known custom of the bull- dog to bite -withont giving the leart 

 vocal iudication of his purpose." 



The notion that the bull-dog is by nature a dull and brutish 

 animal is wide from the fact. As he occasionally makes his 

 appearance before us he is stolid and hideous enough, in all 

 conscience. But it must be borne in mind that this is not the 

 true bull-dog ; this is a creature taught and trained, or what is 

 worse, whose great grandfather was taught and trained only to 

 fight its kind, and to pin bulls. It is housed to this end, and 

 fed and educated to it. No other canine animal has so little 

 liberty. It is fettered to its dismal kennel in many ways in 

 which other dogs are exempt. It is preparing for a " match," 

 and must, therefore, be kept quiet ; it is recovering from a 

 " match " (look at its poor throat and ears), and must not leave 

 the kennel for a moment. Even when neither of these causes 

 of imprisonment exists there are two others that are as firmly 

 attached to it as its own tail. It is dangerous to let it out — it 

 might bite somebody : it is impolitic to let it out, as it is an 

 animal of choice breed, and to let it run with common street 

 dogs might spoil its manners at the very least. So it is kept 

 a prisoner ; a surly savage, feeding — not too heartily — on 

 raw meat, with an occasional bone to whet its fangs on while 

 it cogitates its last battle and battles to come. A pretty spe- 

 cimen of humanity a man would turn out if he were subjected 

 to similar treatment. Goodness knows, with hberty allowed 

 him, when his mind is fully bent on fighting — when he delibe- 

 rately steeps himself in blackguardism, and studies the trade ot 

 prize-fighting as a means of existence, a man converts himself 

 into no mean likeness of the jowled brute. 



As has been truly said, " the buU-dog ranks as an entirely 

 artificial creation. In proof of this stands the well-known fact, 

 that unless the breed be sedulously kept up, it is apt to dege- 

 nerate, or to become extinct. Old breeders even now say, the 

 ancient kind of EngKsh bull-dog is nowhere to be found. But 

 take another proof. We want no anatomical knowledge or 

 prejudice : in him formation is to be judged. Look at the head 

 of the animal. Is not the cranium a malformation P Do not 

 the habits of the animal prove it to be a pampered creation ? 

 It is not generally known, that the disposition of the genuine 

 bull-dog is too fond. It wiU fondle upon any stranger ; and 

 yet, contrary to the general custom of its race, it displays small 

 preference for its master. It will fondle a human being as 

 though its heart would burst with affection; but upon tho 



