HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



is the fierceft of all the Dog kind, and is probably the 

 moft courageous creature in the world. It is low in fea- 

 ture, but very ftrong and mufcular. Its nofe is fhort; 

 and the under jaw projects beyond the upper, which 

 gives it a fierce and unpleafing afpecl. — Its courage in 

 attacking the Bull is well known : Its fury in feizing, 

 and its invincible obftinacy in maintaining, its hold, are 

 truly aftonifhing. It always aims at the front 5 and ge- 

 neraly fallens upon the lip, the tongue, the eye, or fome 

 part of the face ; where it hangs, in fpite of every effort 

 of the Bull to difengage himfelf. 



The uncommon ardour of thefe Dogs in fighting will 

 be beft illuftrated by the following fa£t, related by an 

 eye-witnefs; which at the fame time corroborates, in 

 fome degree, that wonderful account of the Dogs of 

 Epirus given by Elian, and quoted by Dr Goldfmith in 

 his hiftory of the Dog; Some years ago, at a bull- 

 baiting in the North of England, when that barbarous 

 cuftom was very common, a young man,, confident of 

 the courage of his Dog, laid fome trifling wagers, that 

 lie would, at feparate times, cut off all the four feet of 



