THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 



Having now brought to a termination our notices of 

 those birds which come properly under the denomina- 

 tion of game, as also our outlines of the natural his- 

 tory and characteristic properties of the dogs used in 

 their pursuit, we will proceed to the second portion of 

 our work ; prefacing it, and closing the first part with 

 a brief sketch of an animal, not absolutely connected 

 with either, but whose eminent sagacity, and peculiar 

 aptitude for the service of man, render him a most 

 useful agent, both to the game and the wild-fowl 

 shooter. 



Of all dogs, take him in the aggregate, the New- 

 foundland {Canis terra fiovce) is, perhaps, the most 

 generally sagacious. We have found him, beyond others 

 of the sub genus canis, gentle, teachable, and useful. 

 It is our opinion, that, in most cases, he might 

 be made the most valuable of sporting dogs, — his 

 intelligence, or instinct, if such, indeed, it merely 

 be, appearing to be called into action in a greater 

 variety of instances than in any other dog, except 

 the original mountain, or shepherd, dog. As a re- 

 triever, he possesses a quality of unquestionable 

 value, — that of mouthing his game without breaking 

 it ; and, as we have before said, he may be brought 

 into the field mth pointers, without inteifering with 

 their pro\ince. As a watch- dog, his fidelity is pro- 

 verbial. We, ourselves, possessed a dog of this species. 



