226 



except the nobility which necessarily keen senses, especially that of smell, 

 comes from education. The tail always Among these are the Pointers, the Ger- 

 droops, never curling upwards as in the man Bloodhounds, the Staghounds, the 

 domestic dogs, and even when tamed Beagles, and the Foxhound. This last is 

 they rarely wag the tail. Among the justly considered the greatest of hunting 

 wolves may be mentioned the jackals of dogs, possessing the speed of the grey- 

 Asia, which are said to have entered hound, the courage of the bulldog, the 

 largely into the breeds of oriental dogs, delicate scent of the bloodhound and the 

 These were known to the ancients as sagacity of the poodle, he is well equipped 

 "gold wolves, "and are said to be the foxes for his duties in field and forest, 

 whose tails Samson set on fire in order Probably no two dogs have so en- 

 to burn the fields and vineyards of the deared themselves to mankind as the St. 

 Philistines. The Indian wild dog, or Bernard and the Newfoundland. Both 

 "Kolsun" is claimed by many to be the of these, together with the Spaniels, Set- 

 progenitor of all domesticated dogs. He ters and the sagacious Poodles make up 

 closely resembles a greyhound, and is the Spaniel group. While as a class they 

 found all over the Himalaya and East In- are not remarkable for docility or endur- 

 dia country. He exhibits many traits ance, these defects are more than corn- 

 characteristic of our hunting dogs. pensated by a superior intelligence, fidel- 

 Prominent among several distinctive ity, courage, keen scent and great speed, 

 and familiar breeds of dogs is the Grey- Much has been written about the quali- 

 hound, which while graceful and univer- ties of the Newfoundlands and St. Ber- 

 sally popular as a pet, and a sporting dog, nards. The first are said to be the best 

 is unfaithful and unsympathetic. The of all water dogs, possessed of great 

 great lung capacity gives the animal un- beauty and an exceptional fund of good 

 usual endurance, but while possessed of nature, gentleness and gratitude. The 

 keen sight and hearing, the sense of smell heroic deeds of the others are inseparably 

 is very deficient. The Mastiffs constitute linked with their native home, the 

 another group embracing many of the fa- Hospice of St. Bernard. The intelli- 

 miliar forms. Among these are the Dan- gence and courage exhibited by these 

 ish dog, the German Mastiffs, the Bulldog dogs among the avalanches and frozen 

 and the Pug. With the exception of the wastes of their mountain homes have 

 Pug, which is justly called a caricature of given them a place in history and earned 

 a dog, the group is remarkable for fidel- for them the title of "The worthiest of 

 ity, courage, determination and strength, them all." 



Great Britain is the home of the Hounds The Setter, which is illustrated in this 



which, because of their intelligence and article, is an excellent type of a certain 



docility, are considered to be in the first class of the Spaniels. The animal is an 



rank of domestic dogs. All the varieties excellent hunting dog and gains its name 



of this group are born hunters, being from its habit of crouching close to the 



strong, swift and possessed of unusually ground when pointing game. 



Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to-night! 

 Christmas in lands of the fir-tree and pine, 

 Christmas in lands of the palm-tree and vine. 

 Christmas where snow-peaks stand solemn and white, 

 Christmas where corn-fields lie sunny and bright, 

 Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to-night ! 



-Phillips Brooks, "A Christmas Carol.' 



