THE MASTIFF 17 



it. " Idstone " derives the word from " Mase Theefe," or " Master 

 Theefe," because the dog was a terror to thieves, and this view was 

 adopted by Manwood in his Forest Laws. The Rev. M. B. Wynn 

 says the word is of Norman introduction, and he derives it from 

 " the Latin massivus, massa, a mass, and applied to the breed on 

 account of the thick-set, massive, or masty, form of the animal." 

 Skeat derives the word from the French Low Latin Latin, 

 and says : " Old French mas t if not found, but probably a variant 

 of O. F. mastin (French matin), a ' mastive ' ; Cotgrave. The Low 

 Latin form would be mastinus, doubtless short for masnatinus, i.e. 

 house-dog, from Low Latin masnata, a household." 



The general character of the breed is well described in the points 

 of the Mastiff of the Old English Mastiff Club : " Large, massive, 

 powerful, symmetrical, and well-knit frame. A combination of 

 grandeur and good nature, courage and docility." As a watch-dog 

 and as a guard to person or property, the Mastiff cannot be sur- 

 passed, nor, in fact, is his equal for these purposes to be found in 

 any other breed of dog. His size and great power are sufficient 

 to make any one cautious of entering premises where one of these 

 dogs is known to be kept, or interfering with any one accompanied 

 by a dog of this breed, whilst his docility and good temper render 

 him an excellent companion. Children may be trusted with a Mas- 

 tiff with safety, as he is very reliable in temper. Care must be taken 

 to select a dog of pure breed, as a cross-bred Mastiff is frequently 

 not to be depended on. He is the gamekeeper's best companion 

 and preserver from night marauders, and for this purpose a dark 

 brindled dog is preferable to a fawn, not being so easily seen at night. 



The average height of the Mastiff is about 3oin. for dogs, and 

 2 Sin. for bitches; but the larger they are, the better, provided 

 there is a proportionate increase in size throughout. A dog 

 which stands 33in. high must have a larger head, a deeper and 

 longer body, and possess more bone than one standing 3oin. 

 Extra height alone is not desirable. 



The recognised colours of the present day are apricot or silver 

 fawns and dark brindles, the red, which was to be met with some 

 years ago, having apparently died out. Black is also spoken of 

 as a Mastiff colour of bygone days, whilst blue-brindles are occasion- 

 ally to be met with in litters. It is a colour not to be encouraged 

 from a show point of view ; but the breeder will be wise in not 

 destroying puppies of this colour too hastily, for some of our best 

 dark brindles have been bred from bitches of this colour. It is 

 difficult to say whence this blue-brindle comes, but it has generally 

 occurred in litters of puppies whose parentage traces back to Mr. 

 Lindoe's Druid. The puppies when whelped are of a blue or slate 

 colour, and the brindle markings do not appear till later. These 

 dogs almost invariably possess light-coloured eyes. 



