The St. Bernard. 55 



would not be nearly so likely to be clogged up with 

 snow as the latter. 



There is a painting by a German artist named 

 Specht, of four St. Bernards on the mountains ; all 

 are of the short-coated variety and excellent speci- 

 mens too. Possibly why we in England have paid 

 greater attention to the long-haired dogs is because 

 of their greater beauty. Moreover, as a rule, almost 

 all the best short-haired dogs have been and are 

 white and brindle, a colour not nearly so pleasant 

 as the rich red chesnut with white collar and blaze 

 and dark shadings, which we have made fashionable 

 in the rough-coated variety. It is said that the 

 collar and the " blaze/' the latter that white mark 

 down the face from the occiput to the nose, are 

 particularly valuable, as being representative of 

 certain of the vestments worn by the order from 

 which the dogs take their name. This may be so 

 or not, probably not, for the monks themselves 

 make no such acknowledgment, and they ought to 

 know ; but so far as beauty is concerned, no doubt 

 dogs so marked are much the handsomer, and in 

 this country are not considered perfect without 

 that " blaze " and " collar." 



Careful rearing and the best of food during his 

 puppyhood, have added considerably to the St. 

 Bernard's stature, and a full-grown dog of 2oolb. 



