DOG. 



This race of dogs is generally white ; some, however, are 

 spotted, and others black. The Pomeranian, Siberian, Lapland, 

 and Iceland dogs, as well as those which run wild in America, 

 are all somewhat similar to the Greenland dogs in the sharpness 

 of their muzzles, their long shaggy hair, and bushy tails; and 

 all have some resemblance to the shepherd's dog, but are of a 

 larger size. The Greenlanders sometimes eat the flesh of their 

 dogs. They make garments of their skins, and use them for 

 drawing sledges, to which they yoke them, four, five, or six to- 

 gether. 



The dogs of Kamtschatka are nearly of the same kind : they 

 are strong and active, and their colour is commonly black and 

 white. They are exceedingly useful in drawing sledges, the only 

 mode of travelling in that country during the winter, and travel 

 with great expedition. Captain King relates, that during his stay 

 there, a courier with despatches performed, in a sledge drawn 

 by dogs, a journey of 270 miles in less than four days. Accord- 

 ing to Captain King's account, who gives a very interesting de- 

 scription of these animals, they strongly resemble the Pomera- 

 nian, or wolf-dog of BufTon, except that they are larger, and 

 covered with coarser hair. That gentleman also says, that al- 

 though they vary in colour, the greatest number are of a light 

 dun. 



Of the fleetness of these dogs, Captain King gives the fol- 

 lowing account, in addition to the instance already mentioneJ : 

 " We were ourselves witnesses," says he, " of the great expedi- 

 tion with which the messenger, who had been despatched to 

 Bolcheretsk with the news of our arrival, returned to the har- 

 bour of St. Peter and St. Paul, though the snow was at that 



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