DOMESTIC DOGS. 



547 



retrieving on land the poodle relies fully as much on its general intelligence as on 

 its scent of smell, thereby resembling the Newfoundland ; and it generally hunts 

 by casting round in circles, rather than by following a direct trail. Poodles are 

 generally the dogs employed in circuses as performers, and they have frequently 

 been taught to recognise and pick out many of the cards from a pack at the 

 direction of their masters. As a remarkable instance of intelligence, Dr. Romanes 

 relates a case where a poodle, having on one occasion conducted his master to the 

 larder, and been rewarded with a piece of meat, essay*-*! to lead him again to the 



Maltese Dog. 



WHITE AND BLACK POODLES (A Hat. size). 



same spot. Being baffled in this attempt, the dog thereupon took up his master's 

 hat, with which he proceeded to the larder, and lay down beneath the shelf on 

 which was placed the coveted joint. 



This dog may be compared to a diminutive Skye terrier, and 

 should not exceed some 5 or 6 Ibs. in weight. It has a short body, 

 and is covered with very long and silky hair, which is of a uniform semi-trans- 

 parent white colour, the tail being thickly haired and carried tightly curled over 

 the back. The nose and roof of the mouth are black ; and the hair of the 

 moderately long ears, as in other terriers, mingles with that of the neck. 



Mexican The Mexican lap-dog is also pure white in colour, but with a 



Lap-Dog. flesh-coloured nose. The hair on the head and body is moderately 



long and curly, but that of the rather short tail longer and straighten The ears 



