The Shepherd's Dog. 39 



markable, that when refreshing upon a journey with 

 the flock, he seldom reposes but close to the feet or 

 body of his master ; who well knows if he but depo- 

 sits his coat or his wallet, and gives the animal the ac- 

 customed signal ; when the sheep are at pasture, he 

 may absent himself for hours, and at his return find 

 the whole as safe and regular as if it had been under 

 his own inspection. Although it is already observed, 

 these dogs afford no evident external proof of quick 

 conception, or rapid execution (except in all matters 

 relative to the flock, to which their every faculty ap^ 

 pertains,) yet their sagacity and fidelity is found equal 

 to every other branch of the species, when necessarily 

 brought into useful action. 



** In the month of February 1795, as Mr. Boulstead's 

 son, of Great Salkeld, in Cumberland, was attending 

 the sheep of his father upon Great Salkeld common, 

 he had the misfortune to fall and break his leg. — He 

 was then at the distance of three miles from home, no 

 chance of any persons coming in so unfrequented a 

 place within call, and evening very fast approaching : 

 in this dreadful dilemma, suffering extreme pain from 

 the fracture, and laying upon the damp ground at so 

 dreary a season of the year, his agitated spirits sug- 

 gested to him the following expedient : Folding one 

 of his gloves in his pocket handkerchief, he fastened it 

 round the neck of the dog, and rather emphatically or- 

 dered him " home." These dogs, trained so admira- 

 bly to orders and signals during their attendance upon 

 the flock, are well known to be under the most minute 

 subjection, and to execute the commands of their mas- 

 ters with an alacrity scarcely to be conceived. 



