THE MASTIFF DURING ELIZABETH'S REIGX. 95 



given to him than any other kind of dog, and if the bones 

 were as large as he could crush, it would be better as serving 

 a two-fold purpose ; namely they are his natural food, con- 

 taining much oily and nutritious matter, and will give him 

 as much courage, and support his strength as any food; and 

 secondly there is no method so effectual in exercising the 

 muscles of the jaw, the massiter muscle in particular, by which 

 lie will be able to bite his antagonist more powerfully." 



That the process of tearing raw flesh from joints of horse 

 flesh and dead carcases generally, has a great tendency to 

 improve the character of the mastift's head and neck there is 

 little doubt, I have noticed at tan yards and other places 

 where mastiffs are so fed, their cheek muscles are well 

 developed, the zygomatic arch stronger and more prominent, 

 and the cynodonts larger and longer. 



The word sagina is perhaps the most important particular 

 that an}' part of Cains' s work affords, and strange to say, it 

 has seemingly been overlooked by the various writers that 

 have quoted from Cains from to time. 



The word not only shows that the term mastiff was regarded 

 by a well-read man, writing for the guidance of a naturalist, 

 as derived from the massiveness of the dog's build, but also 

 affords insight of the weight of the breed during the reign of 

 Elizabeth. 



Turning aside to another author for reference to this word, 

 Camden, who wrote about 1607, states under the Scots, on 

 the word Albini " Let critics consider whether in that 

 11 passage of St. Jerome wherein he inveighs against a certain 

 tk Pelasgian, native of Scotland, we should not also for Alpin- 



