THE BULL-DOG. 229 



studded leather, which were used, along with a 

 spiked collar, for some valuable dogs to engage the 

 boar or wolf, and protected them effectually; in- 

 deed such a defence, where the breed was scarce, 

 may have been necessary, from the unceremonious 

 mode of attacking, and indomitable pertinacity the 

 dogs evince when once excited; never letting go 

 the hold they have, even if mutilated, as if there 

 was some spasm in the jaws to prevent their un- 

 locking. The bull-dog differs from all others, even 

 from the mastiff, in giving no warning of his attack 

 by barking ; he grapples his opponent without in 

 the least estimating their comparative weight or 

 powers. We have seen one pinning an American 

 bison and holding his nose down, till the animal 

 gradually brought forward its hind feet, and, crush- 

 ing the dog to death, tore his muzzle out of the 

 fangs, most dreadfully mangled. "We have known 

 another hallooed on to attack a disabled eagle ; the 

 bird, unable to escape, threw himself on the back, 

 and, as the dog sprang at his throat, struck him 

 with his claws, one of which penetrating the skull, 

 killed him instantly, and caused the butcher, his 

 master, the loss of a valued animal, and one hun- 

 dred dollars in the wager. We may safely reject 

 the accounts of the mastiff or bull-dog engaging 

 with success such a huge and wary animal as the 

 elephant, with the circumstances described by clas- 

 sical writers ; a dog cannot reach any tender part, 

 and if it comes between his legs, the elephant has 

 a mode of kicking alternately with the four, in such 



