184 THE NEWFOUNDLAND 



Newfoundlands. As a breed I prefer them to any 

 other for their companionable qualities and for de- 

 votion to master or mistress. They are intensely 

 affectionate. "- 



The white and black dog is frequently called a 

 " Landseer," after the great artist who immortalised 

 him, but there is no further justification for the 

 name. He is more properly classified as White and 

 Black. Much attention is bestowed upon the correct 

 distribution of his markings, which should observe 

 a certain regularity. For instance, the black should 

 appear as a saddle on the back, which may be 

 divided by a white line in the centre, as a crupper 

 near the root of the tail, and on the head and ears, 

 the muzzle being white, as well as a blaze between 

 the eyes. Occasionally we see a bronze-coloured 

 dog, ibut personally I do not think it as pleasing 

 as the markings referred to or the pure black. 



The Newfoundland should have no exaggerated 

 points, but exhibit his characteristics in due pro- 

 portion. Obviously he should not be too heavy, 

 unless we are to depart violently from the original 

 type, as such a dog could not well display the neces- 

 sary activity. The " short muzzle," too, should be 

 interpreted in a reasonable manner, for if it is 

 abbreviated too much it would not be easy for the 

 dog to seize and hold any object in the water. 



No direct evidence tells us when the Newfound- 

 land was first introduced into this country, nor do 

 we know much about his history in his own. It is 

 not by any means certain that he was indigenous to 

 the island after which he is named. There is quite 

 as much reason for supposing that settlers from 

 Europe may have taken with them dogs of some- 



