Modern Dogs. 



by writers on canine matters, ought not to be 

 omitted here, as he flourished about 1550, when 

 little was said about the dog, although it was more 

 valued during his period than it had been earlier. 

 He says, " the mastiff or ban dog is vast, huge, 

 stubborn, ugly, and eagre, of a heavy and burden- 

 some body, and therefore but of little swiftness, 

 terrible and frightful to behold, and more fierce 

 and fell than any Arcadian cur, notwithstanding 

 they are said to have their generation from the 

 valiant lion. They are called Villatica, because 

 they are appointed to watch and keep out-of-the- 

 way farm places They are serviceable 



against the fox and badger, to drive wild and tame 

 swine out of meadows, &c., and to bait and 

 take the bull by the ear when occasion requireth. 

 . . . . For it is a kind of dog capable of 

 courage violent and valiant, striking fear into the 

 hearts of man, and standing in fear of no man, 

 and no weapon will make him shrink or abridge 

 his boldness." 



Caius goes on to say these dogs are trained to 

 bait the bear and other " cruel beasts " without "any 

 collar to defend their throats," and oftentimes they 

 train them up in fighting and wrestling a man, 

 who having for a safeguard either a pikestaff, a 

 club, or a sword, and by using them to such 



