AND ANGLING SONGS. 225 



farmers and their shepherds. The colley, out of compliment to 

 his services, is recognised in almost every house as a member of 

 the family. He is at work with his master throughout the day, 

 takes his meals with him, or at any rate shares in them, sleeps at 

 the hearth-stone, or under the settle, or, it may be, in the cosy 

 parlour itself, and, like a respectable Christian, goes to the kirk 

 with him. The conduct of those dogs in the place of worship is 

 usually unexceptionable. I am not aware that their presence 

 has ever been objected to by kirk-session, presbytery, or synod ; 

 or that a .single act of canine levity or impropriety, committed 

 within the hallowed precincts, stands recorded on the parish 

 books. This is the more singular, as it is not uncommon for a 

 score of these animals to be brought into close quarters with 

 each other, under the sacred roof; many of them notorious 

 yelpers, and not a few of them primed with grudges and feudal 

 animosities. All symptoms of impatience, however, are invariably 

 kept under control until the conclusion of the service ; and to 

 prevent them breaking forth inopportunely, it is the custom of 

 the herds to remain sitting during the parting blessing, the rest 

 of the congregation, as is the usual practice in the Presbyterian 

 Church, receiving it in a standing posture. In the event of 

 their masters being detained at home on the Sabbath, the dogs 

 belonging to some of the outlying farms, unless checked by 

 special interdict, will, I have been informed by one of Lord 

 Napier's tenantry, set off of their own accord over the hills, to 

 hold convention in Ettrick churchyard, or the premises adjoining 

 it. On such occasions, it appears, they pay a punctual respect 

 to the hours of the clock, dispersing, without fail, at the breaking 

 up of the congregation ; or, should there happen to be no service-, 

 within a few minutes of the customary time of dissolution. 



I have often been amazed at the preference given to many 

 varieties of the domestic dog over the Canis pecuarius, which, 

 while it combines the qualities appreciated in the terrier, the 



