164 NOTES ON THE DOG TRIBE. 



gentlemen, who in top boots, and scarlet coats, are 

 now known, as far as Rome itself, to be genuine 

 English fox hunters ; although, the dull rustics 

 of Italy, cannot yet clearly comprehend, why dogs 

 should come so far, and foreigners be so eager 

 to kill a few insignificant foxes. t But, these Italian 

 peasants are a remarkably dull race. Thus, if you 

 tell them that archbishops and bishops in England, 

 of the Church by law established, receive a retiring 

 pension of ^£5000 per annum, until their death, 

 positively these boors will not believe you. 



Now, this fox-hound here in Great Britain, 

 would probably be a sledge dragger in the country 

 round Hudson's bay; or it might possibly serve 

 as a lap-dog for the knee of some Patagonian 

 giantess. Or, suppose this British fox-hound to have 

 married an Italian greyhoundess, their whelps might 

 be prime lurchers, which are a race of dogs some- 

 what injurious to us country squires, but, in high 

 reputation amongst that very harmless and respect- 

 able cla-ss of men, usually denominated poachers. 



These lurchers, in their turn, might have puppies 

 innumerable ; all differing in size and shape, and 

 disposition. Were these animals not under the 

 control of man, they would still all be dogs, but in 

 nowise a benefit to him, neither in the capacity of 

 sheep drivers, watch dogs, turnspits, mastiffs, or 

 hounds. 



