190 THE NEWFOUNDTAND DOG. 



tangled in his machinery, and must certainly have 

 been drowned but for this timely assistance. 



The fine animal, now so common in Britain, is 

 usually a cross between the original Newfoundland or 

 Labrador dog, and others of the canine race ; and is, 

 therefore, found somewhat diversified, both in form and 

 colour. Jardine says, that the hound seems to have 

 crossed in with the present breed ; for, even in New- 

 foundland, some of these dogs are, in size and fulness of 

 body, superior even to the Irish greyhound, although 

 the latter is higher in the shoulder. He speaks of one, 

 that when desired to show himself, would place his fore- 

 paws on the lintels of any door. These large dogs 

 are usually white in colour, with black spots, while 

 the original breed is smaller, and totally black, except 

 portions of the tail and legs ; their muzzle is sharper, 

 the forehead more arched, and their expression 

 wilder ; their bodies, too, are usually more slim ; 

 and the black colour of the head is interrupted by 

 the rust-coloured patches between the nose and the 

 eye. The Labrador dogs are almost semi-palmated, 

 and seem to be as familiar with the water as an otter, 

 swimming, and diving, and keeping in it, with as- 

 tonishing facility. He is very large, rougher-haired 

 than the Newfoundland, and carries his tail high. At 

 St. John's, a dog is reckoned to maintain his master 

 during the winter, drawing sledges, fish, wood, and so 

 forth ; in the summer, they are left, in great numbers, 

 to maintain themselves, and, consequently, not only 

 suffer great privation, but contract various diseases.* 



