Historical 23 



It is also interesting to observe, that, on the column of 

 Marcus Aurelius in Rome, dogs are represented fighting 

 beside the men, clad in mail, and with spiked collars. 



Vegetious, the Roman historian, alludes to the dogs used 

 by the Teutonic tribes against the Roman legions, which 

 were perhaps the ancestors of some of the present German 

 war dogs. Large and powerful dogs were at all times 

 greatly prized. Sometimes they were supplied with com- 

 plete suits of armour, consisting of a body covering and 

 a head-piece. In Madrid Museum there is an interesting 

 specimen of this accoutrement, mounted on a stuffed dog. 



Certain of these are described by a writer — Camerarius — 

 in his book, " Living Librarie or Historical Meditations," 

 printed in 1625. He says : " The dogs of Albania bring 

 under all other beasts, throttle bulls, kill lions, stay all that 

 is thrown against them ; and therefore are very famous 

 in histories. We read that Alexander, going to the Indies, 

 received two of them, which the King of Albania presented 

 him with. These dogs grow very high and bark with a 

 stronger voice than the roaring of lions." 



Perhaps the dog of Andronicus, the King of Constan- 

 tinople, was of this race. " This Prince was much hated 

 because of his villainies and mischiefs, and made himself 

 be guarded, not only with companies of strange soldiers, 

 but also with a very great dogge, who made no bones to 

 fight with lions, and could turn a man all armed off his 

 horse. The guard kept watch in the night a prettie way 

 from his chamber, and at his chamber door this dog was 

 tied, who at the least noise that was, made a terrible 

 barking." 



Andronicus seems to have trusted dog more than man. 

 Camerarius also narrates a curious instance of guard dogs 

 distinguishing between Christians and Turks. This, how- 



