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2 The Collie or Sheep Dog. 



animals were powerful and numerous, the shepherds' dogs 

 were and are big and strong in proportion ; whilst here, 

 following the extinction of the wolf, the sheep dogs gradually 

 came to lose their ferocity ; and nature, as usual, producing 

 the fittest for the purpose, gave us the sagacious and hand- 

 some creature which, in a somewhat improved form, survives 

 at the present time. The huge dogs of Thibet, more mastiff- 

 like in appearance than anything else, form a connecting 

 link between the modern sheep dog and his historic ancestor, 

 when the latter was expected to perform the treble duty 

 already mentioned as required of him. And many of the 

 wandering, pastoral tribes in parts of Asia and elsewhere, 

 have their shepherds' dogs as big and strong and ferocious 

 as they can be made. Much of their sagacity is thus lost ; 

 and even where the flocks form the chief wealth of the 

 country, we look in vain for that almost human knowledge 

 and extraordinary instinct found in the common sheep dog 

 of the British Isles. 



More frequently seen in this country than are those of 

 Thibet, we find the so-called Pyrenean sheep dogs which 

 from time to time appear at our leading dog shows. Here 

 again have we a large, powerful, and handsome animal with 

 sufficient strength, if he possesses the courage, to success- 

 fully cope with any wolf that may feel inclined to pick off 

 one of his master's sheep. The Pyrenean dog, like his 

 cousin of Thibet, is produced of the character best fitted 

 to be useful to the shepherd on his native mountains. This 

 dog not only is required to prevent the flock from becoming 

 scattered, but to guard it from the depredations of wolves 

 and foxes, which are by no means uncommon. The Pyrenean 

 sheep (or guard) dogs seen here are probably about 8olb. 

 or over in weight, mostly white in colour, with fawn or 



