1 86 Modern Dogs. 



naturally loth to part with his animal, as the liveli- 

 hood of the family depends so much thereon. 



Local traditions say that a Spaniard who settled 

 somewhere in Wiltshire, about 250 years ago, first 

 introduced the truffle-hunting dog, and since that 

 time the industry, if it can be so called, has 

 been carried on. The dogs are very much inbred, 

 thus difficult to rear. They are of any colour, 

 white, even black, and any intermingling of the two. 

 The lighter coloured and white dogs are best for 

 the purpose, as they are easier seen in the coverts 

 and undergrowth. In some instances a black dog 

 has a broad white collar or front placed around 

 his neck, so that he may be better seen by his 

 worker. The training of the dog should com- 

 mence when he is about four months old, when 

 he is taught to bring to his master a truffle which 

 is thrown for him. This quickly done, his next 

 task is to fetch one of them which is hidden, and 

 following this a truffle is first covered with earth, 

 and this, too, he is encouraged to find and take 

 to his master. So gradually the lessons continue, 

 until the puppy will be quite reliable in finding and 

 bringing in fungi which have been buried by his 

 master two inches or so underground, the dog 

 being, of course, rewarded with some little dainty 

 each time he does his duty well. So far perfect, 



