and the Maritime Provinces. 429 



which it had been the custom to use only at the last extremity. The 

 rigors of the weather were such, and the exposures of the animals so great 

 that they all perished. There was a sufficient number of males left^and 

 to keep up the breed they were mated with Newfoundlands, but the 'prog- 

 eny having long hair became so burdened with snow that they were of 

 no value whatever, and it was only by crossing the original males with the 

 mongrels that the short, stubby hair was restored. 



The rough-coated St. Bernard, then, is distinct from that employed at 

 the hospices, but it is a beautiful dog, and deservedly a great favorite. It 

 is recognized by English fanciers as well as by American, and at the exhi- 

 bitions, equal prizes are offered for the rough and smooth-coated dogs. 

 The standard fixed for this breed is : " General appearance — large and 

 powerful, with great muscular development, suggesting endurance. Size — 

 dog, at least thirty inches at shoulder, bitch, twenty-seven inches. Coat- 

 in the long-coated variety, should be dense and flat, rather full about neck, 

 thighs feathered; in short-coated dogs, should be thick, hard, flat and 

 short, slightly feathered on thighs and tail. Color — red, orange, brindle 

 or white, with patches of any of above colors. Markings— white muzzle, 

 white blaze up face, white chest, forelegs, feet and end of tail, black shad- 

 ings on face and ears." 



The bull-dog, according to "Stonhenge," is of British origin. "His 

 courage is so great that it has become proverbial, and with the exception 

 of the gamecock, there is no other domestic animal at all coming up to 

 him in this respect. Independently of this quality, there is much differ- 

 ence of opinion as to the mental peculiarities of this breed. By some 

 authorities the bull-dog is stated to be quarrelsome and wantonly savage, 

 so that he can never be made a safe companion, while others allege that he 

 is mild and gentle in disposition, never showing his teeth until he is 

 induced to do so by some special cause. As usual in such cases, the truth 

 hes between the two extremes. The bull-dog is, no doubt, dangerous 

 when his blood is up, and even his master runs some risk in meddling with . 

 him then, but he may generally be controlled with perfect facility, and he 

 is mild, fondling and gentle in his manner, as a general rule." 



Formerly the breed was kept for the purpose of baiting the bull, in 

 which his tendency to pin the most vulnerable point (the nose) made him 

 invaluable, no other dog having either the same desire to go at the head, 

 in preference to all other parts, or the same unflinching hold of the grasp 

 when once obtained. Bull-dogs have had their legs cut off after seizing a 

 bull without letting go. At the present time, when bull-baiting is not prac- 

 tised, this dog is kept principally as a fancier's pet, but is also often used 

 for the purpose of improving the courage of other breeds by crossing with 

 them. An unusually fine specimen of this breed is illustrated in another 

 portion of this volume. 



