BULLDOG. 137 



need not be attached to tliem. The only evil of such books is 

 that they find their way into the hands of inexperienced persons, 

 who are easily imposed on by bold assertion. Surely no animal 

 has suffered more at the hands of his would-be historians than 

 the dog, the books on him being composed, one half of impro- 

 bable stories of his exploits, and the other of silly conclusions 

 from them. Most writers, whether political or otherwise, are 

 fond of dilating on the "Bulldog courage" of Englishmen, yet, 

 in the same breath, they vilely asjjerse the noble animal from 

 whom they draw their simile. The bulldog has been described 

 as stupidly ferocious, and showing little preference for his master 

 over strangers ; but this is untrue, he being an excellent watch, 

 and as a guard unequalled, except perhaps by the bull-mastiff, a 

 direct cross from him. Indeed, he is far from being quarrelsome 

 by nature, though the bull-terrier in many cases undoubtedly 

 is so, and I fancy that some Avriters have taken their description 

 from this dog rather than from the pure bulldog, which has been 

 at all times rather a scarce animal. If once the pure breed 

 is allowed to drop, the best means of infusing fresh courage 

 into degenerate breeds will be finally lost, except with the 

 addition of extraneous blood which may not suit them ; for I 

 believe that every kind of dog possessed of very high courage 

 owes it to a cross with the bulldog ; and thus the most plucky 

 greyhounds, foxhounds, mastiffs, pointers, &c., may all be traced 

 to this source. Though bull and badger baiting may not be 

 capable of extenuation, to them we owe the keeping up of this 

 breed in all its purity ; and though we may agree to discontinue 



