202 THE CUR DOGS. 



purpose. No dog is more intelligent or attached to 

 his master ; none like the poodle can trace out and 

 find lost property with more certainty and perse- 

 verance. Several instances are on record of their 

 remaining on the field of battle by the dead bodies 

 of their masters, and Mr. Bell relates an anecdote of 

 one who perceived his owner had dropped a gold 

 coin, and watched it so carefully that he even 

 refused food until the money was recovered. 



The Little Barbet is a diminutive breed, with 

 smooth and long silky hair on the head, ears, and 

 tail, while the rest is more curly ; and 



The Griffon Dog is said to be a cross of the 

 water-dog and sheep-dog. It resembles the former, 

 but the ears are slightly raised ; the hair is long, 

 not curled, but gathers in pencils; the colour is 

 usually black, with tan spots on the eyes and feet ; 

 the lips are clad with long hair. 



The Lion Dog is a small variety, with the head, 

 ears, and shoulders covered by long, curly, and soft 

 hair, and a floccose tail ; the rest of the body, like 

 the lion, being proportionably clad in smooth fur. 

 This variety is extremely rare. 



THE CUR DOGS. 



Canes domesticii. 



WE have already shown, that in the western conti- 

 nent there were several races of indigenous small 

 dogs before the arrival of the Spaniards, but whether 



