34 The Collie or Sheep Dog. 



well-trained collies will do as much work as a dozen men ; 

 indeed, in many instances bipeds could not go through the 

 task these hardly-wrought and carefully-trained quadrupeds 

 pursue day after day. And they perform their labour so 

 quietly, too ; no hurry and bustle, no biting or barking, the 

 sheep know they have met their master when they have a 

 good dog to drive them. 



Many writers have, from time to time, eulogised the 

 sheep dog both in prose and poetry. Peter Pindar has 

 in the latter touchingly related the love that existed 

 between the old shepherd's dog and his old master, both 

 grey with age, still " happy in love did they hobble along ; " 

 and when the poor dog lay down to rise no more, and 

 dying licking Corin's hand, we are told 



Not long after Tray did the shepherd remain, 

 Who oft o'er his grave with true sorrow would bend ; 

 And when dying, thus feebly was heard the poor swain, 

 " O bury me, neighbours, beside my poor friend." 



Robert Burns, like almost all his countrymen, was much 

 endeared to the collies of his native land, and in his " Twa 

 Dogs," one of which came from the island where " sailors 

 fish for cod ; " the other Luath, one of his own fancy, has 

 its character admirably described as follows : 



He was a gash and faithfu' tyke 

 As ever lap a sleugh or dyke. 

 His honest, sonsie, bausint face 

 Aye gat him friends in ilka place. 

 His breast was white, his towzie back 

 Weel clad wi' coat o' glossy black. 

 His gawkie tail, wi' upward curl, 

 Hung ower his hurdies wi' a swurl. 



Sir Walter Scott might have given us some of his verses 

 in honour of the sheepdog, instead of doing so much to 



