150 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. CH. XXIX. 



always taking something, more or less, from his 

 strength and injuring his constitution. When 

 standing waiting for ducks in cold weather the poor 

 animal has no means of drying or warming him- 

 self, and lies shivering at your feet, and laying up 

 the foundation of rheumatism and other maladies. 

 A dog who has much water-work to do should 

 always be kept in good condition, and, if possible, 

 even fat. It is a mistake to suppose that allowing 

 him to come into the house and warm himself 

 before the fire makes him less hardy ; on the con- 

 trary, I consider that getting warm and comfortable 

 before the kitchen fire on coming home gives the 

 retriever a better chance of keeping up his strength, 

 health, and energy, when much exposed to cold and 

 wet during the day ; a far better chance, indeed, 

 than if, on returning, he is put into a cold kennel, 

 where, however well supplied with straw, hours 

 must elapse before he is thoroughly warm and 

 dry. Most rough dogs stand cold well enough as 

 long as they are tolerably dry, but frequent wet- 

 ting is certain to cause disease and rheumatism. 

 I am sure too, with regard to water dogs, that a 

 good covering of fat is a far more efficacious 

 means of keeping them warm than the roughest 

 coat of hair that dog ever wore. In wild animals, 

 such as otters, seals, etc., which are much exposed 



