68 THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



" The head has generally from twenty to twenty-five points out of the hundred assigned to it, 

 and rightly so, as it is one of the chief characteristics of the breed. It should be essentially 

 an open countenance, full of true dignity and benevolence. 



"The Newfoundland has an immense development of brain, and a first-class education is 

 not thrown away on him ; he is an apt scholar, but, like some clever boys, at times rather 

 stubborn ; still, firmness and kindness will always carry the point. It is surprising to notice 

 the change in his expression after becoming the frequent companion of his master ; always 

 intelligent, he now looks half humanised, and, other things being equal, this is a great advantage 

 to him on the show-bench, and is pretty sure to turn the scale in his favour. 



" It is much to be regretted that the attempts made in 1876, at Maidstone and Ports- 

 mouth, to carry out 'water trials' or 'life-saving contests' have not been repeated, as with 

 good management they would have become most interesting and useful, and no doubt have 

 been the means of many dogs being more carefully trained for this service, and winning the 

 medals of the Royal Humane Society. I trust the day will soon come when a thoroughly 

 well-trained Newfoundland will be attached to all the chief ' preventive stations ' round the 

 coast. He not only would be ready to rescue life from drowning, but his great intelligence 

 and observation could be enlisted in many ways to further the objects for which the service 

 is instituted. His scent and sight are wonderfully keen, and his curiosity unbounded ; and, 

 after due training, I would back him to drop to brandy and tobacco as truly as any Setter 

 would to grouse or partridge." 



It will here be seen that though Mr. Browne and Mr. Coats are at one on the question 

 of size, they differ concerning colour. For our own part we are of opinion that a rusty tinge 

 is far from objectionable ; in fact, we rather like it. 



In describing the points of these dogs we will take first, as we place first, that feature 

 which generally first strikes the eye and impresses the mind. 



The Head. This should be large, broad, and rather flat on the skull, with the 

 occipital bone well pronounced. The forehead is bold, but there is no decided stop ; the 

 jaws of medium length, and cut off abruptly. Without being tight-skinned, there should be 

 no decided wrinkles or loose-folding skin such as we have in the Bulldog, Bloodhound, 

 and the Thibet Mastiff, and no deep flews. The nostrils are large and wide, and the whole 

 face is clean that is, covered with short hair only. 



The Eye is rather small and deep-set, varying in colour, but generally a shade of 

 brown ; it should never be bloodshot that is, showing the haw or conjunctiva, as seen in the 

 Bloodhound and some St. Bernards. 



The Ear should be small. Nathaniel Hawthorne, the American writer, describes it as 

 "a small and mouse-like ear." It should lie close, and be covered with a short velvety coat, 

 with longer hair at the edges. 



The Neck is generally rather short, and the great abundance of thick hair standing out 

 from it adds to that an appearance of its being more so than it really is. It is an object 

 with breeders to improve the dog by increasing the length ; it should be thick and muscular, 

 swelling gradually towards the attachment to the shoulders. 



The Chest and Body. The chest should be both deep and wide, and the ribs round, with 

 the back broad and muscular, with strong loins. This formation is of great importance to a 

 dog whose work is for the most part in the water, enabling him to float with ease. 



The Legs should be large of bone, well clothed with muscle, and the fore ones quite 



