The Bulldog. 223 



dogs were, in the last days of the sport, bred impure, the favourite cross 

 being with a eolley (bearing to the pure breed the same relation that the 

 lurcher or poacher's dog bears to the pure greyhound), and always "ran 

 cunning." It is also stated that a dog of about 401b. was sometimes able 

 not merely to pin a bull, but to throw it on its side. Another informant, 

 on whose word I can rely, related to me the following occurence, which 

 he witnessed : Some cattle were being driven through a butcher's shop in 

 London, when one broke away from the rest, and could not be driven 

 through the door. The butcher called his bulldog, described as of the 

 old-fashioned type, about 451b., which had been quietly watching the 

 proceedings from the side of the shop, and the dog rushed immediately 

 and seized the beast by the nose, and dragged it forcibly through the 

 shop into the yard at the back. 



The distinguishing characteristics of the bulldog are (as given in the 

 ancient descriptions of the alaunt) a short nose, a large and massive head, 

 and a " broad mouth " the latter the most essential of all other points 

 and a sine qua non. The larger the head in circumference (caused by 

 the prominent cheeks), the greater the quantity of muscle to hold the 

 jaws together; the shorter the snout and jaws, the more powerful the 

 grasp (as in a vice or pair of pincers) ; the broader and flatter the mouth 

 in front, laterally, the larger and broader the grip taken. The under jaw 

 projects beyond the upper, to enable the dog when running directly to the 

 front to grasp the bull, and, when fixed, to give him a firmer hold ; the 

 lower jaw, being very thick and strong, makes the mouth appear curved 

 upwards across the middle of the face. The top of the nose inclines 

 backwards, so as to allow free passage of the air into the nostrils whilst 

 the dog was " holding." It is apparent that, if the mouth does not pro- 

 ject beyond the nose, but that if the jaws and nose were even (" level "), 

 the nostrils would be flat against the part to which the dog was fixed, and 

 breathing would then be stopped. The dog is really then not a bulldog to 

 all intents and purposes. Bulldogs, especially tha large and new types, 

 are frequently seen with this defective formation, which is termed "frog- 

 faced " and " down-faced," and this formation should deprive the dog of 

 all claim to compete as a pure bred bulldog, and disqualify it entirely for 

 show purposes. The body of the dog is (like that of man) broad and deep 

 in the shoulders and chest, and small in the waist, the forelegs appearing 

 short on account of the deep chest and muscular shoulders. The back 



