VARIETIES OF THE DOG. 49 



This dog, however, possesses a very peculiar kind of intelligence. It 

 will almost perform the common offices of a servant : it will ring the bell 

 and open the door. Mr. Wilkie, of Ladythorn in Northumberland, had 

 a poodle which he had instructed to go through all the apparent agonies of 

 dying. He would fall on one side, stretch himself out, and move his hind 

 legs as if he were in great pain ; he would next simulate the convulsive 

 throbs of departing life, and then stretch out his limbs and thus seem as if 

 he had expired. In this situation he would remain motionless, until he had 

 his master's command to rise. 



The portrait of Sancho, a poodle, that was with difficulty forced from 

 the grave of his master, after the battle of Salamanca, is familiar to many 

 of our readers. Enticed from his post he could not be, nor was he at 

 length taken away until weakened by grief and starvation. He by degrees 

 attached himself to his new master, the Marquis of Worcester, but not 

 with the natural ardour of a poodle. He was attentive to every command, 

 and could perform many little domestic offices. Sometimes he would 

 exhibit considerable buoyancy of spirit ; but there oftener seemed to be 

 about him the recollection of older and closer friendship. 



Another poodle occupies an interesting place in the history of the 

 Peninsular war. He too belonged to a French officer, who was killed 

 at the battle of Castella. The French were compelled to retreat before 

 they could bury their dead, and the soldiers wished to carry with them 

 this regimental favourite ; but he would not be forced from the corpse of 

 his master. Some soldiers afterwards traversing the field of battle, one of 

 them discovered the cross of the Legion of Honour on the breast of the 

 fallen officer, and stooped to take it away, when the dog flew savagely at 

 him, and would not quit his hold, until the bayonet of another soldier laid 

 him lifeless. 



A veterinary surgeon, who, before any other animal than the horse was 

 acknowledged to be the legitimate object of medical care, did not disdain 

 to attend to the diseases of the dog, used to say that there were two breeds 

 which he never wished to see in his infirmary, namely, the poodle and the 

 Norfolk spaniel ; for, although not always difficult to manage, he could 

 never attach them to him, but they annoyed him by their pitiful and 

 imploring gaze during the day, and their mournful howling at night. 



Custom has determined that the natural coat of this animal shall be 

 taken from him. It may be a relief to the poodle for a part of his coat 

 to be stripped off in hot weather, and the curly hair which is left on his 

 chest, contrasted with his smooth and well-rounded loins and quarters, 

 may make it look pretty enough ; but it should be remembered that he 

 was not designed by nature to be thus exposed to the cold of winter, and 

 that there are no dogs so liable to rheumatism, and that rheumatism dege- 

 nerating into palsy, as the well-trimmed poodle. 



THE BAR BET 



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. 



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