and the Maritime Provinces. 427 



to the poor brute who, night after night, month by month, and year after 

 year, listened to the echoes of his own dismal howl as he bayed the moon, 

 or hoarsely barked warning and defiance to all who approached with preda- 

 tory aim. 



" Now, although there are still enough of the ban-dog sort, who are by 

 their owners called ' mastiffs,' and may, no doubt, lay claim to possession of 

 a fair portion of mastiff blood, they are impure, and suffer so from the 

 cruelty of close confinement that they lose even the characteristics of the 

 breed, which a kinder and more judicious treatment would develop, both in 

 physical proportion and dignity of manner, and which are essential feat- 

 ures of a mastiff of the present day." 



The mastiff has always been the special guard of man's person and 

 property ; and the qualities demanded to fill that position of trust are : 

 Size, to impress with fear, the symmetry of well-proportioned parts eviden- 

 cing a combination of strength and activity ; a disposition watchful and 

 keen, but confident in its own strength; dignified and calm, save the warn- 

 ing bark, which fills every echo within its reach with its full tones, so unlike 

 the yelping of the noisy cur. 



The American standard provides that the mastiff shall have a " large, 

 massive, powerful, symmetrical and well-knit frame "; the coat, " short and 

 close-lying, but not too fine over the shoulders, neck and back," and the 

 color " apricot or silver fawn, or dark fawn-brindle. In any case, the 

 muzzle, ears and nose should be black." 



Although one of the largest and most powerful of dogs, and one 

 possessed of undaunted courage, the Great Dane is noted for its tractable 

 nature and peaceful disposition. 



It has been known for many generations by various names, such as 

 the German boarhound, Russian wolfhound and Ulmer dog, and some 

 writers have expressed the opinion that it is identical with the old Irish 

 wolf dog, one of the most gigantic species ever known. 



Astonishing stories are told of the great size that these animals have 

 attained, but probably most of the accounts must be received with caution. 

 Dogs thirty-six or thirty-seven inches in height are giants indeed, but when 

 we are told that some of these animals, which had been admitted to a 

 banquet, could look over the heads of the guests who were seated at the 

 tables, we must believe that the descriptions were overdrawn. 



The modern dog rarely attains a height exceeding thirty inches, and 

 that is the standard that has been adopted by fanciers. 



The great Dane was used in early times as a destroyer of wolves, its 

 immense muscular power and the great strength of its jaw rendering it a 

 quick conqueror of those savage animals. It is not now employed in the 

 chase, or for any hunting purposes, its scenting powers being but poorly 



