The Mastiff. 239 



Measurements of Bulldogs 



Mr. J. W. Gurney's King Cole : Age, born 31st Dec., 1875 ; weight, 

 41ilb. ; height at shoulder, 14Jin. ; length from nose to set on of tail, 

 28in. ; length of tail, Gin. ; girth of chest, 26in. ; girth of loin, 18|in. ; 

 girth of head, 18|in. ; girth of forearm, 7^in. ; length of head from 

 occiput to tip of nose, 5Jin. ; girth of muzzle midway between eyes and 

 tip of nose, ll|in. ; length of nose, fin. ; width corner of inside of eye, in. 



Puppy, 4| months : Bound skull before ears, 13|in. ; height at 

 shoulder, ISJin. ; corner of eye to tip of nose, liin. ; tip of nose to top 

 of under lip, lin. ; depth of flew, Sin. ; weight, 201b. ; colour, white. 

 Pedigree : Slenderman out of Duchess ; Slenderman, Sir Anthony 

 Whuskie; Duchess, Turton'sCrib Whuskie. 



CHAPTER VIII. THE MASTIFF. 



BY CORSINCON. 



IT is not my intention to write a history of the old English mastiff, or to 

 attempt to trace his origin or prove him the indigenous dog of Britain. 

 Such a task would require more ability and research than I can devote to 

 it, whilst, if undertaken, it is doubtful if the result would be commen- 

 surate with the labour it would demand. 



I cannot, however, quite ignore that part of the subject, deeply 

 interesting as it is to all who admire the noble qualities of this breed, the 

 magnificent appearance of which seems to entitle it to "claims of long 

 descent." 



It is an undisputed fact that when the Eomans invaded these islands 

 they found the natives possessed of a fierce and powerful breed of dogs, 

 which they used in war, and during the Eoman occupation dogs con' 

 stituted a not inconsiderable article in the exportations of that period ; 

 and of such importance was this branch of commerce considered, that a 

 special officer was appointed by the emperors to superintend the selection 

 -and transmission of them. Some of these exported dogs were used by the 



