240 
DOCK 
mountains. This attention to the species arose 
merely from the superstitious- whim of one of the 
late emperors, who happened to be bom under the 
sign of the dog, one of the Japanese constellations. 
A poor fellow, that had lost his dog by death, 
sweating under his load in climbing the mountain 
of interment, was overheard by his neighbour, 
cursing, at a dreadful rate, the edict. “ Friend, 
(said his neighbour,) you have reason to thank the 
gods that the emperor was not born under the 
horse ; for that would have then been your load !” 
If these animals happen to do any injury* none but 
the public executioner dare presume to punish 
them ; and it is even necessary for him to receive 
a direct order for the purpose, from some of the 
governors. 
It is singular that the race of European dogs 
shew as great an antipathy to the American species, 
as they do to the wolf. They never meet wit Ji them 
without exhibiting every possible sign of dislike ; 
they will fall on and worry them ; w hile the wolfish 
breed, with every mark of timidity, puts its tail 
between its legs, and runs from their rage. This 
aversion to the wolf is natural to all genuine dogs ; 
for it is well known that a whelp, that has.' never 
seen a wolf, will at first sight tremble and run to 
its master for protection ; an old dog will naturally 
attack it. 
It is recorded of a dog belonging to a nobleman 
of the Medici family, that it always attended at its 
master’s table ; changed the plates for him ; and 
carried him his wine in a glass placed on a salver, 
without spilling the smallest drop. It would also 
hold the stirrup in its teeth, while its master was 
mounting his horse. 
Plutarch relates, that, in the theatre of Marcel - 
lus, a dog was exhibited before the emperor Ves- 
pasian, so wejl instructed as to excel in every kind 
