NEWF0USDLAMJ3.] iUli -MULMTAl^', FIELD, ASD i'AltM. [n£wfoundlaj.'db. 



being tauc;ht anything almost, but to read and 

 speak. J I is courago is groat; and, as tho 

 sate-guard of a iiousehold, tliero is much more 

 dependence to bo phiced upon him than upon 

 the niastifl'. Ou tho authority of tho Boston 

 Traveller, we give tlie following example of the 

 sagacity of this kind of dog, in performing 

 some of tho duties of civilised life : — 



Our neighbour of the Evening Gazette has re- 

 cently referred to a sagacious dog of the New- 

 foundland brood, owned by ^Ir. JJawes, of this 

 city, who comes regularly to the Traveller 

 counting room, every afternoon, and putting 

 his paws upon the counter, receives his mas- 

 ter's paper, and is oli' to his store. This same 

 dog has other ways of his own, which are often 

 amusing, though occasionally a little trouble- 

 some. Like his biped associates in this world 

 of bustle and hurry, he requires to be waited 

 on with the least possible delay ; and if he is 

 not attended to, he is quite likely to help him- 

 self, often making reprisals on us for our inat- 

 tention, by taken from the pile of papers a 

 mouthful, perhaps half a dozen. He seems 

 to have very imperfect ideas of the distinction 

 between ineum and tuu7n — as much so as any 

 person on 'Change. If, therefore, on coming 

 to our counter, he finds it bare of papers, he 

 casts an imploring look around the room, and 

 if a luckless boy loiters with a paper in his 

 hand, to watch the movements of the sagacious 

 animal, the dog will seize the coveted paper, 

 and be ofi' before the astonished boy has time 

 to rescue his stolen property. "We are often 

 reminded by the movements of this intelligent 

 quadruped of the favourite saying of a certain 

 queer old fellow : — " There is a great deal of 

 human nature in beasts." 



There are innumerable anecdotes illustra- 

 tive of the intelligence of the Newfoundland, 

 which, when full grown, and of pure breed, 

 should measure upwards of six feet from the 

 point of the nose to the tip of the tail. This 

 may seem an extraordinary length ; but the 

 beautiful proportions of this animal, with the 

 general upward curve, or bend of the tail, has 

 an apparent effect in lessening this measure. 

 Over the shoulders, from one fore foot to the 

 other, the measurement is upwards of five feet 

 and a half; round the head, and across the 

 ears, about two feet ; the length of the head, 

 about fourteen inches ; and the upper part of 



tho leg, about ten inches. This is tho mea- 

 sure of an animal whon full grown and in his 

 prime. Jlis body is covered witli long curly 

 hair ; his legs are also well-clutlied ; and hig 

 tail, likewise, is abundantly covered. 



According to Mr. Kichardson, tho New- 

 foundland is of com[)aratively recent introduc- 

 tion to this country. " From tho great share 

 of emulation which nature has given him," 

 says that gentleman, " to bo surpassed, or 

 overcome, would occasion groat pain. On 

 every emergency ho is active, the friend of all, 

 and is naturally without the least disposition 

 to quarrel with other animals. He seldom, or 

 ever oilers offence , but will not receive an in- 

 sult or injury with impunity. Such is tho 

 capacity of his understanding, that he can bo 

 taught almost anything that man can incul- 

 cate, of which his own strength and frame are 

 capable. His sagacity can only be exceeded 

 by his energies, and ho perseveres with un- 

 abated ardour in whatever manner he is em- 

 ployed. "While he has a hope of success, he 

 will never slacken in his efforts to attain it. 

 The amazing pliability of his temper peculiarly 

 fits him for man's use ; and he never shrinks 

 from any service which may be required of 

 him, but undertakes it with an ardour propor- 

 tional to the difficulty of its execution. He 

 takes a singular pride in being employed, and 

 will carry a bundle, stick, or basket, in his 

 mouth, for miles, and to deprive him of either 

 of these is more than a stranger could, with 

 safety, accomplish. Sagacity, and a peculiarly 

 faithful attachment to the human species, 

 are characteristics inseparable from this dog, 

 and hence he is ever on the alert to ward off" 

 impending danger from his master, and to 

 free him from every peril to which he may be 

 exposed. From the astonishing degree of 

 courage with which he is endowed, he is ever 

 ready to resent an insult, or to defend his 

 friend, even at the hazard of his own life. In- 

 clined habitually to industrious employment, 

 such dogs are as useful to the settlers of the 

 coast, from which they are brought, as our 

 galloways and ponies are to us. It is easy to 

 accustom them to daily labour. From three 

 to five of them are harnessed to a sledge, or 

 otlier vehicle, containing a load of wood, or 

 lumber, amounting to twenty or thirty stones, 

 which they will draw very steadily for miles, 



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