THE MASTIFF. 575 



showed general symmetry and vigor, and were succeeded 

 by the " Crown Prince dispensation" of puggy, undershot 

 muzzles, straight hocks, flabby obesity, and lack of vigor. 

 I do not mean to say that at any of these periods either 

 type was universal; but it is certain that during the later 

 years the rage was for certain peculiarities, and dogs riot 

 conforming to the dictates of the fashion were, in the 

 vernacular of dog shows, "no Mastiffs." Vandyke's and 

 Bingley's pictures only teach us that there were such dogs, 

 but we do not know whether the majority of the breed 

 then existing was of similar type; in fact, it is reasonable 

 to assume that there was no such thing as "type" a hun- 

 dred years ago. In those days, breeders bred only for 

 specific use, and the appearance of the animal was a 

 matter of little importance. 



The early history of the Mastiff in America is a broken 

 chapter, enveloped in a good deal of doubt. Of course 

 Mastiffs were imported into the Colonies in early days, 

 just as any other breed might have been, but their 

 blood soon became mingled with that of the average dog 

 of the land, and for years no pure strains were bred. New 

 Englanders imported many, but, unfortunately, they were 

 not careful as to the pedigrees they got with the animals, 

 and the result is that "New England pedigrees" are an 

 amusing study for their complications, and one is often 

 puzzled to know whether the pedigree is a blundering 

 fraud or an honest mistake. Messrs. Milliken, Kelly, Bow- 

 ditch, and others imported dogs as early as the eighteenth 

 century, some of which must have been of considerable 

 merit; but as far as the value of their pedigrees is con- 

 cerned, they are equal to u By dog ex bitch." A Mr. 

 Lloyd Phoenix, of New York City, at an early day, im- 

 ported a litter brother of the famous Champion King, and 

 a black bitch, from the noted dealer Bill George, and there 

 can be no doubt as to the honesty of this transaction, 

 George being above suspicion; but, unfortunately, he pre- 

 served no records of what became of the dogs, or what 

 offspring they left. Colonel Gamier brought a pair with 



