VARIETIES OF THE DOG. 55 



No one ever drew more legitimate consequences from certain existing 

 premises. 



One other story should not be omitted of this noble breed of water- 

 dogs. A vessel was driven on the beach of Lydd, in Kent. 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 came 

 on the beach accompanied by his Newfoundland dog: he directed the 

 attention of the animal to the vessel, and put a short stick into his mouth. 

 The intelligent and courageous fellow at once understood his meaning, 

 sprung into the sea, and fought his way through the waves. He 

 could not, however, get close enough to the vessel to deliver that with 

 which he was charged ; but the crew understood what was meant, and they 

 made fast a rope to another piece of wood, and threw it towards him. The 

 noble beast dropped his own piece of wood and immediately seized that 

 which had been cast to him, and then, with a degree of strength and 

 determination scarcely credible, for he was again and again lost under the 

 waves, he dragged it through the surge and delivered it to his master. 

 A line of communication was thus formed, and every man on board was 

 rescued. 



There is, however, a more remarkable fact recorded in the Penny Ma- 

 gazine. " During a heavy gale a ship had struck on a rock near the 

 land. The only chance of escape for the shipwrecked was to get a rope 

 ashore ; for it was impossible for any boat to live in the sea as it was then 

 running. There were two Newfoundland dogs and a bull-dog on board. 

 One of the Newfoundland dogs was thrown overboard, with a rope thrown 

 round him, and perished in the waves. The second shared a similar fate : 

 but the bull-dog fought his way through that terrible sea, and, arriving safe 

 on shore, rope and all, became the saviour of the crew." 



Some of the true Newfoundland dogs have been brought to Europe and 

 have been used as retrievers. They are principally valuable for the fear- 

 less manner in which they will penetrate the thickest cover. They are 

 comparatively small, but muscular, strong, and generally black. A 

 larger variety has been bred, and is now perfectly established. He is 

 seldom used as a sporting dog, or for draught, but is admired on account 

 of his stature and beauty, and the different colours with which he is often 

 marked. Perhaps he is not quite so good-natured and manageable as the 

 smaller variety, and yet it is not often that much fault can be found with 

 him on this account. 



A noble animal of this kind was presented to the Zoological Society by 

 His Royal Highness Prince Albert. He is a great ornament to the 

 gardens ; but he had been somewhat unmanageable, and had done some 

 mischief before he was sent thither. 



A portion of Lord Byron's beautiful epitaph on the death of his New- 

 foundland dog will properly close our account of this animal : 



" The poor dog ! in life the firmest friend, 

 The first to welcome, foremost to defend ; 

 Whose honest heart is still his master's own ; 

 Who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him alone." 



THE ESQUIMAUX DOG 



is a beast of burden and of draught, usefully employed by the inhabitants 

 of the extreme parts of North America and the neighbouring islands. 



