144 WATCH DOGS, HOUSE DOGS, AND TOY DOGS. 



the adjacent countries, where he is used to recover persons who 

 are lost in the snow-storms of that inclement region. Wonder- 

 ful stories are told of the intelligence of these dogs and of 

 the recovery of travellers by their means, which are said to 

 extend almost to the act of pouring spirits down the throats 

 of their patients ; but, however, there is no doubt that they 

 have been and still are exceedingly useful, and the breed 

 is kept up at the monastery of Mount St. Bernard. The 

 height is about 28 to 31 inches ; length six feet, including the 

 tail. The coat varies a good deal in length, there being in 

 England two distinct varieties founded upon this point, viz. the 

 rough and the smooth. Mr. Macdona, who has been at great 

 trouble and expense to import both of the best Swiss strains, 

 leans to the rough, but there are many who still adhere to the 

 smooth variety. The smooth dog is red and white, or brindled 

 and white, a broad white collar of white of a peculiar shape dis- 

 tinguishing the true breed. The rough dog is most bighly 

 prized when of a deej) tawny brindle, still with some white, but 

 not so much as in the smooth kind. Both dogs are remarkably 

 good-tempered, and may be trusted with the care of women or 

 children with great dependence. The absence of dew claw on 

 the hind leg is considered a defect by some judges, and there 

 is no doubt that many imported specimens of the breed have 

 the double dew claw. 



