170 HISTORY OF THE DOG. 



vermin dog ; and though they are very expert at unearth- 

 ing, and very forward in attacking foxes, hares, and 

 rabbits, they are equally efficient against badgers, polecats, 

 weazles, rats, and mice. On account of their latter pro- 

 pensity, they are very much used about farms, and about 

 houses generally ; and, though they are somewhat irrita- 

 ble, they make most efficient watch-dogs, as they are not 

 only very forward to attack, but very formidable, and 

 exceedingly difficult to be vanquished. There is no doubt 

 that a sufficient number of them would be able to over- 

 come the largest wild animal ; and they have a sort of 

 natural propensity to the hog tribe, and might, even in 

 smaller number than some dogs of larger size, be efficient 

 against the wild boar. The writer of this article knew a 

 gentleman who had a very fine Scotch terrier, which not 

 only cleared a large farm, and also the farm-yard, of all 

 vermin, but acted as cattle-dog or sheep-dog, as occasion 

 required, and was so vigilant and so formidable a guardian, 

 that no intruder could with impunity either invade the 

 house or trespass on the farm., but used successfully to re- 

 pel the inroads of a very powerful and fierce boar which 

 used to come in a furious and formidable manner, so much 

 so, indeed, that he often threw the laborers in the fields 

 into the greatest alarm ; but if Trap happened to get 

 notice of the invasion, the boar, though very large, much 

 in the shape of a wild boar, and of that brindled color, 

 which indicates the nearest approach to that formidable 

 animal, paid severely for his temerity ; the dog, who had 

 been trained to keep animals in their right places, but to 

 kill nothing except game and vermin, made no direct 

 attack on the life of the boar. He laid hold of him by the 

 ear, and that hold he kept till the boar, though much 

 stronger and far heavier than the dog, was so completely 

 subdued, as that Trap could lead him by the ear to his 

 own place of abode. The dog had seldom occasion to 

 lead him half way ; but he used to watch his motions, and 



