tilSTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 303 



%* In December, 1784, a Dog was left by a fmuggling 

 veflel near Boomer, on the coaft of Northumberland. Finding 

 himfelf deferted, he began to worry fheep ; and did fo much 

 damage, that he became the terror of the country within a cir- 

 cuit of above twenty miles. We are affured, that when he 

 caught a Sheep, he bit a hole in its right fide, and after eating 

 the tallow about the kidneys, left it : Several of them, thus la- 

 cerated, were found alive by the fhepherds ; and being taken 

 proper care of, fome of them recovered, and afterwards had 

 lambs. From his delicacy in this refpe&, the deftru&ion he 

 made may in fome meafure be conceived ; as it may be fup- 

 pofed, that the fat of one Sheep in a day would hardly fatisfy 

 his hunger. — The farmers were fo much alarmed by his depre- 

 dations, that various means were ufed for his deftruction. They 

 frequently purfued him with Hounds, Greyhounds, &c. ; but 

 when the Dogs came up with him, he laid down on his back, 

 as if fupplicating for mercy ; and in that pofition they never 

 hurt him : He therefore laid quietly, taking his reft till the hun- 

 ters approached, when he made off, without being followed by 

 the Hounds, till they were again excited to the purfuit, which 

 always terminated unfuccefsfully. And it is worthy of notice, 

 that he was one day purfued from Howick to upwards of thirty 

 miles diftance ; but returned thither, and killed Sheep the fame 

 evening. — His conftant refidence, during the day, was upon a 

 rock, on the Heugh-hill, near Howick, where he had a view of 

 four roads that approached it; and in March, 1785, after many 

 fruitlefs attempts, he was at laft mot there. 



