560 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



no more the case in the St. Bernard than in the Collie. The idea originates, 

 undoubtedly, from the fact that the monks use smooth-coats only. 



It is not generally known that, as far back as there is any history of the 

 breed, rough coaled puppies were found in litters from smooth-coated parents. 

 Such was the case long before the Newfoundland made its appearance in 

 Switzerland. The monks, however, had no use for long-haired puppies, and 

 hence gave them to their friends and patrons. Since the breed has become so 

 well known, they have sold many of them at round figures, thus making their 

 kennels more or less self-supporting. In view of the above-stated facts, the 

 question arises, How is it that some of the progeny of smooth-coats have long 

 coats? Those of your readers who have visited the mountain fastnesses of the 

 Alps, where the winter lasts from September until May, and where during 

 the remaining four months it is cold, or those who have traveled or lived in 

 the Northwest, and know what snow-storms and blizzards are, will readily 

 understand that neither a Pointer nor a Setter would be comfortable in either 

 place, out of doors, in a stormy winter's day. Not only would they not 

 be comfortable, but in many instances it would be certain death to them. 

 And why? Because the Pointer's coat would be no protection to him and the 

 Setter's would be a detriment, Sportsmen know that if a Setter while in the 

 field gets full of burs, he will, game or no game, sit down and endeavor to 

 free himself from them. While so doing his attention is entirely centered on 

 himself. He would do the same should his legs and feet get so full of ice or 

 frozen snow as to hinder him in his movements. In respect to the Mastiff and 

 Newfoundland, the case would almost be a similar one, as far as coat is con- 

 cerned, except that the Newfoundland, if he be of the curly-coated variety, 

 would be still worse off than the Setter with his flat coat. The Mastiff and 

 Newfoundland, however, would have greater size and strength in their favor. 



The kind of a coat, therefore, that is needed for mountain service is 

 exactly that found in the short-haired mountain St. Bernard neither too short 

 nor too long, dense and smooth, such as is called ' ' stock-haarig " in Switzer- 

 land; a coat that will be a protection in the coldest weather, and yet short 

 enough to prevent its being clogged by snow and ice. Whether this coat was 

 produced by systematic crossing of short-haired and long-haired dogs, or 

 whether it is a freak of nature, I can not say; but I am inclined to believe the 

 former, on account of the frequent appearance of rough-coated puppies in 

 litters fiom smooth-coats, and vice versa. In other words, the difference in 

 coat in the breeds from which the St. Bernard has its origin continues to mani- 

 fest itself in the progeny. Nature has no doubt done its part also, for we find in 

 dogs bred in the mountains a much denser coat than in dogs bred in the low- 

 lands; and, as the under coat is shed in summer, so the coat becomes shorter 

 and lighter in St. Bernards transported from their mountain home into a 

 warmer zone. 



As to the distinction that is made in this country between the short-haired 

 and long-haired variety (not breed), one can not go wrong in following the 

 custom that prevails in Switzerland and England. Apart from the difference 

 in coat, there are slight differences between the two species; yet the type is the 

 same, and it is certainly advisable to separate them at shows, as is done with 



