60 



SECOND DIVISION OF THE 



that it discharges in the most admirable way : there is evidently a kind 

 and wise design in this." 



This account of the French sheep-dog, or of the sheep-dog everywhere, 

 is as true as it is beautiful. One age succeeds to another, we pass from 

 one climate to another, and everything varies and changes, but the shep- 

 herd's dog is what he ever was the guardian of our flocks. There are, 

 however, two or more species of this dog; the one which Professor 

 Grognier has described, and which guards and guides the sheep in the 

 open and level country, where wolves seldom intrude ; another crossed 

 with the mastiff, or little removed from that dog, used in the woody and 

 mountainous countries, their guard more than their guide. a In Great 

 Britain, where he has principally to guide and not to guard the flock, he is 



THE ENGLISH SHEEP-DOG. 



comparatively a small dog. He is so in the northern and open parts of 

 the country, where activity is principally wanted ; but, in the more en- 

 closed districts, and where strength is often needed to turn an obstinate 

 sheep, he is crossed with some larger dog, as the rough terrier, or some- 

 times the pointer, or now and then the bull-dog : in fact, almost any 

 variety that has strength and stoutness may be employed. Thus we obtain 

 the larger sheep-dog and the drover's dog. The sagacity, forbearance, 

 and kindness of the sheep-dog are generally retained, but from these crosses 

 there is occasionally a degree of ferocity from which the sheep often 

 suffer. 



In other countries, where the flock is exposed to the attack of the wolf, 



8 The migratory sheep, in some parts of 

 the south of France almost as numerous 

 as in Spain, are attended by a goat, as a 



guide ; and the intelligence and apparent 

 pride which he displays are remarkable. 



