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THE WATER-DOG. 



The water-dog must not be confounded with the water- spaniel; 

 compared with which it will be found to be much more robust. 

 Its coat is curly and shaggy, and generally variegated with 

 black and white j but some individuals are brown and white, 

 or nearly all white. The muzzle is short and abrupt, the ears 

 moderately long, and the tail rather short and erect. 



The aquatic habits of this dog, the acuteness of its sense of 

 smell, its great sagacity and strength, render it a highly useful 

 servant to the numerous gunners of the north of England and 

 Scotland, who live chiefly by shooting water-fowl, in the retriev- 

 ing of which it exhibits the highest degree of docility and 

 hardihood. 



" The unerring accuracy with which this dog can be taught 

 to search for and bring back to his master, articles which have 

 either been lost or purposely left for the exercise of his powers, 

 forms one of the most surprising instances of sagacity and 

 intelligence to be found in the history of the species. If a 

 coin or other small article be shown to the dog, and then 

 put in a place of concealment, and the dog be sent even long 



