ANECDOTES.! 



THE DOG, AND ITS VAEIETIES; 



[anecdotes. 



rather on an embassy to the farmer's mastiff. 

 The farmer's people observed this unusual 

 visit ; and they were induced to notice it from 

 its being a meeting of peace between those 

 who had habitually been belligerents. After 

 some intercourse, of which no interpretation 

 could be given, the two set off together in the 

 direction of the mill ; and, having arrived there, 

 they, in brief space, engaged the miller's bull- 

 dog as an ally. 



The straight road to the village where the 

 indignity had been offered to the Newfound- 

 land dog, passed immediately in front of that 

 dog's master's house; but there was a more 

 private and circuitous road by the back of the 

 mill. The three took this road, reached the 

 village, scoured it in great wrath, putting to 

 the tooth every cur they could get sight of; 

 and having taken their revenge, and washed 

 themselves in a ditch, they returned, each dog 

 to the abode of his master ; and when any two 

 of them happened to meet afterwards, they dis- 

 played the same pugnacity as they had done 

 previous to this joint expedition. 



It would seem that in this case there was a 

 mere momentary concert for the accomplish- 

 ment of one object among three dogs differing 

 considerably in their habits ; and that when this 

 momentary purpose was accomplished, the 

 wonted animosity of the three returned, and 

 they fought as readily with each other as ever. 

 But it does not appear that all casual, or appa- 

 rently casual, interferences of dogs, for the 

 benefit of each other, pass off in this momen- 

 tary way ; for there is another well-authenti- 

 cated anecdote of two dogs, at Donagbadee, in 

 which the instinctive daring of the one on be- 

 half of the other, caused a friendship, and, as 

 it would seem, a kind of mourning for the 

 dead, after one of them had paid the debt of 

 nature. This happened while the government 

 harbour, or pier, for the packets at Donagba- 

 dee was in the course of building, and it oc- 

 curred in the sight of several witnesses. Tlie 

 one dog in this case also was a Newfoundland, 

 and the other was a mastiff. They were both 

 powerful dogs ; and, though each was good- 

 natured, when alone, they were very much in 

 the habit of lighting when they met. One 

 day they had a fierce and prolonged battle on 

 the pier, from the point of which they both fell 

 into the sea ; and, as the pier was long and 

 388 



steep, they had no means of escape but by 

 swimming a considerable distance. Throwing 

 water upon fighting-dogs is an approved means 

 of putting an end to their hostilities ; and it is 

 natural to suppose that the same effect would 

 take place from two combatants of the same 

 species tumbling themselves into the sea. Ac- 

 cordingly, each began to make for the land aa 

 he best could. The Newfoundland, being an 

 excellent swimmer, very speedily gained the 

 pier, on which he stood shaking himself; but, 

 at the same time, watching the motions of his 

 former antagonist, which, being no swimmer, 

 was struggling exhausted in the water, and just 

 about to sink. In dashed the Newfoundland 

 dog, took the other gently by the collar, kept 

 his head above water, and brought him safely 

 on shore. There was a peculiar kind of recog- 

 nition between the two animals after this. 

 They never fought again ; they were always 

 together; and when the Newfoundland dog 

 was accidentally killed by the passage of a stone 

 waggon over him, the other languished, and 

 evidently lamented for a long time. 



The care of the dog in directing the steps of 

 the blind, is highly deserving of notice. There 

 are few persons who have not seen some of 

 these unfortunate objects thus guided along 

 through the winding streets of a town or city, 

 to the spot where they are to supplicate charity 

 of passengers. In the evening the dog safely 

 conducts his master back, and receives, as the 

 reward of its services, that scanty pittance 

 which wretchedness can bestow. Mr. Eay, in 

 his Synopsis of Quadrupeds, informs us of a 

 blind beggar who was thus led through th6 

 streets of Eome by a middle-sized dog, which, 

 besides leading his master in such a manner 

 as to protect him from all danger, learned to 

 distinguish both the streets and houses where 

 he was accustomed to receive alms twice or 

 thrice a week. Whenever the animal came to 

 any one of these streets, with which he was 

 well acquainted, he would not leave it till a 

 call had been made at every house where his 

 master was usually successful in his petitions. 

 When the beggar began to ask alms, the dog 

 lay down to rest ; but the man was no sooner 

 served or refused, than the dog rose spon- 

 taneously, and without either order or sign, 

 proceeded to the other houses where the beg- 

 gar generally received some gratuity. "I 



