THE MASTIFF IN THE l8TH CENTURY. 137 



the church some remains of the ancient manor house were 

 still visible a few years since, but owing to their dangerous 

 condition most of the ruins were pulled down In 1810. 



The introduction of the Newfoundland, and subsequently 

 St. Bernard, helped considerably to banish the old English 

 mast iff from our country houses. The great Linnaeus, writing 

 about 1740, terms the mastiff, Canis Molossus. Vel Anglicus 

 Vel Bellicosus syst 57. It is worthy of remark that Linnaeus 

 had visited England, and thus had an excellent opportunity 

 of examining the breed for himself. 



In 1750 the eminent zoographer and antiquarian, Thomas 

 Pennant, published his British Zoology, in which he mentions 

 the mastiff, and treating on this breed he says : " Very strong 

 and thick-made ; a British kind." Here we see reference to 

 the thick-set form which caused the breed to be named the 

 massive or mastiff apparently. 



In the catalogue of names of dogs given by Dr. John Gmelin, 

 M.D., (who died 1805) in his improved work of " Systema 

 Naturae" of Linnaeus, which seems to be one of the most 

 correct, he says : "canis molossus or bulldog with projecting 

 chin, and sides of the lips pendulous, dusky snout and strong 

 robust body; also canis Anglais or mastiff with great head," 

 etc. 



Smith in his History of Waterford, 1774, states that the 

 Irish greyhound was much taller than the mastiff of that date. 



In the Gentlemen's Magazine for 1777 is an extract from a 

 letter, written from St. Germans, April 3oth, 1777, which 

 states that a few days previous to that date an English 

 gentleman accompanied by his mastiff came to some public 

 gardens near Paris ; the dog in accordance with the rules was 



T 



