126 PASTORAL DOGS, ETC. 



John's or Lesser Labrador breed. All were originally natives of 

 Newfoundland, and tbougli many are bred in England, fresh speci- 

 mens are constantly being imported from the island. Many of the 

 naturalised strains are now more or less crossed with the mastiff or 

 setter. In this country they are chiefly used for ornamental pur- 

 poses and as companions to their masters, the small breed being 

 also crossed with the setter to make the retriever ; but in their native 

 country they are used to draw timber over the snow in the winter 

 months, being harnessed to carts and sledges made for the purpose. 

 In intelligence the three breeds are about equal, all being celebrated 

 for their faculty of learning to fetch and carry. This is sometimes 

 developed to such an extent that a well-trained dog will go back 

 for anything which his master has pointed out to him, if it has 

 been handled, when it is only necessary to order him back to 

 " seek," and he will find it by the scent. Many amusing instances 

 of this are told, one of which we have heard on good authority, 

 but which is almost beyond belief. A lady was most anxious to 

 obtain a particular object from her lover, which he had strong 

 reasons for refusing to her ; but being at length teased into com- 

 plying he gave it her, and after parting, at some distance from her 

 home, he fetched his dog and ordered him to " go seek." The 

 intelligent creature at once started off on the heel of his master, 

 and, overtaking the lady still carrying the gage (Vamour, he laid 

 hold of it and brought it back in triumph. The dispossessed fair 

 one, not having the least idea whose dog it was, and being ashamed 

 to own how she had lost it, said nothing about tlie matter, and so 

 the gentleman for once outwitted the hidy in this stage of their 



