CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 5. CARNIVORA. 225 



The Barbet is a small poodle, the production of some unknown and disadvantageous cross with 

 the true poodle. It has all the sagacity of the poodle, and will perform even more than his tricks. 

 It is always in action, always fidgety, generally incapable of much affection, but inheriting much 

 self-love and occasional ill-temper, unmanageable by any one but its owner, eaten up with red 

 mange, and frequently a nuisance to its master, and a torment to every one else. It i-, however 

 very intelligent, and truly attached to its owner. 



The barbet possesses more sagacity than most other dogs, but it is sagacity of a particular kind 

 and frequently connected with various amusing tricks. Mr. Jesse, in his "Gleanings in Natural 

 History," gives a singular illustration of this. A friend of his had a barbet that was not always 

 under proper command. In order to keep him in better order, he purchased a small whip, with 

 which he corrected him once or twice during a walk. On his return, the whip was put on a 

 table in the hall, but the next morning it was missing. It was soon afterward found concealed 

 in an out-building, and again made use of in correcting the dog. Once more it would have been 

 lost, but on watching the dog, who was suspected of having stolen it, he was seen to take it from 

 the hall table in order to hide it once more. 



DIVISION V.— CUR-DOGS— MIXED BREEDS. 



This division embraces several remarkable varieties, generally below the middling size, with 

 large eyes, and a large head, and possessing great activity and intelligence. The French matin, 

 already described, approaches this breed, but it seems to have become a distinct, permanent race. 

 At the head of the division, therefore, we must place the Cur-Dog proper. This has long had a 

 bad name as a bully and a coward, and certainly his habit of barking at every thing that passes, 

 renders him often a very annoying animal. He is, however, in a manner necessary to the laborer ; 

 he is a faithful defender of his humble dwelling ; no bribe can se'duce him from his duty ; and he 

 is likewise a useful and an effectual guard over the clothes and scanty provisions of his master, who 

 may be working in some distant part of the field. All day long he will lie upon his clothes, seem- 

 ingly asleep, but giving immediate warning of the approach of a supposed marauder. He has a 

 propensity to fly at every horse and every strange dog, and is thus often regarded as a nuisance. 



Mr. Hogg, however, in a curious parallel between the sheep-dog and the cur, gives him a good 

 character. "An exceedingly good sheep-dog," he says, "attends to nothing but the particular 

 branch of business to which he is bred. His whole capacity is exerted and exhausted in it, and 

 he is of little avail in miscellaneous matters; whereas a very indifferent cur, bred about the house, 

 aud accustomed to assist in every thing, will often put the more noble breed to disgrace in these 

 little services. If some one calls out that the cows are in the corn, or the hens in the garden, the 

 house colley needs no other hint, but runs and turns them out. The shepherd's dog knows not 

 what is astir, and, if he is called out in a hurry for such work, all that he will do is to run to the 

 hill, or rear himself on his haunches to see that no sheep are running away. A well-bred sheep- 

 dog, if coming hungry from the hills, and getting into a milk-house, would likely think of nothing 

 else than filling his belly with the cream. Not so his initiated brother: he is bred at home t<> 

 far higher principles of honor. I have known such lie night and day among from ten to twenty 

 pails full of milk, and never once break the cream of one of them with the tip of his tongue, nor 

 would he suffer cat, rat, or any other creature to touch it. While, therefore, the cur is a nuisance., 

 iie is very useful in his way, and we would further plead for him, that he possesses a great deal 

 <>f the sagacity and all the fidelity of the choicest breed of dogs." 



The Terriers are of such variety as to render it difficult to describe them. We shall only 

 mention the principal breeds. 



The English Terrier has the forehead convex, the eye prominent,, the muzzle pointed, the 

 tail thin and arched, the fur short, the ears of moderate size, half erect, and usually of a deep- 

 black color, with a yellow spot over the eyes. The coat may be either smooth' or rough. The 

 isinooth-haired ones are more delicate in appearance, and are somewhat more exposed to injury 

 or accident; but in courage, sagacity, and strength, there is very little difference, if the dogs are 

 equally well bred. The rough terrier possibly obtained his shaggy coat from the cur, and the 

 smooth terrier may derive his from the hound. 

 • Vol. I.— 29 



