298 THE CUR DOG. 



How that wonderful Dog had performed this task, not even his master could con- 

 ceive. It may be that the sheep had been accustomed to place themselves under the 

 guidance of the Dog, though they might have fled from the presence of the shepherd ; 

 and that when they felt themselves bewildered in the darkness they were quite willing 

 to entrust themselves to their well-known friend and guardian. 



The memory of the Shepherd's Dog is singularly tenacious, as may appear from the 

 fact that one of these Dogs, when assisting his master, for the first time, in conduct- 

 ing some sheep from Westmoreland to London, experienced very great difficulty in 

 guiding his charge among the many cross-roads and bye-ways that intersected their 

 route. But on the next journey he found but little hindrance, as he was able to re- 

 member the points which had caused him so much trouble on his former expedition, 

 and to profit by the experience which he had then gained. 



The DROVER'S DOG is generally produced from the sheep-dog and the mastiff or fox- 

 hound, and sometimes from the sheep-dog and the greyhound or pointer ; the peculiar 

 mixtures being employed to suit the different localities in which the Dog is intended 

 to exercise its powers. In some places the Drover's Dog is comparatively small, be- 

 cause the sheep are small, docile, and not very active. But when the sheep are large, 

 agile, and vigorous, and can run over a large extent of ground, a much larger and more 

 powerful animal is needed, in order to cope with the extended powers of the sheep 

 which are committed to its guardianship. 



Although the Drover's Dog may be entrusted with the entire charge of the flock, 

 its rightful vocation is the conveyance of the sheep from place to place. It.will often 

 learn its business so thoroughly, that it will conduct a flock of sheep or a herd of cattle 

 to the destined point, and then deliver up its charge to the person who is appointed to 

 receive them. Not the least extraordinary part of its performance is, that it will con- 

 duct its own flock through the midst of other sheep without permitting a single sheep 

 under its charge to escape, or allowing a single stranger to mix with its own flock. 



Such abilities as these can be applied to wrong purposes as well as to good ones, 

 and there is a well-known story of a drover who was accustomed to steal sheep through 

 the help of his Dog. His plan was to indicate, by some expressive gesture which the 

 Dog well understood, the particular sheep which he wished to be added to his own 

 flock, and then to send his flock forward under the guardianship of the Dog, while he 

 remained with his companions at the public-house bar. The clever animal would then 

 so craftily intermingle the two flocks that it contrived to entice the coveted sheep into 

 its own flock, and then would drive them forwards, carrying off the stolen sheep among 

 the number. If the stratagem were not discovered, the owner of the Dog speedily 

 changed the marks on the sheep, and thus merged them with his own legitimate prop- 

 erty. If the fraud were detected, it was set down as an excusable mistake of the Dog, 

 the stolen animals were restored, and the real thief escaped punishment. However, 

 detection came at last, as it always does, sooner or later. 



The true CUR DOG is produced from the sheep-dog and the terrier, and is a most use- 

 ful animal to the class of persons among whom it is generally found. It is rather apt 

 to be petulant in its temper, and is singularly suspicious of strangers ; so that although 

 it is rather an unpleasant neighbor by reason of its perpetually noisy tongue, it is of the 

 greatest service to the person to whom it belongs. It is an admirable house-dog, and 

 specially honest, being capable of restraining its natural instincts, and of guarding its 

 owner's provisions, even though it may be almost perishing with hunger. 



The Cur is the acknowledged pest of the passing traveller, especially if he be mounted, 

 or is driving, as it rushes out of its house at the sound of the strange footstep, and 

 follows the supposed intruder with yelps and snaps until it flatters itself that it has com- 

 pletely put the enemy to flight. About the house the Cur is as useful as is the colley 

 among the hills, for it is as ready to comprehend and execute the wishes of its master at 

 home as is the sheep-dog on the hills. Indeed, if the two Dogs were to change places 

 for a day or two, the Cur would manage better with the sheep than the sheep-dog 

 would manage the household tasks. 



