VERTEBRATA. 



are valuable and useful. The] arc remarkabl] docile and obedient to their masters, serviceable 

 in all the fishing countries, and, yoked in pairs, draw the winter's fuel home. They are faithful, 

 good-natured, and ever friendly t<> man. They will defl ad their master and their master's prop- 

 erty, and Buffer no person to injure either the one or the other; and. however extreme may be 

 the danger, they will nol leai e them for an instant. They seem only to want the faculty of speech 

 in order to make their good wishes and feelings understood, and they are capable of being trained 

 for all the purposes for which every other variety of the canine species is used. 



They are fond of the water, and having powerful limbs, and broad, webbed feet, are excellent 

 swimmer-. No other dog can compare with them in this element. They mav be made exceed- 

 ingly useful to the sport-man in pursuing water-fowl. I)r. Lewis gives a curious and interesting 

 account of the manner in which a breed of these dogs are used on the Chesapeake in drawing the 

 flocks of canvas-back ducks within range of the sporting parties. With one of these animals, the 

 sportsmen, "consisting of se\,-ral persons all prepared with heavy double-barreled duck-guns, 

 ensconce themselves at break of day behind some one of the numerous blinds temporarily erected 

 along the shore, contiguous to the feeding-grounds of these ducks. Every thing being arranged, 

 and the morning mists cleared off, the ducks will be seen securely feeding on the shallows, not 

 less than several hundreds of yards from the shore. The dog is now put in motion by throwing 

 stones from one side <<( the blind to the other. This will soon be perceived by the ducks, who, 

 stimulated by an extreme degree of curiosity, and feeling anxious to inform themselves as to this 

 sudden and singular phenomenon, raise their heads high in the water and commence swimming 

 f.r the shore. The dogbeimj kept in motion, the ducks will not arrest their progress until within 

 a few feet of the water's edge, and oftentimes will stand on the shore staring, as it were, in mute 

 and silly astonishment at the playful motions of the dog. If well trained, the dog takes no notiee 

 whatever «>f the ducks, but continues his fascination until the quick report of the battery announces 

 to him that his services are now wanted in another quarter, and he immediately rushes into the 

 water to arrest the rli<xht of the maimed and wounded, who, struw, r lin<r on everv side, dve the 

 water with their rich blood." 



It i- not for sporting, however, that the Newfoundland breed arc chiefly used. They are excel- 

 lent guardians of the house, and exceedingly pleasant companions, as well for the old as the young. 

 They have acquired great reputation for rescuing drowning persons from the water. A few anec- 

 3, among the many on record, will illustrate this trait of character. 



•• A native of Germany was traveling one evening on foot through Holland, accompanied by a 



_ of this breed. 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 opposite side of the dyke, sur- 

 rounded by peasants, who had Keen using the means for the recovery of drowned persons. The 

 ;nt given l>v one of them was, that, returning home from his labor, he observed at a consider- 

 able 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 industriously licking. The peasant hastened 

 to a bridge across the dyke, and having obtained assistance, the body was conveyed to a neigh- 

 boring house, when- proper means soon restored the drowned man to life." 



Dr. Beattie relate- an instance of a gentleman attempting to cross the river Dec, then frozen 

 over, near Aberdeen, Scotland. The ice gave way about the middle of the river; but having a 

 gun in his hand, he supported himself by placing it across the opening. His dog then ran to a 

 neighboring village, where, with the mosl -iirniticant gestures, he pulled a man by the coat, and 

 prevailed on him to follow him. Tiny arrived at the spot just in time to save the drowning 

 man's life. 



One other Btory should not be omitted of this noble breed of do^s. A vessel was driven 

 on the beach of Lydd, in Kent. England. The surf was rolling furiously. , Eight poor fellows 

 were crying for help, but not a boat could be got off to their assistance. At length a gentleman 



