DOG-BREEDING 



lyned through with black coniskinns made sweete ; to his 

 sonne a fair headpeec and gorgett, a box of all such thinges 

 as ar belonging to a faulconer, quayle calls, a mastife, a watter 

 spaniell and a faire gray hound." * In 1618 Queen Anne 

 sent six horses and thirty couple of hounds to the King of 

 France. In 1623 James presented Louis with another pack, 

 and in 1627 Louis XIII intimated to his sister, Henrietta 

 Maria Queen of England, that he would expect four hunting 

 dogs of her.f 



In ancient China all treasures, including pearls, jade, or 

 rare animals, were considered to be Imperial property, and 

 their producers were bound to offer them in the first instance 

 to the Emperor, who was accustomed to give generous 

 reward, by official promotion or otherwise, in return. The 

 breeding of dogs possessed another incentive to the early 

 Chinese, not known to the inhabitants of the West, for in 

 China considerable importance was attached, on superstitious 

 grounds, to the colour and markings bred in dogs. For- 

 tunate markings might bring honour to a family and to its 

 ancestors. This superstitious belief was encouraged, if not 

 originated, by geomancy or " Feng Shui." Similarly, the 

 reputed occurrence of a Chilin or phoenix was the most 

 auspicious of events, and the donor of such rare and precious 

 natural products to the Chinese Emperors was always richly 

 rewarded. The appearance of certain markings, such as a 

 black or yellow coat in conjunction with a white head, or two 

 white forelegs in a black dog, was hailed as sure presage of 

 official appointment. Similar superstitions survive to this 

 day in quaint couplets and proverbs which even now influence 

 the breeding of dogs. In pigeon-breeding the Chinese have 

 progressed a step farther than with their dogs. They have 



* " Voyage of Capt. J. Saris to Japan," Hakluyt Soc., App. A., p. 209. 

 t " Calendar of State Papers, Venice." 



47 



