DOGS. 19 



of duty lies out of doors, in attendance on the shep- 

 herd: his appearance is harsh and unprepossessing, 

 being covered with long but rather woolly hair; with 

 erect ears, bent somewhat downwards at the tips; 

 nor does his colour improve his general unsightliness, 

 being usually a mixture of black and grey, But 

 whatever may be wanting in appearance, is amply 

 made up by the truly useful and valuable services he 

 renders to his master, and by the great sagacity, 

 gratitude, and self-denial, he exercises in the dis- 

 charge of his various and important duties. 



The Shepherd's dog is the faithful and untiring 

 companion of the shepherd, whose duties would 

 be difficult and arduous indeed, but for the assistance 

 he receives from his useful and intelligent companion. 

 With no other object than his duty, no other motive 

 than obedience, he receives commands, and is always 

 prompt to execute them; he is the watchful guardian 

 of the flock, prevents them from straggling, conducts 

 them from one part of their pasture to another, and 

 will not suffer any strangers to mix with them. In 

 driving a number of sheep to any distant part, a well- 

 trained dog never fails to confine them to the road, 

 watches every avenue that leads from it, where he 

 takes his stand, threatening every delinquent. He 

 pursues the stragglers, if any should escape, and 

 forces them into order, without doing them the least 

 injury. If the herdsman be obliged to leave them, 

 he depends upon his dog to keep the flock together; 

 and as soon as he hears the well-known signal, this 

 faithful creature conducts them to his master, though 

 at a considerable distance. 



One very remarkable singularity in the feet of the 

 shepherd dog, is that all of them have one, and 

 some two, toes more than other dogs, though they 



