86 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE DOG. 



nised variety ; and from its extreme beauty, both of form anc 

 color, combined with all such qualities as terriers should pos- 

 sess, developed in the highest degree of perfection, it is richly 

 deserving of being cultivated. In form, it is, as it were, a 

 perfect English terrier ; in color, it is bluish slate-color, mark- 

 ed with darker blotches and patches, and often with tan 

 about the legs and muzzle. It is one of the most determined 

 of iis race, and is surpassed by none in the skill and activity 

 witn which it pursues and catches its game, and the resolu- 

 tion with which it battles with and destroys it. I have seen 

 lately a beautiful pair and some puppies, in possession of Mr. 

 Nolan, of Bachelor's- walk, Dublin ; and the Rev. Mr. Wil- 

 cocks, of Palmerstown, has also long been famous for this 

 breed of dogs ; I believe Mr. Wilcocks was the first to intro- 

 duce them into this country, but whence they originally came, 

 I know not. 



In former times, a brace of terriers uwd to accompany every 

 pack of foxhounds, for the sake of unkennelling Reynard, in 

 the event of his taking to earth. This attendance has long 

 been discontinued, as being no longer necessary, the fox be- 

 ing now run into too rapidly to admit of his giving the gallant 

 terriers this trouble ; some recent wriFers do not appear aware 

 of this circumstance, but gravely furnish us with long extracts 

 from Daniel, &c., relative to this now obsolete practice. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



THE NEWFOUNDLAND GROUP, OR WOLF-DOGS. 



I AM compelled thus arbitrarily to give, perhaps, an unde- 

 served name to the present group, but it is the only one by 

 means of which I can accurately indicate the family of dogs 

 to which I refer. The individuals of which this group is 

 composed, bear, all of them, a greater or less resemblance to 

 the wolf, in erect or semi-erect ears in long and shaggy 

 coats, and bushy tails. The Newfoundland dog is fully en- 

 titled to be placed at the head of the group ; from his being 

 better known than the others, from his greater beauty, his 

 ingacity, nobility of nature and disposition, his utility to man- 



