THE MASTIFF. 35 



lion in such cases must be reduced in strength, courage, and 

 activity, by subjection, close captivity, and a cold climate. 

 It is, therefore, impossible to ascertain, in that way, how 

 many Mastiffs would be able to cope successfully with the 

 undaunted monarch of the forest, in his native fierceness, 

 and under the (to him) exhilarating influence of the tropical 

 sun. The Mastiff, conscious of the superiority of his 

 strength, has been known to chastise with great dignity the 

 insults or impertinence of his inferiors. Instance the fol- 

 lowing. An animal of this kind, belonging to a gentleman 

 near Newcastle, had been frequently teased and molested 

 by the barking of a little mongrel, to which, for some time, 

 he paid no attention ; but at length, wearied with such im- 

 pertinence, he took up the contemptible offender in his mouth, 

 and walking majestically to the edge of the wharf, he coolly 

 dropped it into the river, without doing it further injury. 



The following short account of the Alpine Mastiff will 

 be found interesting. The Alps are very high moun- 

 tains, the tops of which are covered with snow at all sea- 

 sons. The traveller, in passing over them, often encoun- 

 ters severe storms, which occur suddenly, in the midst of 

 very fine days. The wind blows fiercely, and drifts of 

 snow with very large pieces of ice are thrown down on 

 the road, occasionally burying a village under them. On 

 one of these mountains live some very good men, called the 

 Monks of St. Bernard, and they, in stormy weather, go out 

 to assist any poor traveller they can find. They take with 

 them these noble mastiffs, who run on and scent any per- 

 son buried under the snow, when they howl to direct the 

 monks to the place, who dig the poor traveller out, and 

 having conveyed him home, they take care of him until 

 again able to pursue his journey. 



