^ 5 o Modern Cynolatry. [December, 
than is the human person, and since an attempt was recently 
made to diminish even the slight defence which the latter at 
present enjoys. I refer to Mr. Hopwood’s bill for giving the 
ruffian and the “ corner-man ” the option of paying by 
weekly instalments the forty shillings fine which English law 
deems a sufficient penalty formaiming and perhaps crippling 
for life some person against whom he has no cause of 
qU j r wiil for the present pass over such minor mischief as 
chasing and killing poultry, ravaging flower gardens, and 
polluting merchandise placed at shop doors. But the de- 
struction of sheep is too serious to be overlooked. In the 
State of Georgia as is learnt from official documents, no 
fewer than 28,000 sheep are worried by dogs in one year, the 
consequence being that in many aistiidts otherwise suitable, 
sheep-farming is abandoned. In the whole of the United 
States the annual loss from this source is estimated at 
upwards of a million dollars ! This grievance has even 
attracted the notice of mechanicians, who have sought to 
devise protective collars, the neck being the part generally 
attacked with the objeCt of drinking the blood from the large 
arteries. 
In England the damage experienced is smaller because we 
have a substantial— though in my opinion an insufficient— 
do^-tax “ Ouida,” it appears, would make the tax merely 
nominal, and would thus expose our flocks to increased 
perils. Even at present farmers have too often good reason 
to complain. It is very satisfactory to learn that in conse- 
quence of the havoc committed in their neighbourhood, 
Messrs. Newton, Chambers, and Co., of the Thorncliffe 
Ironworks and Collieries, have issued a notice that they will 
not employ any persons, or allow any tenants to occupy their 
houses, who keep dogs. It is to be hoped that this example 
will be followed by other iron and coal-masters. 
Few persons ever take into consideration the national cost 
of dogs. The number of licenses granted last year in Eng- 
land was 1,238,867, and in Scotland I 53 > 309 > making in all 
1 ?Q 2 176. It is no exaggeration to suppose that the unlicensed 
curs must swell the total number to a million and a half. 
Each of these “ friends of man ” will, on a very low estimate 
cost in foodgd. weekly, — probably more, as dogs are decided 
gluttons — or 39s. yearly. Hence, without taking any account 
of the waste and loss which he occasions, the “ British dog 
costs the country in round numbers three millions steiling 
annually ! Is the game really worth the candle ? Does any 
benefit at all commensurate with such a sum accrue from 
