MASTIFF FEROCITY IMPRUDENCE OF DOG FANCIERS. 163 



very accurate or discriminating in matters of pedigree, any more than Horse 

 Dealers, on the same account, in respect to horses ; and not at all improbably, this 

 true-bred Mastiff might have a dip or two of the Bull Dog blood in him. How- 

 ever that might be, our Butcher was extremely attached to his dog, and the at- 

 tachment appeared to be mutual, the dog following his master abroad on all occa- 

 sions. Some horse-flesh being purchased, part of it was given to the dog, but not 

 satisfied with his allowance, he took an opportunity of laying hold of the remaining 

 portion, when the Master attempting to take it from him, this favourite seized his 

 arm with the ferocity of a tiger, and tore away the flesh to the very bone ; quit- 

 ting hold of the arm, he instantly flew at the man's throat, on which he fastened 

 in such a true bull-dog style, that he could be disengaged by no other means, than 

 by a rope fixed round his neck by the neighbours, who were most fortunately at 

 hand, or beyond doubt, the man would have been killed. The dog was nearly 

 strangled before he could be compelled to quit his gripe. But the most curious 

 part of the story remains to be related ; yet however curious, it is not without 

 parallel, and that among persons who ought to be more prone to reflection than 

 butchers. So ardent and extraordinary was this man's attachment to his dog, that 

 no importunity could prevail on him to permit the animal to be destroyed, not- 

 withstanding his own life was for a considerable time, in imminent danger from 

 the wounds he had received ! But wonders are not to cease yet- it turned out to 

 be merely ' a fit of the brute' in the dog, a sudden gust of passion on being deprived 

 of his fill of that which seemed luxurious to his canine appetite horse-flesh ; and 

 he afterwards returned to his former habits of attachment to his master, of quiet- 

 ness, gentleness, and docility ! 



As a proper appendage to the above confiding attachment of the butcher, the 

 following fact will be appropriate. The death of the Hon. Mrs. Duff, a few years 

 since, by a bite in the face, from a favourite dog, which proved to be rabid, must 

 still be fresh in the public mind. Soon after this happened, it chanced that the 

 favourite Spaniel of a man of rank, became diseased, exhibiting some of the most 

 prominent symptoms of rabies : it was in vain nevertheless, to urge the extreme 

 danger of the case, and the injustice even, to persons within reach of exposure, by 

 running the risk of suffering an animal in that state to live. But no arguments 

 could prevail, although strengthened by a memento of the fate of the unfortunate 

 lady the dog was preserved, and the risk wantonly defied, of the most deplorable 

 calamity which can happen to human nature. 



But a truce with the melancholy and desponding parts of our theme, and let us 

 make way for something more consoling, at least for that which may afford amuse- 

 ment which is not entirely destitute of profit. We have already descanted on the 

 solemn and not unpleasing music of the Mastiff's howl ; but brother Hogg, the 

 celebrated Ettrick Shepherd and Poet, leaves us behind at a vast distance, in regard 

 to this branch of canine qualification. The Poet narrates that, when he was 



