232 THE SHEPHERD'S DOG. 



rice which the animal soon learns to appreciate. There is, however, a drawback to the com- 

 panionship of the Dog, in the parasitic insects with which it is generally infested, and which 

 are too tenacious of life to be destroyed by immersion in water, or too strong to be dislodged 

 by ordinary mechanical means. 



The only method by which these disagreeable pests can be destroyed is by a rapidly acting 

 poison, which kills them before they can retreat from its action. Such poisonous substances 

 are too often dangerous to the Dog as well as to its parasites, and may seriously injure the 

 animal instead of conferring any benefit upon it. Preparations of mercury are frequently 

 used for this purpose, but are dangerous remedies for the reason above given, and are, more- 

 over, rather tedious of application, requiring a careful rubbing in of the poison, and as careful 

 a rubbing out again, together with the drawback of a muzzle on the poor Dog' s mouth for 

 three or four days, to prevent him from licking his irritated skin. 



One very safe and very quick remedy is the "Persian Insect-destroying Powder," which 

 has almost a magical effect, and is perfectly harmless to the Dog. 



The best mode of applying this remedy is, first to dust the Dog well with the substance 

 until every portion of him has received a few particles of the powder, and then to put him 

 into a strong canvas bag, in which a small handful of the powder has been placed and shaken 

 about well, so as to distribute it equally over the interior of the bag. Leave his head protrud- 

 ing from the bag, and put on his head and neck a linen cap, in which are holes for his nose 

 and eyes, and let the interior of the cap be well treated with the powder. Lay him on the 

 ground, and let him tumble about as much as he chooses, the more the better. In an hour or 

 two let him out of the bag, and scrub his coat well the wrong way with a stiff brush. 



If, during this operation, the Dog be placed on a sheet, or any white substance, it will be 

 covered with dead and dying insects, and if the contents of the bag be emptied upon the white 

 cloth, the number of moribund parasites will be rather astonishing. In a week or so the 

 operation should be repeated, in order to destroy the creatures that have been produced from 

 the unhatched eggs that always resist the powers of the destructive powder. I have person- 

 ally tried the experiment, and have found the results to be invariably successful. The 

 same substance is equally useful in freeing birds from their chief pest, the red mite, and is 

 of deadly efficacy in the immolation of certain insects that are too often found in human 

 houses. 



The most useful variety of the canine species is that sagacious creature on whose talent 

 and energy depends the chief safety of the flock. 



This animal seems to be, as far can be judged from appearances, the original ancestor of 

 the true British Dogs, and preserves its pecular aspect in almost every country in Europe. It 

 is a rather large Dog, as is necessary, in order to enable the animal to undergo the incessant 

 labor which it is called on to perform, and is possessed of limbs sufficiently large and power- 

 ful to enable it to outrun the truant members of the flock, who, if bred on the mountain-side, 

 are so swift and agile that they would readily baffle the efforts of any Dog less admirably fitted 

 by nature for the task of keeping them together. 



As the Sheep-dog is constantly exposed to the weather, it needs the protection of very 

 thick and closely-set fur, which, in this Dog, is rather woolly in its character, and is especially 

 heavy about the neck and breast. The tail of the Sheep-dog is naturally long and bushy, but 

 is generally removed in early yoiith, on account of the now obsolete laws, which refiised to 

 acknowledge any Dog as a Sheep-dog, or to exempt it from the payment of a tax, unless it 

 were deprived of its tail. This law, however, often defeated its own object, for many persons 

 who liked the sport of coursing, and cared little for appearances, used to cut off the tails of 

 their greyhounds, and evade the tax by describing them as Sheep-dogs. 



The muzzle of this Dog is sharp, its head is of moderate size, its eyes are very bright and 

 intelligent, as might be expected in an animal of so much sagacity and ready resource in time 

 of need. Its feet are strongly made, and sufficiently well protected to endure severe work 

 among the harsh stems of the heather on the hills, or the sharply-cutting stones of the high- 

 road. Probably on account of its constant exercise in the open air, and the hardy manner in 



