142 INSTINCT OF DOGS. 



such as to arrest the attention or excite the wonder of 

 the general observer. The instances I have given are 

 merely mentioned as explanatory of my theory viz., 

 that we are apt to overvalue one dog for sagacity, while 

 we overlook its more unpretending neighbour, because, 

 from shyness, surliness, eagerness of temper, or want 

 of practice, all its powers of instinct and memory are 

 employed in a different and less obvious way / for there 

 is no doubt, if a dog is eager, shy, or sulky, it may have 

 superior instinct, and yet show less than another of a more 

 phlegmatic, sociable, or easy disposition. This accounts 

 for the difficulty of procuring a good retriever from a 

 cross between the water-dog and terrier, so valuable if the 

 medium between them is preserved ; because, when the 

 dog partakes too much of the nature of the terrier, his 

 quick temper unfits him for the purpose,* and when too 

 little, he is generally deficient in nose. A cross between 

 the water-dog and any others of the sporting kind would 

 be still less likely to suit ; and the Newfoundland is too 

 large, and of the wrong colour. Perhaps (the noses of 



* A dog of a very cool temper will retrieve wild-fowl better in loch- 

 shooting, than another with quicker movements and perhaps a finer nose. 

 Many of the cripples in this shooting take refuge in weeds and bushes, and 

 the keen-tempered dog is apt to overrun them, thus losing time ; whereas 

 the other slowly tracks them one by one to their hiding-place. It must be 

 recollected that I do not speak of coast and cover-shooting, where more 

 agility is required : on the coast, from the numbers to be secured after a 

 heavy shot of the stanchion-gun ; and in cover, that wounded hares and 

 rabbits, winged pheasants, &c., may be more speedily retrieved. For my 

 own part, I should prefer the slow dog even in cover ; but few sportsmen 

 like to wait. 



