148 Modern Dogs. 



litter of puppies. Then other admirers of the race 

 say that they can tell a natural bob-tailed dog 

 from one that has been " curtailed " by the manner 

 in which the former " wags his hind-quarters " 

 when pleased. He has no tail to wag, so he wags 

 his buttocks say they. There is no doubt that 

 the tails can now be so docked that not even the 

 most skilful practitioner could, from outward 

 examination, discover that such an operation has 

 been performed. 



Dr. Edwardes-Ker, of Woodbridge, Suffolk, is 

 the great authority on the variety, he having bred 

 and kept it for over twenty-five years, and at the 

 same time made himself thoroughly acquainted 

 with all the specimens to be found in his locality 

 which, with portions of Dorchester, perhaps pro- 

 duces more old English sheep dogs than any other 

 part of 'the kingdom. His opinion on experience as 

 follows will no doubt be valued. He believes that 



u Many hundred years ago, when our island was 

 principally primeval forest, with but few clearings, 

 it must necessarily have been infested with wolves, 

 bears, and the lesser British carnivorae, and to 

 protect the flocks and herds it must have been 

 requisite to have a large and powerful dog, able to 

 cope with such formidable and destructive foes, 

 able to undergo any amount of fatigue, and with 



