538 



CARNIVORES. 



the lemon-and-white and liver-and-white pointers; the one strain being in the 

 ascendant at one time and the other at another. In the best-bred pointers the 

 head should be carried high when at work ; animals which have too much of the 

 foxhound in their blood carrying the head down, and seeking after a " foot-scent," 

 instead of trusting entirely to the " body-scent," while their tails are not carried in 

 the orthodox rigid position. 



The Dalmatian, coach, spotted, or " plum-pudding dog," is prob- 

 ff ' ably allied to the pointer and hounds, although there have been 

 suggestions of its affinity to the great Dane. It is distinguished by its dark spots, 

 which are by preference jet-black on a white ground. In the modern breed these 

 spots are large and evenly distributed, varying in size from that of a shilling to 

 that of a half-crown ; but in the older breed they were much smaller, and more 

 like the "ticks" or flecks of the pointer. As being in England essentially a 

 carriage-dog, next to the regularity of its spots attention is directed to the perfect 

 development of the limbs. In its native country the Dalmatian dog is employed as 

 a pointer, and is said to stand well to game. 



With the mastiff we arrive at the fifth division of domestic dogs, 



characterised by the more or less shortened muzzle, in which the 

 lower jaw frequently projects beyond the upper, while the skull is greatly elevated 

 above the eyes by the enlargement of the air-cells in the frontal bones. The 

 typical forms are of large size and powerful build, with either pendent or erect ears, 

 pendulous lips, and generally short coats and thin tails. They are used chiefly as 

 watch-dogs, or for fighting. Of the true mastiffs there are two breeds, the English 

 and the Cuban. The modern English mastiff is a powerful dog of large size, 

 which, when pure bred, is distinguished by its fully pendent ears. The head is 

 relatively larger, and the body less massive than in the bull-dog ; the head showing 

 a slight furrow down the middle, and the body having a slight bend. In height 

 the male should not fall below 29 inches, while the female should reach at least 27 

 inches. The coat is fine and soft, but may become rather rough on the tail. The 

 colour most esteemed is either a stone-fawn with black " points," or a brindle, 

 without any admixture of white ; but red mastiffs are not unknown. 



This dog is distinguished by its hideous appearance, its ferocity, 



and its low degree of intelligence. Its head should be square in 

 shape, and as wide as possible, while the skin on the forehead should be well 

 wrinkled. The indentation between the eyes, technically known as the " stop," 

 should be of great depth and size ; while the eyes should be dark, rather prominent, 

 far apart, and set horizontally. The ears, which vary somewhat in shape, are 

 required to be small, and placed high on the head, although not at its summit. 

 Breeders also attach importance to the shortness of the upper as compared with 

 the lower jaw, this being an essential feature when the dog has to seize large 

 animals. Needless to say, the tusks should be large and powerful, and the incisor 

 teeth ought to form a regular series. The shape of the body and limbs is 

 admirably adapted for the attainment of the maximum strength and power. A 

 male should not exceed 50 Ibs. in weight, while the female should scale about 10 Ibs. 

 less. The coat should be close and fine, the favourite colours being either pure 

 white, or white marked with brindle, fallow, or red ; while uniformly coloured 



