SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 



609 



and a Scotch Colley slut, imported by B. Gates, of Gap Grove, Lee Co. 

 Illinois. They are taken from The Farmers' Library.* 



DROVKR S DOG, AND COLLEY SLUT. 



The Drover's dog, or English sheep-dog, or Butcher's dog — for by ffii 

 of these names is he known — is considerably smaller than the species or 

 families heretofore described, but he is a larger and more powez'ful dog 

 than the Colley. Mr. Gates, in the communication accompanying the 

 portraits, remarks : 



" Much has nh'eady been written on the intelligence of the Scotch Colley. My opinion is 

 that the English " Butcher's dog" is no way lacking on that point. Any reader who has 

 visited Smithfield market in London, on Monday or Friday, will, no doubt, have formed the 

 same opinion. There you have an opportunity of seeing a number of these useful animals 

 at their work. It would, in fact, be almost impossible to conduct this market without their 

 aid. There a vast number of different animals are brought for sale from all parts of the 

 couutiy, to supply this great metropolis, and are collected in the smallest possible space. 

 The difficulty of keeping them from mingling with others falls princij)ally on the dog. If 

 one slips away, or a particular one is wished to be caught, it is pointed out to him, and is re- 

 turned back, or held till the owner takes it — the dog always holding them by the side of the 

 head, so as not to bruise the body. By a word or motion of the hand, they will run over 

 the backs of the sheep, to stop them or turn them in a different direction. I have often 

 admired, with astonishment, their quick and intelligent actions. They appear to read the 

 thoughts of their master by his countenance, for their eye is continually on his, or tlie flock. 

 Nothing else can attract his attention when he has work to perform, and at times I have 

 thought he acted vifith more judgment than the owner. . . . The breed of '' Boxer," (whose 

 portrait is above given,) is sometimes called the Drover's or Tailless breed." 



Mr. Colman, in one of his Reports, says: 



" For a week or more before the tryst, the roads leading to Falkink will be found crowded 

 with succes.sive droves of cattle and sheep, proceeding to this central point ; and it is ex- 

 tremely curious on the field to see with what skill and care the different parties and herd* 

 are kept together by themselves. In this matter the shepherds are generally assisted by 



* Vol. i., p. 575. 



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