VARIETIES OF SHEEP DOGS. 69 



great attachment to his master, he unites strength with intelli- 

 gence, and, while implacable toward intruders, toward members 

 of his masters family he is docile and gentle. His hearing is 

 remarkably acute, for he can detect the difference between a 

 familiar and a strange footstep, however light it may be. 



THE shepherd's DOG. 



The rapid increase in the importance of sheep husbandry 

 in this country will soon direct attention to the value of proper 

 dogs for assisting in their management and protection. There 

 are several different breeds used for this purpose, varying in 

 different countries with their several local requhements. In 

 Spain the Pyrenean, or St. Bernard's dogs, are found valuable 

 to accompany the large merino flocks on their annual migra- 

 tions to the mountains, as a protection agamst the wolves 

 infesting the Pyrenees. In Spain, too, the mastiff is highly 

 prized, an improved, large breed, with strong feet, short hair 

 and slightly pointed nose, being much in use. 



A gentleman of Delaware gave, some years ago, the follow- 

 ing account of a shepherd's dog of the Spanish breed in his 

 possession : 



" The dog is three times as large as the shepherd's dog de- 

 scribed by Buffon, bat is endowed with the same good qualities : 

 immense strength and great mildness in his usual deportment, 

 though ferocious toward other dogs. I can say, without exag- 

 geration, that at least twenty dogs have been killed in my barn- 

 yard, or on my farm, by my dog Montague. His dimensions 

 are three feet eleven inches from his eyes to the root of his tail, 

 and two feet eight inches high over the shoulders. He is a 

 fine animal, entirely white. I prefer that color in recollection 

 of the story of old Jacob. In fact, I had formerly a black dog, 

 and many of my lambs were bom black. Since I have had 

 Montague and his mother I have very few black lambs. The 

 natural instinct of this animal is to guard your sheep against 

 wolves and dogs. No other training is required, but to keep 

 them constantly with your flock, the moment they are from the 

 litter, until they are grown." 



What is commonly known as the shepherd's dog is a smaller 

 breed, seldom more than two feet high. Those in France are 

 usually black with white touches on breast, face, legs, etc. ; 

 with sharp head and nose, and with a countenance full of alert- 

 ness and intelligence. In Great Britain, particularly in Scot- 

 land, the colors of the shepherd's dog are more mixed with shades 

 of red and brown ; or black dogs with sharp ears, turning down 

 at the tips. The Scotch breed, or coUey, is a light and active one. 



