140 THE MASTIFF IN THE iSTH CENTURY. 



and the ill effects of consanguinity, stagnation and degeneracy, 

 and with them much of those marked peculiarities of family 

 feature, which caused local breeds, amounting almost at times 

 to sub varieties. 



Scientific experiment in breeding shows that where in-and-in 

 breeding is pursued whether intentional or compulsory, after 

 a time Albinoism will set in, white markings will appear, 

 which will be succeeded by colourless or white specimens if 

 the in-breeding is continued. It was no doubt owing much 

 to consanguinity on account of localization that the wild cattle 

 of Chillingham, Lyme, and Chartley became almost white, 

 and that the uniform white markings were stamped so indelibly 

 in the Hereford cattle, and much of the white markings in 

 the mastiff arose probably from the same cause. 



In all Bewick's mastiffs the stern is turned over the back 

 more or less, a point common in the breed up to that date ; 

 the heads are in every case broad, muzzles short and blunt, 

 and stop well defined. 



A short list of the principal figures of the mastiffs by Bewick 

 may be of assistance. The earliest I have been able to 

 discover is in 



The Beauties of Natural History 1780-1790 



The Mastiff and Thief. Select Fables 1784 



The Mastiff in History of Quadrupeds 1790 



Tailpiece to the Wood lark in Land Birds 1797 



Fighting Mastiffs, two positions, and mastiff with boy on back, in tailpiece 

 to History of Quadrupeds 1790 



The latter shows what a powerful large, dog the mastiff was 

 that Bewick drew from, if we compare the relative size of the 

 mastiff with the boy, who appears some ten years of age at 

 least, by his dress, form, and action. 



