510 modern farrier. 



33. Varieties of the Dog. 



*Of all animals,' says a popular writer, *the dog 

 seems most susceptible of change, and most easily 

 modified by difference of climate, food, and educa- 

 tion : not only the figure of his body, but his facul- 

 ties, habits, and dispositions, A'ary in a surprising 

 manner ; nothing appears constant in them but their 

 internal conformation, which is alike in all; in every 

 other respect they are very dissimilar : they vary in 

 size, in figure, in the length of the nose and shape 

 of the head, in the length and direction of the ears 

 and tail, in the colour, quality, and quantity of the 

 hair, &c. To enumerate the different kinds, or mark 

 the discriminations by which each is distinguished, 

 would be a task as fruitless as it would be impossi- 

 ble ; to account for this wonderful variety, or inves- 

 tigate the character of the primitive stock from 

 which they have sprung would be equally vain.* 

 No systematic arrangement can therefore be adopt- 

 ed with confidence ; but it will be necessary to no- 

 tice those kinds most general and most useful to 

 mankind. 



35. Tlie Shepherd's Dog. 



This breed seems to have been the stem from 

 whence all the present numerous branches have 

 sprung. This is a very common dog, with long 

 coarse hair, pricked ears, a long nose; and takes his 

 name from being principally employed in guarding 

 and attending sheep. This breed of dogs, at pre- 

 sent, appears to be preserved in the greatest purity 

 in the northern parts of Scotland, where its aid is 

 highly necessary in managing the numerous herds 

 of sheep bred in those extensive wilds. 



34. The Cur-Bog. 



This useful animal in the north is called the 

 Coolly dog. They are chiefly employed in driving 



4. 



