THE NEWFOUNDLAND 57 



told of lives saved from sea and river by the intelligence and 

 bravery of this noble dog. 



The Newfoundland undoubtedly had its full share of public 

 attention, and long before dog shows were in existence, or the finely 

 drawn distinctions respecting " points " were called into being, he 

 reigned paramount in the affections of the British public as a 

 companion, an ornament, and a guard. But in those days every 

 man had his own ideal standard of excellence, or borrowed a 

 suitable one from a doggy friend, the suitability being insured by 

 alteration sufficient to make it applicable to his own pet a process 

 not yet entirely obsolete. 



Many of these large, so-called Newfoundland dogs of forty-five 

 to sixty years ago had been imported, or were the immediate 

 descendants of such ; but they differed materially in colour, coat, 

 and in other minor points, from each other, and still more from 

 what in this country is now held to be the Newfoundland proper. 



There was a decided difference between dogs imported from 

 Newfoundland into Liverpool some fifty years ago, though by their 

 importers each believed to be the pure breed. The difference, 

 however, was more in the sort of coat and the colour than in the 

 other marked characteristics of the breed, which they all had in 

 common with the recognised dog of the day. 



The decided differences then existing in these dogs in this 

 country was also common in those of the Island of Newfoundland, 

 and still continues ; 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. 



Many years ago the late Mr. William Lort (who spent some 

 portion of his early life in Newfoundland), in giving some reminiscences 

 to a few friends, referred to the dogs. He said 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 may be quoted the opinion of " Index," 

 who in the Field, nearly a quarter of a century ago, wrote on this 

 subject with great pertinence, and, evidently from personal observa- 

 tion, declared the true breed to be of " an intense black colour," 

 and " with a small streak of white, which is upon the breasts of 

 ninety-nine out of every hundred genuine dogs." 



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

 says : " The predominant colour of the * Newfoundland proper ' 



