The Newfoundland. 261 



in the island of Newfoundland, and I understand on good authority con- 

 tinues, and this obscures the interesting question, What was the 

 original breed of the island really like ? and prepares us for the very wide 

 difference and rather dogmatic expression of opinion on the subject by 

 gentlemen who have had the advantage of a residence there, and who have 

 afterwards joined in public discussion on the question. 



I remember some years ago, after the pleasures and fatigue of a 

 Wolverhampton Show, spending a most enjoyable evening with that 

 eminent and excellent judge Mr. William Lort, a friend, and a church- 

 warden (one of Sothern's Broseleys), when the former gentleman, who is 

 by no means a "talking machine," for once, opening the gateways of 

 his memory, gave us reminiscences of his Newfoundland life, so graphic 

 and brilliant in their delineations, as to hold us spellbound. Of course 

 the dogs were not forgotten, and I believe I am repeating in effect his 

 views that, although a variety of big mongrels were kept and used there, 

 those that the natives of the island looked on as the true breed were the 

 black or rusty black, with thick and shaggy coats, and corresponding 

 in all other points, although, from want of proper culture, inferior to 

 our best specimens of the day. 



Against this testimony I will quote a few other opinions. "Index," 

 who in the "Field," about nine years ago, wrote on this subject with 

 great pertinence, and evidently from personal observation, declared the 

 true breed to be of " an intense black colour," and "with a small streak of 

 white, which is upon the breast of ninety-nine out of every hundred 

 genuine dogs." 



Per contra " Otterstone," in the "Country," 6th January, 1876, says : 

 " The predominant colour of the ' Newfoundland proper 'is white. His 

 marks are nearly invariable, namely, a black head or face mark, a black 

 saddle mark, and the tip of the stern also black." "Otterstone" also 

 wrote from personal observation, I believe, of the dogs accepted as pure 

 Newfoundlands in Canada, and I might go on quoting from others, not 

 only about colour, but texture of coat, some holding it should be curly, 

 others wavy, others shaggy, and the height of the original is variously 

 stated as 24in. to 26in., up to 30in. to 32in. 



This, however, would only, I think, occupy unnecessary space. I 

 cannot, however, forego the pleasure of quotations from the " Sports- 

 man's Cabinet," published 1802, which I feel sure cannot fail to interest 



