86 



THE MASTIFF. 



ludeed, it gives the spectator an impression as if it were composed of 

 two different Dogs, the one a large and powerful animal, and the other 

 d weak and puny quadruped, which had been put together by mis- 

 take. 



The ]\Iastiff, which is the largest and most powerful of the indi- 

 genous English Dogs, is of a singularly mild and placid temper, seem- 

 ing to delight in employing its great powers in affording protection to 

 the weak, whether they be men or dogs. 



Yet, with all this nobility of its gentle nature, it is a most determined 

 and courageous animal in fight, and when defending its master or his 



v-^^sx ^ 



The Old English Mastiff {Canis familiaris). 



property becomes a foe which few opponents would like to face. These 

 qualifications of mingled courage and gentleness adapt it especially for 

 the service of watch-dog, a task in which the animal is as likely to fail 

 by overweening zeal as by neglect of its duty. It sometimes happens 

 that a watch-dog is too hasty in its judgment, and attacks a harmless 

 stranger on the supposition that it is resisting the approach of an enemy. 

 The head of the Mastiff bears a certain similitude to that of the 

 bloodhound and the bull-dog, possessing the pendent lips and squared 

 muzzle of the bloodhound, with the heavy muscular development of 

 the bull-dog. The under-jaw sometimes protrudes a little, but the 

 teeth are not left uncovered by the upper lip, as is often the case 

 with the latter auimai. The fur of the Mastiff is alwavs smooth, and 



