THE LYCISCAN GROUP. 713 



sea-shore and the banks of rivers amongst the fishing-craft, 

 they have become eminently aquatic in their habits, swim- 

 ming and diving with ease, and picking up and bringing on 

 shore any thing which may fall into the water. 



These dogs have been largely introduced into Europe, 

 where they are admired for their massive forms, their docile 

 habits, and the fidelity with which they attach themselves 

 to our service. But it is to be observed that the dogs of the 

 country itself, employed in the labours of draught, differ 

 greatly from those which we bring up in a state of ease, 

 and whose faculties we cultivate for our gratification. The 

 dogs of the Island approach much more nearly to the sledge- 

 dogs of Labrador than those which are reared up at our 

 towns and country houses in Europe. They have the same 

 wolf-like aspect as the dogs of Labrador, resembling them 

 in the obliquity of the eye and red colour of the iris ; and 

 they have the odour of the wolf so strong as to be scarcely fit 

 to enter a human dwelling. 



The Newfoundland Dog, as he is known to us in Europe, 

 manifests a degree of sagacity rarely surpassed in any other 

 race. He has not, indeed, the watchful habitudes, nor sur- 

 passing instincts of the Mastiff, in guarding our persons and 

 property ; but when he is intrusted with any charge, he 

 manifests no indifference towards the performance of it. He 

 will rarely attack human beings unless rendered vicious by 

 confinement ; but when a thief enters the guarded precincts, 

 the dog will follow him from place to place until he has 

 departed. He is fond of carrying any thing for the grati- 

 fication of his master, and can be readily taught to go to 

 markets and other places to bring the commodities with 

 which he is intrusted. He delights to dash into the waves, 

 and bring what is cast into them. But of all his endowments, 

 that which has excited the greatest interest, is the instinctive 

 desire which he manifests to save the lives of drowning per- 

 sons. The efforts which he makes for this purpose, too, are 

 combined with such adoption of the fitting means as are cal- 



