THE BULL-DOG*. 



THE Bull-Dog is remarkable for the undaunted 

 and savage pertinacity with which he will provoke 

 and continue a combat with other animals; and, 

 when once he has fixed his bite, it is not without 

 extreme difficulty that he can be disengaged from 

 his antagonist. He is oftentimes fierce and cruel ; 

 and seems to possess very little of the generosity 

 of disposition so remarkable and so celebrated in 

 the Dog species. He frequently makes his attack 

 without giving the least previous warning, and 

 often without that discrimination of persons or 

 animals which we observe in most other Dogs. 



The Bull-Dog, as well as the Mastiff, is almost 

 peculiar to England ; and the breed seems to have 

 been chiefly encouraged for the baiting of Bulls. 

 This ferocious practice, thanks to the increasing 

 humanity and civilization of the people, is, how- 

 ever, now on the decline; and, consequently, Bull- 

 Dogs are at present much less numerous than they 

 were formerly. 



* Canis familiar i s molossus. Linnxus. Le Dogue. Btiffbn. 

 See the Synopsis, p. 20, No. 9, VAR. 11. 



THE 



