THE MASTIFF. 



243 



THE MASTIFF, which is the largest and most powerful of the indigenous English Dogs, is 

 of a singularly mild and placid temper, seeming to delight in employing its great powers in 

 affording protection to the weak, whether they be men or Dogs. It is averse to inflicting an 

 injury upon a smaller animal, even when it has been sorely provoked, and either looks down 

 upon its puny tormentor with sovereign disdain, or inflicts just sufficient punishment to indi- 

 cate the vast strength which it could employ, but which it would not condescend to waste 

 upon so insignificant a foe. 



Yet, with all this nobility of its gentle nature, it is a most determined and courageous 

 animal in fight, and, when defending its master or his property, becomes a foe which few 

 opponents would like to face. These qualifications of mingled courage and gentleness adapt 

 it especially for the service of watch-dog, a task in which the animal is as likely to fail by 

 overweening zeal as by neglect of its duty. It sometimes happens that a watch-dog is too 



MASTIFF.- Cants famUiarie. 



hasty in its judgment, and attacks a harmless stranger, on the supposition that it is resisting 

 the approach of an enemy. Sometimes the bull-dog strain is mixed with the Mastiff, in order 

 to add a more stubborn courage to the animal ; but in the eyes of good judges this admixture 

 is quite unnecessary. 



It has already been mentioned that the Mastiff is fond of afl^rding the benefit of its pro- 

 tection to those who need it. As, however, the Dog is but a Dog after all, it sometimes brings 

 evil instead of good upon those who accept its guardianship. 



During my school-boy days, a large Mastiff, called Nelson, struck up a great friendship 

 with myself and some of my school-fellows, and was accustomed to partake of our hebdomadal 

 banquets at the pastry-cook' s shop, and to accompany ias in our walks. One summer, as we 

 were bathing in the Dove, a man pounced upon our clothes, and would have carried them off, 

 had it not been for the opportune assistance of some older lads of the same school, who captured 

 the offender after a smart chase, and tossed him into the river until he was fain to cry for 

 mercy. 



In order to prevent a repetition of a similar mischance, we determined to take Nelson with 

 us, and put him in charge of our clothes. The old Dog was delighted at the walk, and 



