388 ALL ABOUT DOGS 



mune with the Spirit of Darkness. To meet a 

 black dog on a dark or stormy night was deemed a very 

 unlucky sign; dogs were said to be possessed by evil 

 spirits, and to haunt the wicked and in more than one 

 story the evil one himself has been stated to have taken 

 the form of the faithful friend and companion of man. 

 I will conclude these anecdotes about dogs with the 

 following excellent advice given by the latewell-known 

 sportsman, the Hon. Grantley Berkeley, in the pages 

 of " The Field," more than forty years since : " Before 

 you chastise a dog, be not only sure that he is in fault, 

 but also ascertain that he himself understands in what 

 respect he has done wrong. Take care not to punish 

 him so severely that terror and pain combined obliter- 

 ate the why and the wherefore from the sufferer's re- 

 collection, if you do, you cowe the dog, without amend- 

 ing his manners. To teach tricks to dogs, (in the gen- 

 eral way, and, unless they are dogs belonging to those 

 whose living is to be earned by the employment of per- 

 forming dogs,) either with cards, numbers, or letters, 

 is infinitely beneath a sportsman, as well as insulting to 

 the useful and thinking capabilities of the canine 

 race!" 



