338 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



colour is generally a dirty white, with numerous dark hairs 

 all over the body, and transverse stripes of a darker hue. 

 It is a very large and powerful dog, and being much more 

 capable of training, and not less courageous than the Bull 

 Dog, it is much fitter for domestic purposes. It is fre- 

 quently known to protect its master's house and property 

 by menaces only, even when a stranger is completely within 

 its power ; and will not be excited to violence, unless an 

 imprudent perseverance should render it necessary for the 

 protection of its charge ; and, in such cases even, it has 

 been known to pull a man down, and stand over without 

 hurting him a considerable time, till its master appeared. 

 This breed was assiduously fostered by the Romans, 

 while they had possession of this Island ; and many of them 

 were exported to Rome, to combat other animals in the 

 amphitheatre. 



There is a degree of generosity about this animal, which 

 commonly attends true courage ; and, as if conscious of its 

 superiority, the Mastiff has been known to chastise with 

 great dignity the impertinence of an inferior. An instance 

 is recorded of one, which, being frequently molested by a 

 Mongrel, and teased by its continual barking, at last took 

 it up in its mouth by the back, and, with great composure, 

 dropped it over the quay into the river, without doing it 

 any further injury. 



Buffon's work, with Daubenton's additions, contains 

 figures of the German Dog, or Mopse ; the Iceland Dog ; 

 the Little Danish Dog, which is said to be improperly 

 named, as there is no similarity of make. or size between 

 this and the Great Danish Dog; the Bastard Pug; the 

 Artois Dog, which is supposed now to be extinct ; the 

 Naked, or Turkish Dog ; and a variety of it with a sort of 

 mane. 



To the foregoing profiles of Wild Dogs from distant parts 

 of the earth, resembling each other almost to identity, 



