194 Modern Dogs. 



his master's equipage perfect unless it had a nicely 

 spotted dog running under the carriage at the 

 horses' heels. The Dalmatian differs thus much 

 from other dogs that his attachment was to the 

 carriage and horses, other dogs make friends with 

 the human race. 



Perhaps it was for this reason the coach dog 

 obtained a reputation for stupidity which it did not 

 deserve. It showed uncommon skill and sagacity 

 in keeping close to the carriage in the busiest and 

 most crowded thoroughfares, was seldom or never 

 lost, and " Idstone " tells us of a celebrated per- 

 forming dog of this variety which acted as clown, 

 and the best of the kind he had ever seen. 



The Dalmatian still often appears and assists to 

 earn his master's living by performing on the stage ; 

 many good ones of the kind I have seen, but he is 

 too staid and sober to be a perfect " clown " dog, 

 and go through such funny antics as that brown and 

 white cross-bred creature " Professor " Wingfield 

 has had so long as the leading member of his 

 excellent troupe of performing canines. 



When taken out of the stable into the house, 

 our Dalmatian makes quite as good a companion 

 as any other dog ; he is kindly in disposition, by 

 no means quarrelsome indeed I cannot call to 

 recollection the time when I saw one "have a turn" 



