PARIAH DOGS. 145 



case, there is always a tan-coloured spot on the eye, a circumstance which it is interesting to remark, 

 as a similar spot occurs in nearly all black Dogs with tan-coloured feet. 



The Terrier is used for unearthing the Fox, but his chief accomplishment is Rat-killing, in which 

 noble sport he is a great adept. " There are some extraordinary accounts of the dexterity, as well as 

 courage, of the Terrier in destroying Rats. The feats of a Dog called ' Billy ' will be long remembered. 

 He was matched to destroy one hundred large Rats in eight minutes and a half. The Rats were 

 brought into the ring in bags, and as soon as the number was complete, he was put over the railing. 

 In six minutes and thirty-five seconds they were all destroyed. In another match he destroyed the 

 same number in six minutes and thirteen seconds. At length, when he was getting old, and had but 

 two teeth and one eye left, a wager was laid of thirty sovereigns, by the owner of a Berkshire Bitch, 

 that she would kill fifty Rats in less time than Billy. The old Dog killed his fifty in five minutes 

 and six seconds. The pit was then cleared and the Bitch let in. "When she had killed thirty Rats 

 she was completely exhausted, fell into a fit, and lay barking and yelping, utterly incapable of 

 completing her task." 



THE SCOTCH TERRIER 



has a large head, short stout legs, and long, rough, shaggy hair. The colours of the pure breed are black 

 and fawn. This breed is probably of more ancient origin than the English Terrier. It is an extremely 

 intelligent, faithful, and affectionate animal, and, like its relative from south of the Border, a great 

 Rat-catcher. The " Dandie Dinmont " breed, so well known from the immortal Pepper and Mustard in 

 " Guy Mannering," is a variety of the Scotch Terrier ; so also is the Skye Terrier, which is distinguished 

 by its long hair and short legs. In all these Terriers, as well as in the English breed, a black nose 

 and black roof to the mouth are points of importance. 



PARIAH DOGS. 



Having considered the chief bond fide varieties of the Dog, we come, lastly, to those nondescript 

 animals, the Pariahs, or domesticated Dogs run wild, which occur in packs in many parts of Eastern 

 Europe and of Asia. These herds of miserable, half-starved animals are undoubtedly not true wild 

 Dogs, but degenerated tame ones, the Dog being derived from a wild ancestor, under certain circum- 

 stances shows his descent by reverting to the habits of his forbears. Instances of this occur 

 occasionally in the case of even the better breeds of Dogs. For instance : " A black Greyhound Bitch, 

 belonging to a gentleman in Scarisbrick, in Lancashire, though she had apparently been well broken- 

 in and always well used, ran away from the habitation of her master, and betook herself to the woods. 

 She killed a great many Hares and made free with the Sheep, and became an intolerable nuisance to 

 the neighbourhood. She was occasionally seen, and the depredations that were committed were 

 brought home to her. Many were the attempts made to entrap or destroy her, but in vain ; for more 

 than six months she eluded the vigilance of her pursuers. At length she was observed to creep into a 

 hole in an old barn. She was caught as she came out, and the barn being searched three whelps were 

 found, which, very foolishly, were destroyed. The Bitch evinced the utmost ferocity, and, although 

 well secured, attempted to seize every one who approached her. She was, however, dragged home, and 

 treated with kindness. By degrees her ferocity abated. In the course of two months she became 

 perfectly reconciled to her original abode, and a twelvemonth afterwards (1822), she ran successfully 

 several courses. There was still a degree of wildness in her appearance ; but, although at perfect 

 liberty, she seemed to be altogether reconciled to a domestic life." 



Captain Williamson says "that many persons affect to treat the idea of degeneration in quadruped* 

 with ridicule ; but all who have been any considerable time resident in India must be satisfied that 

 Dogs of European breed become, after every successive generation, more and more similar to the 

 Pariah, or indigenous Dog of that country. The Hounds are the most rapid in their decline, and, 

 except in the form of their ears, they are very much like many of the village curs. Greyhounds and 

 Pointers also rapidly decline, although with occasional exceptions. Spaniels and Terriers deteriorate 

 less ; and Spaniels of eight or nine generations, and without a cross from Europe, are not only as goo 

 as, but far more beautiful than, their ancestors. The climate is too severe for Mastiffs, and they d 

 not possess sufficient stamina; but, crossed by the East Indian Greyhound, they are invaluable in 

 hunting the Hog." 

 68 



