602 SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 



Reasoning powers the dog undoubtedly possesses, quite on a par witli 

 ordinary humanity, if we may believe scoies of these writers. But it is 

 probable that the grandsires of some of them " drew good long-boios at 

 Hastings," and they, like Hubert, may lay claim to a hereditary knowledge 

 of the weapon. It is to be feared that dog-stories will soon be sunk to a 

 par WiXh Jish-st07-ies ! The truth is, the dog knows enough, and there are 

 authenticated cases enough of his wonderful sagacity, without having an 

 air of discredit thrown over the whole of them, by fanciful exaggera- 

 tions. 



The comparative intelligence, and the comparative value to man, of the 

 different species of the dog, would be very differently estimated by those 

 who have been placed in situations to be particularly benefited by the 

 peculiar instincts of this race or that. Nearly every species has some 

 traits, some uses, where it is unequaled by the others ; and each in its 

 place is valuable. I do not, however, mean these remarks, or any others 

 which I have made in favor of the dog, to apply to the mongrel tribe of 

 curs. That there have been valuable individuals from this disreputable 

 stock, all must admit; but the miserable, cowardly and thievish character 

 of the mass of them has been proverbial in all time. Far too many of 

 them are kept by our farmers in the place of noble and serviceable animals 

 and multitudes of them, owned by idlers and vagabonds, infest the country 

 and do ten times more mischief to our flocks than diseases and beasts of 



pi'ey- 



The Sheep-Dog. — Buffon thus eloquently describes the sheep-dog,* and 

 compares his sagacity and value to man, with other racesf : 



'• This animal, faithiul to Man, will always preserve a portion of his empire and a degree 

 of superiority over other beings. He reigns at the head of his flock, and makes himself battel 

 understood than the voice of the shepherd. Safety, order, and discipline are the fruits ol 

 his vigilance and animal. They are a people submitted to his management, whom he con- 

 ducts and protects, and against whom he never applies force but lor the preservation of good 

 order. ... If we consider that this animal, notwithstanding his ugliness, and his wild 

 and melancholy look, is superior in instinct to all others ; that he has a decided character iu 

 which education has comparatively little sliare ; that he is the only animal born perfectly 

 ti-ained for the service of others ; that, guided by natural powers alone, he applies himself to 

 the care of our flocks, a duty which he executes with singular assiduity, vigilance, and fidel- 

 ity ; that he conducts them with an admirable intelligence, which is a part and portion ot 

 himself; that his sagacity astonishes at the same time thai it gives re]>ose to his master, 

 while it requires great time and trouble to instruct other dogs for the purposes to which they 

 are destined ; if we reflect on these facts, we shall be confirmed in the opinion that the 

 shepherd's dog is the true dog of Nature, the stock and model of the whole species." 



I shall call attention to but a few of the most distinguished varieties of 

 the sheep-dog. 



The Spanish Sheep-Dog. — Of the origin of this celebrated race, I do 

 not recollect to have seen anything. I have observed them several times 

 spoken of, latterly, in newspapers and agricultural publications, as the 

 same variety with the Alpine Spaniel, or Bernardine dog. This, I think, 

 must be an error, though there may be a general resemblance between 

 the two species. Arrogante, on the next page, though a dog of pro- 

 digious power, decidedly lacks the massive proportions, both in body 

 and limbs, of several Bernai'dine dogs, which 1 have seen, of unquestiona- 



* I stated npar the close of Letter V. that there arc no shepherd dogs large and powerful enongh to en- 

 counter and kill wolves and vagrant dogs, excejit the great Sheep. dog of Spain, and that he is so ferocious 

 that he niisht frequently bringhis owner into difficulty, and even endanger humin life. — I was mistaken. 

 Crosses bei;ween this and other species seems to have iiiiiigated the ferocity of the Spanish dog, and still 

 left it within the power of two to overcome a wolf, as will appear from what follows. 



t Bufl'on's Natural History, vol. v., pp. 306, 318. 

 (1122) 



