DOGS. 249 



is oftener black than of another colour, and scarcely 

 bigger than a pointer. He is made rather long in the 

 head and nose ; pretty deep in the chest ; very fine in 

 the legs ; has short or smooth hair ; does not carry his 

 tail so much curled as the other ; and is extremely quick 

 and active in running, swimming, or fighting. 



Newfoundland dogs are so expert and savage, when 

 fighting, that they generally contrive to seize some vital 

 part, and often do a serious injury to their antagonist. 

 I should, therefore, mention, that the only way to get 

 them immediately off is to put a rope, or handkerchief, 

 round their necks, and keep tightening it, by which 

 means their breath will be gone, and they will be in- 

 stantly choked from their hold. 



The St. John's breed of these dogs is chiefly used on 

 their native coast by fishermen. Their sense of smell- 

 ing is scarcely to be credited. Their discrimination of 

 scent, in following a wounded pheasant through a whole 

 covert full of game, or a pinioned wildfowl through a 

 furze brake, or warren of rabbits, appears almost im- 

 possible. (It may, perhaps, be unnecessary to observe, 

 that rabbits are generally very plentiful, and thrive ex- 

 ceedingly, near the sea shore. It, therefore, often hap- 

 pens, that wigeon, as they fly, and are shot by night, 

 fall among furze brakes, which are full of rabbits.) 



The real Newfoundland dog may be broken in to any 

 kind of shooting ; and, without additional instruction, 

 is generally under such command, that he may be safely 

 kept in, if required to be taken out with pointers. For 

 finding wounded game, of every description, there is not 

 his equal in the canine race ; and he is a sine qua non 

 in the general pursuit of wildfowl. 



Poole was, till of late years, the best place' to buy 

 Newfoundland dogs; either just imported, or broken 



