38 DOGS 



life in snowstorms. St. Bernard de Mentlion established 

 this breed of dog, being the founder of the monastery- 

 situated on the summit of the Alps. 



' The peculiar faculty of this dog is shown by the 

 curious fact that if a pup of this breed is placed upon snow 

 for the first time it will begin to scratch it and sniff about, 

 as if in search of something. When they have been 

 regularly trained they are sent out in pairs, during heavy 

 snowstorms, in search of travellers who may have been 

 overwhelmed with the snow. In this way they pass over 

 a great extent of country, and by the acutoness of their 

 scent find out if anyone is overwhelmed by a snowdrift. 

 When it is considered tliat j\iount St. Bernard is situated 

 about 8,000 feet above the level of the sea, and that it is 

 the highest habitable place in Europe, and that the road 

 that passes across it is constantly traversed, the great 

 utility of the dog is manifest.' 



These dogs make very affectionate and faithful com- 

 panions. They are most intelligent, and seem to understand 

 every word said to them. 



A full-grown St. Bernard should be from 120 to 170 

 pounds in weight, and stand from 30 to 33 inches in 

 height at the shoulder. The head should be broad and 

 square, high on the skull ; eyes large, drooping, with a 

 gentle expression, showing the red under the eyelid; ears 

 small and carried close to the sides of the face ; the neck 

 thick and strong, the legs straight and massive, the feet 

 very large and thickly soled ; dew claws are allowed ; the 

 hind legs strong and well set, and the hocks should not 

 touch each other ; the body symmetrical and powerful ; 

 the tail well carried on a level with the back, or below it, 

 but not turned over the back ; the coat perfectly sleek 

 and smooth in the short-coated variety, and should consist 

 of an under and an over coat, the outer one being strong 

 and hard in texture and the under one woolly and soft. 

 In colour they are generally red, orange, or brindled with 

 a white blaze up the face, on the chest, legs, and tip of tail. 

 They have very kindly and expressive countenances. 



