Natural Hiftory of the Ancients. 23 



about fourteen or fifteen years, but fome twenty ; 

 wherefore fome think that Homer was quite correct 

 in making the dog of UlyfTes die in his twentieth 

 year." 1 He had noticed, too, that dogs dream, 

 from their howling in fleep, as if they were then 

 following the chafe. We believe it, however, to 

 be a kind of nightmare when dogs thus moan in 

 fleep, in fpite of the Laureate's words 



" Like a dog he hunts in dreams." 



Pliny's account of the dog may be here fum- 

 marized. 2 Along with the horfe he is the moft 

 faithful of animals to man. A dog has been known 

 to defend his matter from robbers as well as he 

 was able, and on his protector being flain, to have 

 watched his body, driving birds and wild beafts 

 from it. Another dog in Epirus, on meeting his 

 matter's murderer, by barking and biting compelled 

 him to confefs the crime. Two hundred dogs ac- 

 companied the king of the Garamantes from exile, 

 ranging themfelves in warlike order againft all 

 adverfaries. Some nations have had armies of 

 dogs, which never declined a combat, and never 

 clamoured for pay, When the Cimbri were flain, 

 their dogs defended the waggons of the tribe. 

 When Jafon the Lycian was killed, his, dog refufed 

 to take food, and died of grief. Dogs have been 

 known to throw themfelves into the flames when 

 the funeral pyre of their mafters was kindled. 

 He gives feveral other inftances of the dog's faith- 

 fulnefs and gentle domeftic habits. A dog will 



1 " Odyfley," vi. 20. 2 "Hilt. Nat.," viii. 40. 



