566 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



The St. Bernard has frequently been utilized as a 

 retriever, and it is believed by many that with proper 

 training he would excel in this class of work. A writer in 

 the Kennel Gazette gives interesting and valuable testi- 

 mony on this point. He says: 



I had just put together my belongings preparatory to starting for Scotland 

 in the evening. My friend with whom I was staying had kindly promised 

 that during my absence he would take care of a valuable St. Bernard bitch 

 (sister to Plinlimmon) which had recently been given to me, and, as though 

 conscious of our impending parting, Midge, who had become greatly attached 

 to me, lay at my feet, from time to time casting upward such beseeching 

 glances as only our affectionate dumb pets are capable of. As the afternoon 

 wore on, and during the early evening, the dog closely followed my every move- 

 ment, almost appearing to ask that she might accompany me, until at the last 

 moment I decided to take her. 



The first outburst of cordial greeting which welcomed me as I drove up 

 to the house of my friend was somewhat toned down upon the appearance of 

 my pet. I saw at once I had brought a visitor by no means popular in a sport- 

 ing establishment, but trusted that time might make matters smooth; nor 

 was I mistaken, for the dog's very looks soon worked wonders. Days went 

 happily by, and with Midge for my companion, I rambled by the river, rod in 

 hand, she upon occasion leaving me to flog some pet stream while she took 

 small hunting excursions on her own account. J noticed on several occasions 

 that she became wondrous keen at the sound of a gun, and found one had only 

 to raise a gun to one's shoulder to put her at once upon the alert. 



One day I had gone up to a loch for a day's trouting, and while I was 

 thus occupied two friends went to the upper end of it in quest of ducks. It 

 was with some difficulty that I prevented Midge from following them, and 

 later on her uneasiness at the sound of each shot and her efforts to jump over 

 the side of the boat gave rise to such anathemas as might well have sunk a 

 less sturdy craft. After some time we were nearing the spot where the shooters 

 were, and when we got to within some three or four hundred yards of them a 

 duck was duly brought down, at sight of which Midge broke away from me, 

 swam to the bird, a considerable distance, retrieved it in perfect form, 

 without disturbing a feather. 



Later in the day other chances presented themselves, the results being 

 always satisfactory, and especially so in one or two instances where a less 

 powerful dog would have been utterly unequal to making his way through 

 the thick reeds and sedge. Now, to me it seems that with very little training 

 these really well-bred St. Bernards might be most useful in the field in such 

 situations as I have mentioned, and over heavy, marshy ground, and I send the 

 above account, not desiring to claim more for them than they deserve, but to 

 meet the assertions many people make that these large dogs are treacherous 

 and useless pets to have about a place. I may, in conclusion, say that to her 

 other accomplishments Midge adds that of poacher-hunting, having on one 



