THE MASTIFF 699 



rather than abandon it. But with this commanding 

 aspect, he possesses qualities of the best kind. He 

 is remarkable for the great mildness of his disposition, 

 when disencumbered of his charges, and is as solicitous 



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to gain attention, and as faithfully grateful for favours, 

 as the most diminutive of the canine race. 



The mastiff has one peculiarity in his character 

 which seems inherent : his ferocity is always increased 

 by the degree of restraint under which he is kept. If 

 kept constantly on the chain, his temper is irritable 

 and ferocious, and it is consequently dangerous for a 

 stranger to approach him ; from whence it evidently 

 appears, that what may be considered a friendly kind- 

 ness on one side, is always productive of confidence on 

 the other. He seems conscious of his own great 

 strength, power, and authority, and will seldom con- 

 descend to lower his dignity by servile fawning, while 

 he appears to consider his services as only befitting a 

 trust of the highest importance. This dog is natur- 

 ally possessed of strong instinctive sensibility, speedily 

 obtains a knowledge of all the duties required of him, 

 and discharges them too with the most punctual 

 assiduity. In the protection of houses, woodyards, 

 gardens, and widely-extended manufactories, his 

 vigilance is very striking : he makes regular rounds 

 of the whole premises like a watchman, examines 

 every part of them with a careful eye : his pene- 

 tration reaches even the remotest corner, and not a 

 spot is passed by until he is satisfied that all is in a 

 state of perfect security. During the night he gives 

 a signal of his presence by repeated and vociferous 

 barkings, which are increased upon the least cause 

 of alarm ; and, contrary to the spirit of the bull-dog, 

 whose invariable practice is to bite before he barks, 

 the mastiff always warns before he attacks. 



