THE DOG. 79 



mation, that it was considered as forming a part of a 

 gentleman's estate; but since times and people are he- 

 come more refined, he is merely estimated for his use. 



The leymmer is an animal totally extinct ; it used to 

 hunt both by scent and sight, and was conducted (o the 

 game in a ley me, or thong, from which it originally de- 

 rived its name. 



The tumbler was an animal less than the hound, and 

 appears to answer the description of the modern lurcher : 

 it seemed neither to depend upon its fleetness or scent, 

 but hunted with carelessness, and seized its prey with 

 a spring. 



The land and water spaniel, in disposition, arc much 

 alike, and each of them have long and soft hair ; the 

 province of the one is to crouch down when it espies 

 the game, and the other will dive if it should fall into 

 a stream. 



The lap-dog was originally a Maltese breed ; but now 

 different countries produce the kind ; and the more 

 awkward and extraordinary they are, the more they 

 are thought worthy of being prized. 



The shepherd's dog has already been mentioned ; and 

 the strength of the mastiff 'is completely known ; for his- 

 tory relates, that, in the time of James the First, four 

 would subdue a lion, and three a bear. To these may 

 be added some other varieties, such as the bull-dog, 

 the harlequin, the pointer, and the Dane ; with a num- 

 ber of lap-dogs, that are too insignificant to merit either 

 the historian's attention or time. 



Amongst the great variety in this class of quadrupeds 

 the great Irish wolf-dog must not be omitted to be named; 

 for though that race of animals is very much diminish- 

 ed, a suflicient number remains to prove that they still 

 exist. This animal, which is very rare, even in the only 



