THE BULLDOG. 



BY JOHN E. THAYER. 



can be no doubt that the Bulldog belongs to 

 one of the oldest races of dogs. This breed is accu- 

 rately described in Edmond De Langley' s ' c Mayster 

 of Game," under the name of " Alaunt." This manuscript 

 is now in the British Museum. To the Bulldog many of 

 our most popular breeds owe some of their best qualities, 

 such as courage and endurance, and nearly every species of 

 the canine race has at one time or another been crossed with 

 the Bulldog in order to strengthen it in some way. 



The Bulldog has always been highly prized by the Eng- 

 lish people, on account of his great courage and endurance; 

 and, indeed, he has "become so identified with them as to 

 be frequently used to typify their national character." 



In the reign of James I. , bull-baiting was at its height. 

 It was a favorite pastime for all classes of people, and it 

 was this sport that first brought the Bulldog into promi- 

 nence. A dog that could bring a bull to the ground was in 

 great demand, and nearly every butcher in the kingdom had 

 one trained to this work. It was claimed that the meat of 

 a bull that had been "baited " was much finer than that of 

 those which had not been, and consequently few bulls were 

 slaughtered that were not first subjected to this cruel 

 ordeal. 



The Bulldog took readily to bull-baiting, it being 

 natural for him to run at the head of any animal he 

 attacks, and after pinning him, to remain there as if glued. 

 So tightly does he hold that there have been instances 

 known where the bull has torn the body of the dog from 

 the head and yet the head has clung to the bull. 



The dog would creep up to the bull, seize him by the 



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