SHEPHERD'S DOG. HOUND. SPANIEL. GREYHOUND. 55 



The period of gestation in the bitch is commonly nine 

 weeks: the young are produced with their eyes closed, 

 and in other respects imperfectly formed. They are very 

 little, delicate in regard to food ; and though voracious, 

 are capable of supporting a long abstinence. But this 

 animal, however useful and engaging in other respects, is 

 unfortunately subject to madness ; and thus frequently 

 gives rise to one of the most dreadful maladies that can 

 afflict human nature, and for which no infallible cure has 

 been hitherto discovered. 



THE SHEPHERD'S DOG. 



I have already mentioned this variety, as the parent 

 stock of the canine kind. It is found in almost every 

 country of the world, with very little alteration in its ap- 

 pearance ; and is so generally well known as to preclude 

 the necessity of a particular description. 



THE HOUND. 



There are three varieties of this dog, all of which are 

 produced by the same dam ; the hound, the harrier, and 

 the beagle. They are each adapted for hunting. They 

 have long pendulous ears, an obtuse nose, a large mouth, 

 and a loud note. 



THE SPANIEL. 



The name seems to indicate that this variety was origi- 

 nally introduced from Spain, but Britain has long been 

 famous for producing excellent dogs of this kind. The 

 varieties, however, are too complex to be either described 

 or enumerated. The pointer was entirely unknown to our 

 ancestors ; and it appears that some kinds, mentioned by 

 our early naturalists, are now totally extinct. 



THE GREYHOUND. 



This is by far the swiftest of all dogs ; and pursues its 

 game by the sight, not by the scent, Formerly it way 

 penal by the law of the land, for any person below the 



