20 A DESCRIPTION OP 
other animals ; they are naturally disposed to follow and 
accompany other creatures besides themselves ; and even 
by instinct take to the care of flocks and herds. 
The Shepherd's Dog may be considered the primitive 
stock, from whence those of Siberia, Lapland, Iceland, the 
Cape of Good Hope, Madagascar, and indeed all others, 
are derived. He makes the stem of the genealogical tree, 
which has been branched out into every part of the world. 
This animal still continues nearly in its original state 
among the poor in temperate climates : being transported 
into the colder regions, it becomes smaller, and covered 
with a shaggy coat. Whatever differences there may be 
among the Dogs of these cold countries, they are not very 
considerable, as they all have straight ears, long and thick 
hair, a savage aspect, and do not bark either so often or 
so loud as Dogs of the more cultivated kind. The Shep- 
herd's Dog, transported into temperate climates, and 
among people entirely civilized, such as into England, 
France, and Germany, will be divested of his savage air, 
his pricked ears, his rough, long, and thick hair, though he 
will still retain his large skull, abundant brain, and con- 
sequent great sagacity. 
Many interesting anecdotes are told of the shepherd's 
tyke or colley, as this kind of Dog is frequently called, 
particularly of its sagacity in rescuing sheep from snow- 
drifts. When sheep are missing in a snow-storm, as is 
frequently the case in Scotland and the North of England, 
the shepherd arms himself with a spade, and watching the 
motions of his faithful Dog, digs into the snow wherever 
the Dog begins to scratch it away, and he is thus sure to 
find his lost sheep. 
