320 



DOG. 



it would be a very curious inquiry, but, unfortunately, 

 we have not sufficient data for such an investigation ; 

 but, though we are not acquainted with the means by 

 which mankind has been enabled so to degrade 

 the more generous and noble qualities of the dog, as 

 they are found a great deal in these races, yet there 

 is no reason to doubt that the degradation is the 

 result of human interference. Still, it is a curious 

 matter, that not only the form of the head, and the 

 shortness of the muzzle, but that the whole structure 

 and appearance of the animals, which, judging from 

 what we see in nature, are artificial, should have been 

 altered so as to suit this apparently impressed and 

 unnatural habit. We have no means of unravelling 

 the mystery ; but really it is a curious matter, that, 

 along with a cessation of swiftness in the chace, or 

 play as a companion, there should have been imparted 

 to those dogs a strength of body, and a shortness of 

 muzzle, which are not possessed by any of the rest ; 

 and these qualities are accompanied by a correspond- 

 ing expression in the eye and hair of the animals. In 

 the larger kinds, both eye and hair express ferocity, 

 while in the smaller ones the expression is that of 

 indifference or stupidity ; and both have the body 

 much more thickly set, the chest wider, and the legs 

 farther apart, than in those of either of the former 

 divisions. There is also a distinctive character in the 

 very covering. None of them have that smooth 

 lengthened and curly hair which is so pretty in the 

 smaller spaniels, and so graceful in the larger ones 

 and the Newfoundland dogs ; neither have they that 

 smoothness and gloss which we observe in the 

 terriers (with the exception of the Scotch one), 

 which, of all dogs of the former divisions, perhaps 

 make the nearest approach to the present division, 

 though they far excel them in sagacity. The charac- 

 ter of the head is especially worthy of notice. In 

 every dog of the two former divisions, of what breed 

 soever he may be, and whether pure or mongrel, 

 there is a pleasing expression in that part ; and even 

 in those species, such as the greyhound, which are 

 the least intelligent, there is always some speculation 

 in the eye something in the look of the animal, 

 which speaks kindness and companionship ; but a 

 dog of this short-nosed species, though he follows his 

 master, feeds at his expense, and fights desperately 

 for or with him, in good cause or in bad, merely 

 glares upon the observer, and has no speculation in 

 his eyes. His services as a guardian or a warrior 

 may procure him respect ; but his own looks do not 

 put in any thing like the same claim to kindness or 

 society, which is solicited by a single glance from the 

 other dogs. It is further to be remarked, that the 

 <logs kept by the worthless and profligate part of man- 

 kind are almost invariably of this short-nosed kind. 



The varieties of those short-nosed dogs are not 

 nearly so numerous as those of either of the former 

 divisions, but as they are dogs which are chiefly bred 

 for sporting purposes, much attention has been paid 

 to the breeds. They may be considered as forming 

 three classes : first, dogs which are wholly nntract- 

 able and pugnacious, and therefore never used except 

 as fighting dogs ; secondly, dogs which still possess- 

 ing much strength and ferocity, and not capable of 

 much training and attachment, but which are used as 

 watch dogs ; and thirdly, dogs of smaller breed, which 

 are too feeble for doing much mischief, and which 

 may be reckoned the most useless perhaps of all the 

 genus. 



THE BULL -DOG. This dog in various breeds may 

 be regarded as the fighting dog par excellence ; and, 

 as the satirist said of the captain " His very look's 

 an oath," so it may be said of the bull-dog " his very 

 look's a bite." This dog is low on the legs, and stands 

 rather wide ; his chest is deep and also broad ; his 

 shoulders and thighs are very strongly made ; and 

 the muscles are exceedingly developed, more so than 

 perhaps in any other animal, not even excepting the 

 lion. The head is broad, his nose short, and the 

 under jaw projects beyond the upper, which gives 

 him a very disagreeable and fierce aspect. The eyes 

 of the bull-dog are very prominent and distant, and 

 have a very peculiar suspicious-looking leer, which, 

 with the distension of his nostrils, gives him also a 

 contemptuous look ; and from his teeth being always 

 seen, he has the constant appearance of grinning 

 while he is perfectly placid. This is the most unre- 

 lenting and ferocious of the canine tribe, and may be 

 considered courageous beyond any other creature in 

 the world ; for he will attack any animal whatever be 



The Bull- dog. 



his magnitude. He is scarcely capable of any edu- 

 cation, and is fitted for nothing else but combat and 

 ferocity. The bull-dog takes his name from having- 

 been employed in former times in assaulting the bull, 

 and is used for that purpose at the present day in 

 those districts where this brutal amusement is still 

 practised. The fury with which the bull-dog attacks 

 all other animals, and the invincible obstinacy with 

 which he maintains his hold, nothing can exceed. 

 The bull-dog makes his attack always in front ; and 

 in assailing the bull, he attempts to seize him by the 

 nose, the lip, the tongue, or the eye. If the dog suc- 

 ceeds in fastening, and the part is tough enough not 

 to be torn off by the bite, the dog will not quit his 

 hold, and cannot be shaken off by any effort of the 

 animal, but will adhere though the other swing him 

 round and round in the air. When they fight with 

 each other, or with other dogs, they are equally des- 

 perate in their hold ; and when they once fasten they 

 will allow themselves to be bitten ever so severely by 

 another dog, or beaten, and still give vent to their 

 anger by tightening the hold which they got at first. 

 There is nothing indeed which will loosen a staunch 

 bull-dog, but that general means of truce to all canine 

 hostilities, a copious effusion of cold water. This is 

 a curious fact in the natural history of dogs, inasmuch 



