THE ALPINE MASTIFF. 165 



.-ind she had the white blaze up the face; I -was informed 

 that she would never breed, otherwise should have tried to 

 have purchased her. 



Jesse writing in 1846, states that the Alpine mastiffs were 

 at that date generally of a milk white or tabby colour, and 

 gives a very fair illustration of the breed, drawn by \A . R. 

 Smith. 



About 1840 Mr. Lukey owned a specimen named Lion, 

 which came from the convent, and his ears had been cropped 

 to prevent the chance of their getting frost-bitten. I have a 

 photograph of this dog, taken from a drawing, and a friend of 

 mine has a coloured sketch of him, presented to her by Mrs. 

 Lukey. The dog's muzzle was apparently very short and 

 blunt, forehead broad, and whole head generally short and 

 full, and the eye too full. 



An old writer says : " I have seen several specimens of the 

 noble Alpine breed ; their size equal to that of the largest 

 mastiffs, the muzzle deep, and ears pendulous, fur rather long 

 and wiry, the eye full and expressive, and form of body and 

 limbs showing great strength. I have now stated sufficient 

 to show that between 1800 and 1850 there were repeatedly 

 brought from the monastry of St. Bernard and the Alps, 

 thoroughly typical specimens of the mastiff, and also crosses 

 between this Alpine mastiff and the rough or sheepdog 

 variety. ( )ur English mastiff has been more or less alloyed 

 with the blood of these two varieties, producing greater size, 

 coarser and more porous bone, accompanied often with inferior 

 loins and general muscular development. The dewclaw, as 

 also sometimes the sheepdog or wedge-shaped type of head 

 being introduced through the cross. 



