24 British War Dogs 



ever, is quite to be understood by all who have studied the 

 question of scenting powers in dogs. They learn to dis- 

 tinguish the scents of different races very readily, and also 

 between communities of people. It will be observed 

 that differing modes of living and also of food produce 

 varying scents in people, and communities living together 

 have each their distinctive scent. This also applies 

 even to the men of different regiments, and I have found 

 that dogs can quite easily detect a man of a regiment 

 belonging to another than their own. 



" The Rhodians held a very strong and well-fortified citie, 

 called the Castle of S. Peter, in a place of the firme land, 

 over against the Isle Coos, being the only retrait for the 

 Christians of Asia, that saved themselves from being slaves 

 to the Turkes. The enemy was master of all without and 

 about this place, in so much as the citisens could not safely 

 fetch wood or other fuell for their use. Some bodie had 

 told the Venetians strange things of the sence and service 

 of the dogs that were within the Citie, to the number of 

 fiftie, all which the Inhabitants put forth every night (as 

 it were) for Sentinels. If during the night, these watchers 

 met with any Christian, they would receive him, and with 

 fawning and joy conduct him into the Citie : contrariwise, 

 if they discovered a Turke, they would first keepe a great 

 barking, and then falling upon him, pull him down and 

 then teare him in pieces. These are the words of Sabellicus. 

 At Renes in Brittaine, at Saint Malo, and at Saint Michaels, 

 they keepe a great many dogs, that watch and ward both 

 night and day, as I have heard reported by many. Plu- 

 tarch showeth that it is an antient custome ; for he saith, 

 That the enterprise of Aratus, which he undertooke for 

 the freeing of his countrey, had like to have bin mar'd, by 

 the watchfulnesse of a dog. By this it appeareth, what 



