42 Modern Dogs. 



fifty or sixty years ago, and killed all with the 

 exception of one animal. Again, earlier than this, 

 an avalanche it is said proved almost equally fatal 

 in its effects. In 1852 " Idstone " informs us that 

 there were but three dogs at the Hospice, although 

 seven or eight others were kept in some of the 

 neighbouring villages. The latter must have been 

 always the case, and one cannot believe that at any 

 time during the history of this dog it was so near 

 extermination that but a single specimen remained. 

 It is a well authenticated fact, although one that 

 has hitherto been almost, or entirely, overlooked 

 by writers on the St. Bernard, that dogs of the race 

 have from time out of mind been used in Switzerland 

 and on its borders as beasts of burden. 



No doubt some of the villagers who did business 

 with the monks were dog lovers, and would now 

 and then beg or purchase a puppy, and from 

 youngsters so obtained, and trained to draw light 

 handy carts, quite as much as from those brought 

 up in the Hospice, our present race must have 

 sprung. But old Barry was not nearly so big a 

 dog as our best modern specimens, possibly he 

 might be more active than some of them ; nor was 

 his colour so bright, nor were his markings so exact 

 and regular as are looked for to-day. Barry was a 

 dullish brindle and white, or white and brindle in 



