210 THE COMMON DOG. 



In December, 1784, a Dog was left by a smug- 

 gling vessel near Boomer, on the coast of Northum- 

 berland. Finding himself deserted, he began to wor- 

 ry the sheep ; and did so much damage, that he be- 

 came the terror of the country for a circuit of above 

 twenty miles. We are assured, that when he caught 

 a sheep, he bit a hole in its right side, and after 

 eating the fat about the kidnies, left it. Several, 

 thus lacerated, were found alive by the shepherds ; 

 and being properly attended to, some of them reco- 

 vered and afterwards had lambs. From his delicacy in 

 this respect, the destruction he made may in some 

 measure be conceived ; as it may be supposed, that 

 the fat of one sheep a-day would hardly satisfy his 

 hunger. The farmers were so m.uch alarmed by his 

 depredations, that various means were taken for his 

 destruction. They pursued him with Hounds, 

 Greyhounds, &c. but, when the Dogs came up to 

 him, he lay down on his back, as if supplicating 

 for mercy, and in that position they did not attempt 

 to hurt him. Fie therefore used to lie quietly till 

 the men approached ; when he made off, without 

 being followed by the hounds till they were again 

 excited to the pursuit, which always terminated un- 

 successfully. He was one day pursued from How- 

 ick to the distance of upwards of thirty miles ; but 

 returned thither and killed sheep the same evening. 

 His constant residence during the day, was upon a 

 rock on the Heugh-hill, near Howick, where he 

 liad a view of four roads that approached it ; and in 

 March, 1785, after many fruitless attempts, he was 

 at last shot there *. 



* Bcw. ^uad. 50a. 



