THE ST. BEENAED DOG. 183 



The Landseer type of Newfoundland differs from the true type chiefly in the 

 colour and texture of his coat. The former is always white with black patches, 

 and the latter is more woolly, without the gloss of the true Newfoundland. 

 He is also generally higher on the leg and more slack on the loin, giving a 

 remarkably shambling and awkward gait. 



THE LABEADOE OE LESSEE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG-. 



This dog, also called the St. John Newfoundland, is described in the article on 

 the wavy-coated retriever in the 2nd part of this book; and as his use in this 

 country is almost entirely confined to retrieving game, he cannot be included among 

 the non-sporting dogs. 



THE ST. BEENAED DOG. 



Until about twelve years ago, this variety of the dog was comparatively 

 unknown in the British Isles, except on canvas. Landseer and Ansdell had 

 repeatedly portrayed the majestic form and benevolent expression which have long 

 been traditionally attached to this breed, and some few specimens have been 

 imported; but their numbers were so small that it was rare to meet with an 

 Englishman who had seen one in this country. About the time above mentioned, 

 however, the Eev. J. Gumming Macdona determined to make the attempt to 

 naturalise the dog here, and, with that view, twice visited the monasteries of St. 

 Bernard and the Simplon, where his enthusiastic efforts were on the first occasion 

 rewarded by the attainment of a dog and bitch, which formed the nucleus of his 

 subsequent large and valuable collection, aided by subsequent additions from other 

 sources. By his unwearied efforts and skill in breeding, the St. Bernard dog has 

 now become so generally diffused throughout Great Britain that thirty or forty 

 specimens are generally exhibited at each of our large shows ; and these being the 

 cream of the whole breed, it may easily be imagined that the milk from which it 

 has been skimmed is in abundance. 



In the year 1815 the old and true Alpine breed was reduced to so small a number 

 that the monks began to fear it would be exterminated. This result was no doubt 

 due to an accident by which several dogs were destroyed in an avalanche ; but 

 it was also to be traced to continued in-breeding causing sterility or such delicacy 

 of constitution as to end in early death. Consequently they determined to 

 introduce a cross with the Newfoundland; but, as this did not answer, they 

 procured a couple of bitches descended from the old strain, yet kept distinct from 

 it, in other kennels, belonging to gentlemen residing in the adjacent valleys. When 

 Mr. Macdona was at the Hospice they had recently obtained a noble dog, named 

 after the celebrated Barry, and resembling him in colour and shape, from 

 M. Schumacher, belonging to a strain of the old breed, but kept in the family 

 of the Baron Youde for half a century. With the aid of this dog, the monks have 

 been able to replenish their kennels, and there appears to be at present no necessity 



