280 SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



Reasoning powers the dog undoubtedly possesses, quite on a par wiln 

 nrdinarv humanity, if we may believe scoies of these writers, lint it is 

 probabfe that the grandsires of some of them " drew good long-lvwx at 

 Hastino-s," and they, like Hubert, may lay claim to a hereditary knowledge 

 jf the weapon. It is to be feared that dog-stories w^ill soon be sunk to a 

 par w'xth Jis'/t-stories ! The truth is, the dog knows enough, and there aie 

 authenticated cases enough of his wonderful sagacity, without having an 

 sir of discredit thrown over the whole «'f them, by fanciful exaggera- 

 tions. 



The comparative intelligence, and the comparative value to man, of the 

 different species of the dog, wf)uld be very differently estimated by those 

 who have been ])laced in situations to be particularly benefited by the 

 peculiar instincts of this race or that. Nearly every species has some 

 traits, some uses, where it is unequaled by the others; and each in its 

 place is valuable. I do not, however, mean these remarks, or any ulhers 

 which I have made in favor of the dog, to apply to the mongrel tribe of 

 curs. Tliat there have been valuable individuals from this disreputable 

 stock, all; must admit ; but the miserable, cowardly and thievish character 

 of the ma4':,of them has been proverbial in all time. Far too many of 

 them are kept by our farmers in the place of noble and serviceable animals 

 (and multitudes of them, owned by idlers and vagabonds, infest the country 

 and dc). ten times more mischief to our flocks than diseases and beasts of 



■pi-ey- ' 



The Sheep-Dog. — Buff(jn thus eloqilently describes the sheep-dog,* and 

 compares his sagacity and value to man, with other racest : 



" This animal, faithful to Man. will always preserve a portion of his empire and a degree 

 of superiority over other beings. He reigns at the head of his flock, and makes himself hettei 

 understood "than the voice of the shepherd. Safety, order, and discipline are the fruits ol 

 his vigilance and animal. They are a people submitted to his management, whom he con- 

 ducts and protects, and against whom he never applies force but for the pieservation of good 

 order. . . . If we consider that this animal, notwithstanding his ugliness, and his wild 

 and melancholy look, is superior in instinct to all others; that he has a 'decided character i» 

 which education has comparatively little share ; that he is the only animal born perfectly 

 trained for the service of others ; that, guided by natural powers alone, he applies himself to 

 the care of our flocks, a duty which he executes with singular assiduity, vigilance, and fidel- 

 ity ; that he conducts them with an admirable intelligence, which is a part and [)ortion o 

 himself; that his .sagacity astonishes at the same time that it gives repose to his master, 

 while it requires great time and trouble to instruct other dogs for the purposes to which they 

 are destined ; if we reflect on these facts, we shall be confirmed in tlie opinion that the 

 shepherd's dog is the true dog of Nature, the stock and model of the whole species." 



I shall call attention to but a few of the most distinguished varieties of 

 the sheep-dog. 



The Sp.\nish Sheep- Dog. — Of the origin of this celebrated race, I do 

 not recollect to have seen anything. I have observed them several times 

 spoken of, latterly, in newspapers and agricultural publications, as the 

 same variety with the Alpine Spaniel, or liernardine dog. This, I think, 

 must be an error, though there maybe a general resemblance between 

 the two species. Arrogante, on the next page, though a dog of pro- 

 digious power, decidedly lacks the massive proportions, both in body 

 and limbs, of several Bernardine dogs, which 1 have seen, of unquestiona- 



• I stated near thn clo«e nf Lfitter V. that therp are no shepherd dogs large and powerful enoucb to en- 

 counter and kill wolves and vagrant dogs, except the great Sheep. dog of Spain, and that he is sn f<'rocioai 

 that he might frequently bring his owner into difficulty, and even endanger human life. — I was mistaken. 

 Crosses between this and other species seems to have mitigated the ferocity of the Spanish dog, and (till 

 teft it within the power of two to overcome a wolf, as will appear from what follow*. 



4 Buffon'8 Natu'-al History, vol. v., pp. 306, 31e!. 



