374 
DOGS. 
other defenceless creatures, destroy many 
more than they can either eat or conceal. 
We may perhaps set off against this cir¬ 
cumstance that most of the canines are 
more or less social, and some of the most 
repulsive of them are very ready to fight 
each others’ battles and will rescue a cap¬ 
tured companion at the risk of their own 
lives.” 
“Do you really think, Aunt Louisa,” 
said Antoinette, “ that dogs have done 
more good than harm ?” 
“What harm have they done?” asked 
Annie. 
“I presume Antoinette is thinking of 
that dreadful disease, hydrophobia,” said 
Miss Winston. “ It is indeed a horrible 
malady; but it is comparatively rare. I 
suppose the race of St. Bernard dogs alone 
have saved more lives than ever were lost 
by hydrophobia; and when you add the 
Newfoundland dogs and consider the services 
of the shepherd dogs and the great watch¬ 
dogs, not to mention the different races of 
hunters, I think the good decidedly over¬ 
balances the evil.” 
