THE MASTIFFS. 223 



care of breeding these animals on the spot, in 

 order to forward a proper number to the capital. 



Although, from the size of the head, the cerebral 

 part of the cranium appears to be ample, so much 

 of the space is made up of the powerful muscles of 

 the jaws and temples, that in reality the brain is 

 much confined, and the animals themselves are far 

 below the spaniel, and other varieties, in intelli- 

 gence and sagacity, and their confidence in the 

 arms and vigour they possess makes them disregard 

 the resources of cunning; hence they are sedate, 

 little irascible; when provoked, they attack in 

 front, without much precaution, with little or no 

 menacing barking, and often with the desire of 

 conquest only, refusing to bite a prostrate foe. 

 They have the instinct of property, being excellent 

 guardians of farms and house-yards, and have a 

 strong, but not obtrusive attachment to their mas- 

 ters. The acute sense of smelling is not imparted 

 to them, but they have it often in a degree far su- 

 perior to what is the common opinion. 



The Mastiff (C. urcanus). Although Great Bri- 

 tain was celebrated in remote ages for her noble 

 breed of dogs, the typical mastiff is more likely to 

 be the dog of Tibet than any of the West, because 

 in that breed we find the traits described by Oppian 

 still fully retained. 



