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NATURAL 



THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG 



is, according to Youatt, simply a large Spaniel : it is the finest and largest of Water-dogs (see figure 

 on p. 121), besides being amongst the most intelligent and courageous. It is covered with thick curly 

 hair, usually black or black-and-white, the curls being more flowing and not so close and woolly as in 

 the ordinary Spaniel or the Retriever. So fully is this Dog adapted for swimming, that its feet have 

 very considerable webs, extending between the toes an evident adaptation to its aquatic habits. 



Of the use and intelligence of this Dog it is needless to give instances. Again and again it has 



saved the lives of drowning people when human help was unavailable. We can give only one 

 anecdote illustrative of the value of this Dog, whose kindness of heart is equal to his courage : who will 

 guard and play with a little child or save a strong man from drowning with equal skill and readiness : 

 " A native of Germany was travelling one evening on foot through Holland, accompanied by 

 a large Dog. Walking on a high bank, which formed one side of a dyke, his foot slipped, and he was 

 precipitated into the water ; and, being unable to swim, soon became senseless. When he recovered 

 his recollection, he found himself in a cottage on the contrary side of the dyke, surrounded by peasants, 

 who had been using the means for the recovery of drowned persons. The account given by one of 

 them was that, returning home from his labour, he observed at a considerable distance a large Dog in 

 the water, swimming and dragging, and sometimes pushing along, something that he seemed to have 

 great difficulty in supporting, but which he at length succeeded in getting into a small creek on the 

 opposite side. When the animal had pulled what he had hitherto supported as far out of the water as 

 he was able, the peasant discovered that it was the body of a man, whose face and hands the Dog was 



