56 Useful Companions of Man. 
is the most common in this country, and is a dog of 
massive form, possessing great character and intelligence, 
My own opinion, however, is that these breeds: are so 
intermixed that they cannot be called distinct, and that 
though without doubt these several varieties are met with, 
they occur indiscriminately, and often two are met with 
in the same litter.. “ Index,” who has studied the sub- 
ject a good deal, lays it down in the Field that the three 
breeds may be known by the coat, as follows :—“ The 
dog with long shaggy hair is the Newfoundland pure and 
simple, and recognized as such in both countries; the 
dog with the completely curly coat is the Labrador ; ” and 
the dog with the close smooth coat is the lesser or smaller 
Labrador.” In Newfoundland he is used as a beast of 
draught, being harnessed to sledges, which his great form, 
large feet, and endurance enable him to draw over the 
snow, while his thick coat and hardy constitution render 
him little amenable to the effects of cold and wet. Asa 
water dog he has no equal, and he floats or swims for 
hours without suffering from the immersion. His patron- 
age of children, especially when in danger of drowning, 
is one of the most remarkable features in the canine 
race, and the way in which he suffers himself to be pulled 
about by them makes him, when not exceptionally ill- 
tempered, the pet of many a family. Still it will not 
always do to trust him, and I have known many examples 
which were absolutely dangerous even to their masters 
when excited by deprivation of food or anger against 
some offender of their own species. 
In dealing with the merits of the Newfoundlander, 
as he was originally named, we are in company with 
the aristocracy of the canine race. Faithful and gentle 
to a degree, sagacious above his fellows of indi- 
genous breeds, grand in appearance, firm in his attach- 
ment, and noble in his behaviour, he becomes at once 
the general favourite with every child, and the intimate 
companion of man. Since his introduction to this land 
his breeding has been considerably improved, and a more 
‘graceful or noble creature can scarcely be conceived, as a 
glance at the picture of Landseer, ‘‘A Member of the 
, 
