TIBET DOG.
Mr. Bennett says of some specimens kept in the Zoological Gardens many years ago, that they “were larger than any English Mastiff we have seen. Their colour was a deep black, slightly clouded on the sides; their feet and a spot over each eye alone being of a full tawny or bright brown. They had the broad, short, truncated muzzle of the Mastiff, and lips still more deeply pendulous.” In disposition they are—at any rate in their native country—“tremendously fierce, strong, and noisy; and while savage by nature, or soured by confinement, so impetuously fierce, that it is unsafe, unless the keepers are near, even to approach their dens.”
This Dog was known to the Greeks and Romans, whose writers mention its fierce conflicts with the Aurochs, the Wild Boar, and even the Lion.
THE ENGLISH TERRIER.
This is a small Dog, with a good forehead, prominent eye, pointed muzzle, and usually short hair. The colour varies greatly—white and black-and-tan being perhaps the commonest hues; in the latter case, there is always a tan-coloured spot on the eye, a circumstance which it is interesting to remark, as a similar spot occurs in nearly all black Dogs with tan-coloured feet.
The Terrier is used for unearthing the Fox, but his chief accomplishment is Rat-killing, in which noble sport he is a great adept. “There are some extraordinary accounts of the dexterity, as well as courage, of the Terrier in destroying Rats. The feats of a Dog called ‘Billy’ will be long remembered. He was matched to destroy one hundred large Rats in eight minutes and a half. The Rats were brought into the ring in bags, and as soon as the number was complete, he was put over the railing. In six minutes and thirty-five seconds they were all destroyed. In another match he destroyed the same number in six minutes and thirteen seconds. At length, when he was getting old, and had but two teeth and one eye left, a wager was laid of thirty sovereigns, by the owner of a Berkshire Bitch, that she would kill fifty Rats in less time than Billy. The old Dog killed his fifty in five minutes and six seconds. The pit was then cleared and the Bitch let in. When she killed thirty Rats she was completely exhausted, fell into a fit, and lay barking and yelping, utterly incapable of completing her task.”
THE SCOTCH TERRIER
has a large head, short stout legs, and long, rough, shaggy hair. The colours of the pure breed are black and fawn. This breed is probably of more ancient origin than the English Terrier. It is an extremely intelligent, faithful, and affectionate animal, and, like its relative from south of the Border, a great Rat-catcher. The “Dandie Dinmont” breed, so well known from the immortal Pepper and Mustard in “Guy Mannering,” is a variety of the Scotch Terrier; so also is the Skye Terrier, which is distinguished by its long hair and short legs. In all these Terriers, as well as in the English breed, a black nose and black roof to the mouth are points of importance.
PARIAH DOGS.
Having considered the chief bonâ fide varieties of the Dog, we come, lastly, to those nondescript animals, the Pariahs, or domesticated Dogs run wild, which occur in packs in many parts of Eastern Europe and of Asia. These herds of miserable, half-starved animals are undoubtedly not true wild Dogs, but degenerated tame ones, the Dog being derived from a wild ancestor, under certain circumstances shows his descent by reverting to the habits of his forbears. Instances of this occur occasionally in the case of even the better breeds of Dogs. For instance: “A black Greyhound Bitch, belonging to a gentleman in Scarisbrick, in Lancashire, though she had apparently been well broken-in and always well used, ran away from the habitation of her master, and betook herself to the woods. She killed a great many Hares and made free with the Sheep, and became an intolerable nuisance to the neighbourhood. She was occasionally seen, and the depredations that were committed were brought home to her. Many were the attempts made to entrap or destroy her, but in vain; for more than six months she eluded the vigilance of her pursuers. At length she was observed to creep into a hole in an old barn. She was caught as she came out, and the barn being searched three whelps were found, which, very foolishly, were destroyed. The Bitch evinced the utmost ferocity, and, although well secured, attempted to seize every one who approached her. She was, however, dragged home, and treated with kindness. By degrees her ferocity abated. In the course of two months she became perfectly reconciled to her original abode, and a twelvemonth afterwards (1822), she ran successfully several courses. There was still a degree of wildness in her appearance; but although at perfect liberty, she seemed to be altogether reconciled to a domestic life.”