

PERFORM A NIKS OF DOGS. 



false note was uttered, and that without the stimulus of a blow. A more glanr.- nf Mr. S.' yc wm, 

 ere long, sufficient, and at length the poodle became so thoroughly acquainted with, and no perfectly 

 attentive to, every false note, that its yell was an infallible indication of some musical biii-Un-ism. 



The poodle, however, like some critics of biped race, was only inclined to detect faults, and never 

 displayed any appreciation of excellence. To sing with expression, or to play with great ability, li-ft 

 it cold and unmoved. But only let there be a defect, and instantly it shows its teeth, whittle* it 

 tail, yelps, barks, and growls. 



" At the present time," says our authority, " there is not a concert or an opera at Darmstadt to 

 which Mr. S. and his wonderful dog are not invited, or, at least, the dog. The voice of the prim i 

 donna, the instruments of the band whether violin, clarionet, hautbois, or bugle all of them must 

 execute their parts in perfect harmony, otherwise Poodle looks at its master, erects its ears, show 

 grinders, and howls outright. Old or new pieces, known or unknown to the dog, produce on it the 

 same effect. 



" It must not be supposed that the discrimination of the creature is confined to the mere execution 

 of musical compositions. Whatever may have been the case at the outset of its training, its present 

 and perfected intelligence extends even to the secrets of composition. Thus, if a vicious modulation, or 

 a false relation of parts, occurs in a piece of music, the animal shows symptoms of uneasy hesitation ; 

 and, if the error be continued, will infallibly give the grand condemnatory howl. In short, Poodle i> 

 the terror of all the middling composers of Darmstadt, and a perfect nightmare to the imaginations of 

 all poor singers and players. Sometimes Mr. S. and his friends take a pleasure in annoying the canine 

 critic, by emitting all sorts of discordant sounds from instrument and voice. On such occasions the 

 creature loses all self-command, its eyes shoot forth fiery flashes, and long and frightful howls respond 

 to the immelodious concert of the mischievous bipeds. But the latter must be careful not to go too 

 far, for, when the dog's patience is tried to excess, it becomes altogether wild, and flies furiously at its 

 tormentors and their instruments. 



" This dog's case is a very curious one, and the attendant phenomena are not very easy of explana- 

 tion. From the animal's power of discerning the correctness of musical composition, as well as of execu- 

 tion, one can be inclined to imagine that Mr. S., in training his dog, had only called into play faculti. - 

 existing, but latent before, and that dogs have in them the natural germs of a fine muxieal ear. This 

 seems more likely to be the case, than that the animal's perfect musical taste was wholly an acquire- 

 ment resulting from the training. However this may be, the Darmstadt dog is certainly a marvellous 

 creature, and we are surprised that, in these exhibiting times, its powers have not been displayed on a 

 wider stage. The operatic establishments of London and Paris might be greatly the better, perhaps, 

 for a visit from the critical poodle." 



The sixth group into which dogs may be divided contains those of a robust form ; the sense of 

 smell is variable ; the hair is short, and sometimes wiry ; the muzzle is short and thick ; the jaws are 

 enormously strong ; and the ears pendent and moderate. 



THE MASTIFF. 



IN early times, this dog was celebrated for its strength and resolution characteristics which did not 

 fail to attract the attention of the Romans, when this island formed a part of their widely-spread 

 empire. To a people who cherished a partiality for scene.! of bloodshed and slaughter, and for the 

 sanguinary games of the amphitheatre, dogs so fitted to gratify their cruel taste were jn-.-ulmrly 

 acceptable. Accordingly, we find that they were bred and reared by officers specially appointed, who 

 selected the animals distinguished for combative qualities, and sent them to Rome for the service of 

 the amphitheatres, when they were matched in fight with various beasts of prey. 



Alexander the Great appears to have been the first that made known the mastiff race in Greece, 

 having met with the breed during his march in India. He received presents of dogs of gigantic 

 stature, which were, doubtless, Thibetian mastiffs. 



Watch-dogs of some such kind were kept in the citadel of Rome, and in all the fortresses of the 

 Greeks. An advanced post of fifty dogs, placed on the sea-shore, guarded the citadel of Corinth. One 



