NATURAL HISTORY OF THE DOG. Ill 



ture, been tried more than once rather than quit it. He is 

 an excellent water-dog, very faithful to his master ; but, un- 

 fortunately, has become too notorious, from the inhuman and 

 blackguard sports for which he has been generally used, to be 

 suffered to follow the heel of any man who does not desire to 

 be set down as a patron of ruffianism and infamy. 



The Bull-dog is not wholly destitute of good qualities, as 

 some writers have represented him to be. Besides his cour- 

 age, he possesses strong attachment to his master. Mr. Jes- 

 se relates an anecdote of a Bull-dog, that having been accus- 

 tomed to be his master's travelling companion, in his carriage, 

 for several years, on his place being allotted to a new favor- 

 ite, refused to eat, sickened, pined, and died. 



A Bull-dog saved a shipwrecked crew, by towing a rope 

 from the vessel to the shore, after two fine Newfoundland dogs 

 had perished in the attempt. I should attribute his success 

 to his indomitable courage, which prevented him from giving 

 up his exertions while life remained. 



THE PUG. 



This dog was a sort of miniature of the bull-dog, but with- 

 out his courage. His muzzle was usually black ; the rest of 

 his body of a buff color ; and the tail curled tightly over the 

 hinder end. 



The Pug has been replaced, as a lady's pet, by the more el- 

 egant Italian greyhound, and the Blenheim and King Charles 

 spaniels. He is now very rarely to be seen, and will soon 

 become extinct, if, indeed, such has not already been his fate. 



THE BRITISH MASTIFF. 



This dog appears to owe his origin to a mixture of the bull- 

 dog of ancient Britain with the old Talbot hound. He is usu- 

 ally of a brindled color, or buff, with dark ears and muzzle. 

 " Chicken,'-'* a dog belonging to the 43d regiment, stood twen- 

 ty-nine inches and a half in height at the shoulder. He was 

 very gentle to human beings, but was not to be trifled with by 

 his own kind ; for on one occasion he killed his brother in com- 

 bat. Chicken was once passing up Union-street, at Plymouth, 

 when he was beset by a troop of curs, who at length actually 

 impeded him in his walk, and excited his anger, on which he 

 paused, raised one of his hind legs, and astonished them all. 



* Colonel Smith. 



