708 THE DOG. 



tivated crops, he becomes vigilant, keeping his eye upon the 

 flock, so that they may not stray into the forbidden grounds, 

 and gently turning them back when they pass beyond their 

 allotted limits. This is the peculiar duty of the Shepherd's 

 Dog in most parts of France, which has given rise to those 

 charming descriptions of the habits of this animal which the 

 poets and naturalists of the country have given us. It is in- 

 teresting to observe these docile creatures watching their 

 little flock, obeying every sign of the shepherd, and slowly 

 pacing round the little patches of pasture on which the animals 

 are confined. In countries, again, where the flocks are large, 

 and suffered to spread over great tracts of ground, as in the 

 mountainous parts of England and Scotland, the same delicacy 

 of management is not necessary or practicable. The dogs in 

 this case are taught to run swiftly to distant parts, to head the 

 flock, to turn it to either hand, or bring it back to the shepherd. 

 In the British Islands, the Shepherd's Dogs present consider- 

 able diversities of form and habits. Those of the southern 

 counties of downs are mostly a peculiar breed, with shaggy 

 furs, pricked ears, and generally with short or rudimental 

 tails. They are rude, noisy, and generally less tender to- 

 wards their charge than the dogs of the cultivated parts of 

 France and Germany. In the countries of enclosures, the 

 English Sheep-Dogs are of every sort, and have rarely the 

 characters distinctive of a true breed. In the mountainous 

 parts of the north of England and south of Scotland, the 

 dogs of this class have acquired a more uniform set of cha- 

 racters, and so have become a breed or race, the individuals 

 resembling one another ; and they excel all the others in the 

 faculties and habits proper to their condition. They are 

 termed Colleys, probably from the Celtic Coillean or Cuillean, 

 signifying a little dog or whelp. This kind of dog is placed 

 more in habitual communication with his master than most 

 others. He inhabits the same cabin, and becomes, as it 

 were, a member of the household. He contracts much of 

 the simplicity of habits and manners distinctive of those 



