DOGS. 95 



wlieel in his stead ; but crying and wagging his tail, 

 he intimated that those in attendance should first follow 

 him. He immediately conducted them to a garret, 

 where he dislodged the idle dog, and killed him im- 

 mediately.' The following occurrence at the Jesuits' 

 College at Fleche, shows that others of the species have 

 kept the turnspit to this disagreeable duty. When the 

 cook had prepared the meat for roasting, he found that 

 the dog which should have wrought the spit had dis- 

 appeared. He attempted to employ another, but it bit 

 his leg and fled. Soon after, however, the refractory 

 dog entered the kitchen, driving before him the truant 

 turnspit, which immediately, of its own accord, went 

 into the wheel. A company of turnspits were assem- 

 bled in the Abbey Church of Bath, where they remained 

 very quietly. At one part of the service, however, the 

 word ' spit ' was pronounced rather loudly. This re- 

 minded the dogs of their duty ; and they all rushed out 

 in a body, to go to their respective dwellings. 



From the word 'Spanish' being often prefixed to 

 the name of the Pointer, it is supposed that these dogs 

 came to us from the Peninsula ; but as all dogs came 

 from the East, their more ancient origin is to be as- 

 cribed to the Phoanicians, who brought them, not only 

 to that country, but probably to England, although 

 many think they were not known here before 1688. 



In consequence of long training, the peculiar faculty 

 of pointing at game has become an innate quality on 

 their part : young dogs inherit it, and they only require 

 that discipline which is necessary to make all puppies 

 behave themselves. If we look at a pointer, the first 

 remark which naturally arises is, that he is a large, 

 indolent hound. He is, however, extremely docile and 



