56 THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



"According to the tradition of the holy fathers of the great Saint Bernard, their race 

 descends from the crossing of a bitch (a Bulldog species) of Denmark and a Mastiff (Shepherd's 

 dog) of the Pyrenees. The descendants of this crossing, who have inherited from the Danish 

 dog its extraordinary size and bodily strength of the one part, and from the Pyrenean Mastifl 

 the intelligence, the exquisite sense of smell, and at the same time the faithfulness and sagacity, 

 of the other part, have acquired in the space of five centuries so glorious a notoriety through- 

 out Europe that they well merit the name of a distinct race for themselves. 



" In winter the service of the male dogs (the females are employed or Engaged only at 

 the last extremity) is regulated as follows : Two dogs, one old and one young, travel over 

 every morning the route on the Italian side of the mountain towards Aosta. Two more make 

 the voyage on the Swiss side towards Martigny, to a distance of about nine miles from the 

 Hospice. They all go just to the last cabins of refuge that have been constructed for the 

 benefit of travellers. Even when the snow has fallen during the night the dogs find their 

 way surely and correctly, and do not deviate from the beaten way a yard. The marks of 

 their feet leave a track which is easy for travellers to follow as far as the Hospice. Two 

 dogs are made to go over the same road together, so if one perishes it is replaced by another 

 a young one, who is instructed and trained by the survey dog, of which he is the pupil. 

 When the dogs arrive at the cabins of refuge they enter them to see if there a/e any travellers 

 seeking shelter there, in which case they entice them to follow. If they find any travellers 

 who have succumbed to the cold, the dogs try to revive them by imparting warmth in licking 

 their hands and face, which not seldom produces the desired effect. If these means are inefficient, 

 they return in all speed to the Hospice, where they know how to make themselves understood. 

 . . . The monks immediately set out, well provided with means of recovery. 



"In 1812 a terrible snow-storm took place, and the aid of the monks and dogs was so con- 

 stantly required, that even the female dogs, the most feeble animals, were called into requisition, 

 and perished. There were a sufficient number of males left, but not a single female. How was 

 the breed to be kept up? The monks resolved to obtain some females of the Newfoundland breed, 

 celebrated for their strength, and accustomed to a cold climate. This idea turned out useless when 

 put in practice, because the young dogs had long hair. In winter this long hair so collected the 

 snow that the poor beasts succumbed under its weight, and perished. The monks then tried crossing 

 one of their own dogs with the offspring of the cross breed, with their short stubby hair. At 

 last this plan succeeded. From that bastard female dog they have reconstituted the race of 

 dogs that are now at the Hospice. 'These dogs, notwithstanding their cross with the New- 

 foundland, have the same valour and courage as the ancient race, because, by an intelligent 

 and systematic choice, they rear for service and reproduction only the pups who approach the 

 nearest, by their exterior form and appearance, to the original and fatherly race. Those that 

 proved themselves unable to sustain the work, or who, from their long hair, were disabled, 

 were either given as souvenirs to friends of the Hospice, or else sold. Of such are those that have 

 been sold to M. de Pourtales, at Mettlin, near Berne, and to M. Rougemont, at Loewenberg, near 

 Morat. These dogs come directly from the Hospice, where they are not fit for work on account of 

 their long hair, but are distinguished by their colossal size and excellent qualities. They always 

 retain in the Hospice the finest dogs, and train them for service ; those who do not possess all the 

 marks of genuine breed are given away or sold, because among the number they still find some 

 pups with long hair, who thus reveal their motherly ancestry. 



" It is now some ten years since it could be read in many of the papers that a Mr. 

 Essig, of Leonberg, had presented to the Hospice a couple of dogs of the celebrated Leonberg 



