452 THEPHILOSOPHY 



fubjeded to his management, whom he prudently conduds and pro- 

 teds, and never employs force againft them, except for the prefer- 

 vation of peace and good order. But, when the flock committed to 

 his charge is attacked by the fox, the wolf, or other rapacious ani- 

 mals, he makes a full difplay of his courage and fagacity. In fitua- 

 tions of this kind, both his natural and acquired talents are exerted. 

 Three fhepherds dogs are faid to be a match for a bear, and four for 

 & lion. 



Every perfon knovrs the docility and fagacity of fuch dogs as are 

 employed in conduding blind mendicants. Johannes Faber, as 

 quoted by Mr Ray, informs us, that he knew a blind beggar who 

 was led through the ftreets of Rome by a middle fized dog. This 

 dog, befide leading his matter in fuch a manner as to proted him 

 from all danger, learned to diftlnguifli not only the ftreets, but the 

 houfes where his mafter was accuftcmed to receive alms twice or 

 thilce a-week. Whenever the animal came to any of thefe ftreets, 

 with which he was well acquainted, he would not leave it till a call 

 had been made at every houfe where his mafter was ufually fucceflT- 

 ful In his petitions. When the beggar began to afk alms, the dog, 

 being wearied, lay down to reft; but the mafter was no fooner fer- 

 ved or refufed, than the dog rofe fpontaneoufly, and, without either 

 order or fign, proceeded to the other houfes where the beggar gene- 

 rally received fome gratuity. I obferved, fays he, not without plea- 

 fure and furprife, that, when a halfpenny was thrown from a win- 

 dow, fuch was the fagacity and attention of this dog, that he went 

 about In queft of it, lifted it from the ground with his mouth, and 

 put it into his mafler's hat. Even when bread was thrown down, 

 the animal would not tafte it, unlefs he received a portion of it from 

 the hand of his mafter. Without any other inftrudion than imita- 

 tion, a maftifF, when accidentally fliut out from a houfe which his 

 mafter frequented, uniformly rung the bell for admittance. Dogs 



can 



