THE MASTIFF. 715 



trust of the highest importance. This dog is naturally pos- 

 sessed of strong instinctive sensibility, speedily obtains a 

 knowledge of all the duties required of him, and discharges 

 them too with the most punctual assiduity. In the protection 

 of houses, woodyards, gardens, and widely-extended manufac- 

 tories his vigilance is very striking : he makes regular rounds 

 of the whole premises like a watchman, examines every part of 

 them with a careful eye : his penetration reaches even the 

 remotest corner, and not a spot is passed by until he is satis- 

 fied that all is in a state of perfect security. During the 

 night he gives a signal of his presence by repeated and vo- 

 ciferous barkings, which are increased upon the least cause 

 of alarm ; and, contrary to the spirit of the bull-dog, whose 

 invariable practice is to bite before he barks, the mastiff 

 always warns before he attacks. 



This breed is now exceedingly difficult to be obtained in 

 purity, from the various admixtures and experimental crosses 

 which have lately taken place. The genuine English mastiff 

 is now rarely to be seen, although we have dogs of various 

 sizes and colours which go under that name. At Lyme 

 Hall, in Cheshire, there is a pretty pure breed of these dogs. 

 The true mastiff has very rarely been known to attack the 

 human being, except under the most palpable provocation. 



The mastiff usually shows a remarkable and peculiar 

 warmth in his attachments, and, on the other hand, he is 

 equally distinguished for inveteracy in his dislike. If he is 

 once severely corrected or insulted, it is almost impossible to 

 eradicate the feeling from his memory, and it is no less diffi- 

 cult to obtain a reconciliation with him. He seems con- 

 scious of his own strength, power, and authority, and will 

 seldom condescend to lower his dignity by servile fawning ; 

 nor will he easily be induced to combat an inferior enemy, 

 as will be illustrated by the following anecdote : — 



