HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 327 



THE SHEPHERD'S DOG. 



(Cams doincsticns, Linn. Le Chien dc Berger, Buff.) 



THIS useful animal, ever faithful to his charge, 

 reigns at the head of the flock; where he is better 

 heard, and more attended to, than even the voice of 

 the shepherd. Safety, order, and discipline, are 

 the fruits of his vigilance and activity. 



In those large tracts of land which, in many 

 parts of our island, are solely appropriated to the 

 feeding of Sheep and other cattle, this sagacious 

 animal is of the utmost importance. Immense 

 flocks may be seen continually ranging over these 

 extensive wilds, as far as the eye can reach, seem- 

 ingly without control : their only guide is the shep- 

 herd, attended by his Dog, the constant companion 

 of his toils : it receives his commands, and is always 

 prompt to execute them; it is the watchful guar- 

 dian of the flock, prevents them from straggling, 

 keeps them together, and conducts them from one 

 part of their pasture to another: it will not suffer 

 any strangers to mix with them, but carefully keeps 



