CLASS I, MAMMALIA: ORDER 6. CARNIYORA. 
225 
The Barbet is a small poodle, the production of some unknown and disadvantageous cross with 
the true poodle. It has all the sagacity of the poodle, and will perform even more than his tricks. 
I It is always in action, always fidgety, generally incapable of much affection, but inheriting much 
self-love and occasional ill-temper, unmanageable by any one but its owner, eaten up with red 
mange, and frequently a nuisance to its master, and a torment to every one else. It i however, 
very intelligent, and truly attached to its owner. 
The barbet possesses more sagacity than most other dogs, but it is sagacity of a particular kind, 
and frequently connected with various amusing tricks, Mr. Jesse, in his "Gleanings in Natural 
History," gives a singular illustration of this. A friend of his had a barbet that was not always 
under proper command. In order to keep him in better order, he purchased a small whip, with 
which he corrected him once or twice during a walk. On his return, the whip was put on a 
j table in the hall, but the next morning it was missing. It was soon afterward found concealed 
t in an out-building, and again made use of in correcting the dog. Once more it would have been 
lost, but on watching the dog, who was suspected of having stolen it, he was seen to take it from 
the hall table in order to hide it once more. 
DIVISION v.— CUR-DOGS— MIXED BREEDS. 
This division embraces several remarkable varieties, generally below the middling size, with 
large eyes, and a large head, and possessing great activity and intelligence. The French matin, 
already described, approaches this breed, but it seems to have become a distinct, permanent race. 
' At the head of the division, therefore, we must place the Cur-Dog proper. This has long had a 
bad name as a bully and a coward, and certainly his habit of barking at every thing that passes, 
, renders him often a very annoying animal. He is, however, in a manner necessary to the laborer ; 
I lie is a faithful defender of his humble dwelling ; no bribe can seduce him from his duty ; and he 
is likewise a useful and an effectual guard over the clothes and scanty provisions of his master, who 
) .may be working in some distant part of the field. All day long he will lie upon his clothes, seem- 
ingly aslee]3, but giving immediate warning of the approach of a supposed marauder. He has a 
propensity to fly at every horse and every strange dog, and is thus often regarded as a nuisance. 
Mr. Hogg, however, in a curious parallel between the sheep-dog and the cur, gives him a good 
character. ''An exceedingly good sheep-dog," he says, "attends to nothing but the particular 
' branch of business to Avhich he is bred. His whole capacity is exerted and exhausted in it, and 
he is of little avail in miscellaneous matters; whereas a very indifferent cur, bred about the house, 
and accustomed to assist in every thing, will often put the more noble breed to disgrace in these 
little services. If some one calls out that the cows are in the corn, or the hens in the garden, the 
house coUey needs no other hint, but runs and turns them out. The shepherd's dog knows not 
what is astir, and, if he is called out in a hurry for such work, all that he Avill do is to run to the 
hill, or rear himself on his haunches to see that no sheep are running away. A well-bred sheep- 
dog, if coming hungry from the hills, and getting into a milk-house, would likely think of nothing 
else than filling his belly with the cream. Not so his initiated brother : he is bred at home to 
far higher principles of honor. I have known such lie night and day among from ten to twenty 
^ pails full of milk, and never once break the cream of one of them with the tip of his tongue, nor 
would he suffer cat, rat, or any other creature to touch it. While, therefore, the cur is a nuisance, 
he is very useful in his way, and we would further plead for him, that he possesses a great deal 
of the sagacity and all the fidelity of the choicest breed of dogs." 
The Terriers are of such variety as to render it difficult to describe them. We shall only 
mention the principal breeds. 
The English Terrier has the forehead convex, the eye prominent, the muzzle pointed, the 
J tail thin and arched, the fur short, the ears of moderate size, half erect, and usually of a deep- 
I black color, with a yellow spot over the eyes. The coat may be either smooth or rough. The 
smooth-haired ones are more delicate in appearance, and are somewhat more exposed to injury 
or accident; but in courage, sagacity, and strength, there is very little difference, if the dogs are 
^ equally well bred. The rough terrier possibly obtained his shaggy coat from, the cur,,, and the- 
smooth terrier may derive his from the hound. 
Vol. I. — 29 
