MR. RAPER o.v BULL-DOGS. 



89 



be so much in excess as to destroy the general symmetry of the dog. (2) The general 

 appearance of the dog (that is, the impression that he makes as a whole on the eye of the 

 judge). (3) Carriage : the dog should roll in his gait. He generally runs rather sideways. His 

 hind-legs should not be lifted high as he runs, so that his hind-feet seem to skim the ground 

 (4) Size : from about 20 Ibs. to 60 Ibs. 



"Authorities differ regarding the origin of the Bull-dog, but we may safely aver that the 

 demand produced the supply, and as the favourite sport of James I. of England had its rise, 

 reached its zenith, and declined, so the animals best suited for the purpose of bull-baiting were 



MR. MEAGER'S BULI.-DOG BISMARCK. 



fostered in these islands, which now claim them as indigenous ; but, the time arriving when the 

 village cry of " No bull, no parson ! " became fainter and fainter, as our civilisation increased, so 

 the Bull-dog of our ancestors has degenerated or improved (as the taste of our readers may 

 suggest) into an animal to be pampered and petted and carefully bred for points, to be admired 

 by his owner, or to compete for honours on the show-bench of our many exhibitions. As the 

 field trials for our sporting dogs have done much to encourage the improvement of their mental 

 qualities, which were beginning to be neglected in the pursuit of symmetry of form for show 

 purposes, so without the field day for the Bull-dog the qualities for which he was famous 

 are fast disappearing, under the blighting influence of this enlightened age. His service 

 to the butchers in catching and throwing down cattle which he formerly did with surprisingly 

 apparent ease, by seizing an ox by the nose, and either holding him perfectly still or throwing 

 him on to his side at his master's command is now out of date, with his more distant 

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