698 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



very useful as a retriever, and will fetch anything out 

 of the water. 



SECTION III. WATCH-DOGS. 



THE MASTIFF. 



The mastiff is a large and powerful dog, with a 

 large flat head, and rather long and pendulous ears ; 

 his forehead large and broad ; his muzzle wide and 

 obtuse, his lips are full, loose, the upper one hanging 

 considerably over the lower, at the two extremities of 

 the mouth ; his aspect is grave and somewhat sullen, 

 and his bark loud and deep-toned ; his chest is very 

 wide and deep ; his limbs strong, and the whole 

 muscles of his frame full and largely developed. 



There can be but little doubt but that the mastiff 

 is a truly British dog, and had his origin in this 

 country. We are borne out in this opinion by find- 

 ing that, at so early a period as the time of the 

 Roman empire, this country was celebrated on account 

 of its dogs of this kind ; and at the period when 

 Great Britain was under the Roman yoke, an officer 

 was appointed to live here, whose sole business was 

 to breed, select, and send to Rome such as promised, 

 by their size and strength, to become fit for the 

 combats of the amphitheatre. Dr Caius informs us 

 that three mastiffs were reckoned a match for a bear, 

 and four for a lion. 



From the large size and commanding aspect of the 

 mastiff, he is naturally calculated to intimidate 

 strangers ; consequently is peculiarly well suited for 

 the protection of large and extensive premises ; and 

 he watches them with the most scrupulous care and 

 assiduity. He is so instinctively impressed with the 

 importance of his charge, that he will lose his lite 



