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Performing Bogs. 
Topsell mentions some varieties of performing dogs. 
One is the Mimicke or Getulian dog:— 
“ There is also in England two other sorts of dogs, the figure of 
which is here expressed, being apt to imitate al things 
it seeth, in face sharpe and blacke like a hedgehog, 
having a short recurved body, very long legs, shaggy 
haire and a short taile. These being brought up with apes in their 
youth learne very admirable and strange feats.” (Page 161.) 
In the next page he describes some miniature dogs, 
artificially dwarfed:— 
“ Now a daies, they have found another breede of little dogs in all 
nations, beside the Melitean [Maltese] dogs, either made so by art, as 
inclosing their bodies in the earth, when they are whelpes, so as they 
cannot grow great by reason of the place, or els, lessening and impayring 
their growth, by some kind of meat or nourishment. . . . They are not 
above a foot or half a foote long, and alway the lesser the mor delicate 
and precious. Their head like the head of a mouse, but greater, their 
snowt sharpe, their eares like the eares of a cony, short legs, little feete, 
long, and white colour, and the haire about the shoulders longer then 
ordinary is most commended. They are of pleasant disposition, and 
will leape and bite without pinching, and barke prettily, and some of 
them are taught to stand upright, holding up their fore legs like hands, 
other to fetch and cary in their mouths that which is cast unto them.” 
The little toy Maltese dog, here referred to, is now 
almost extinct. The useful little Whappet, or Turnspit, 
needs no description. 
To write a full description of the various dogs known 
at this period would require, not a chapter, but a volume. 
Many • interesting particulars, as well as numerous anec¬ 
dotes of the different varieties, are to be found in Jesse’s 
History of the British Bog , already quoted. The con¬ 
cluding sentence of the description of the mastiff by 
Dr. Caius, sums up the good qualities of the dog :— 
“ Who by his barcking (as good as a burning beacon) foreshoweth 
hassards at hand ? what maner of beast stronger ? what servant to 
his master more loving ? what companion more trustie ? what watch¬ 
man more vigilant? what revenger more constant? what messinger 
morespeedie? what water-bearer more painefull ? finally, what pack- 
horse more patient? And thus much concerning English dogges.” 
( Tract on Dogs , tr. Fleming, 1576; Reprint, 1880.) 
