The St. Bernard. 59 



a disadvantage rather than not, and accounts for 

 so many prize dogs not being able, as it were, ' to 

 carry their own weight.' Plinlimmon and Sir Bedi- 

 vere stood over Hector, who was the star of his 

 day fifteen or twenty years ago, quite two inches ; 

 but Hector was at least three inches wider in hips 

 and quarters, and so much better and stronger in 

 the hind quarters." 



During the present summer (1893) Mr. J. F. 

 Smith, of Norfolk Lodge, Sheffield, who still owns, 

 and has owned, some of our very best St. Bernards, 

 took a tour into Switzerland in order to see his 

 favourite dogs as they are in their native country. 

 With the greatest kindness Mr. Smith put into pen 

 and ink what he saw of the dogs there, and his 

 impressions thereon, handing me the result for pub- 

 lication. I need scarcely say that this communication 

 is by far the most complete, interesting, and practical 

 account of the St. Bernard in Switzerland that has 

 yet been printed. Let Mr. Smith tell the story of 

 his pleasant tour in his own words : 



" For the last fifteen years it has been my wish to 

 visit Switzerland and the North of Italy with the 

 view of seeing for myself the home of the St. 

 Bernard dog, a breed which 1 have kept and taken 

 great interest in for many years. However, some- 

 thing or other continually turned up to prevent my 



