NATURAL HISTORY. 55 



When badly trained, this dog is apt to make very absurd 

 mistakes. A young pointer belonging to a friend disappointed 

 him by most perversely pointing at a pig ; and on another occa- 

 sion was discovered feasting on a dead sheep instead of attending 

 to its business. 



THE MASTIFF. 



The group of the MASTIFF dogs is distinguished by the short- 

 ness of the nose and the breadth of the head. This group in- 

 cludes the Mastiff, the bull-dog, and the almost obsolete absurd 

 little pug-dog. The breadth of their heads is caused by the 

 large muscles which move the jaw. 



The English Mastiff is generally employed as a house-dog, 

 as its 'powerful frame and deep voice are well fitted to scare 

 away marauders, or to repel them if they approach too near. 

 It is by far the most sagacious of the whole group, and ex- 

 hibits much more attachment to its master than the others. 

 This animal has been called by several names, of which " Ban- 

 dog" is the best known. Bewick thinks that the ban-dog is a sep- 

 arate species, of a lighter make than the ordinary English mastiff. 



