DOMESTIC DOGS. 95

many of the species which now obtain are in certain charac-
teristics at least the result of artificial breeding. In its do-
mestic state, the dog is remarkable for its usefulness, obedience,
and attachment to its master; and the great variety of breeds
that are trained and educated for our benefit or amusement,
are almost too numerous to be mentioned. The principal
are, the greyhound, noted for his speed; the Newfoundland
dog, remarkable for his size, sagacity, and benevolence; the
shepherd’s dog, perhaps the most useful of all; the spamsel, the
barbel, and the setter, useful in hunting; the poznier, the
staunchest of all dogs; the Dalmatian or coach-dog, with a
skin beautifully spotted; the derrfer, useful for destroying ver-
min; the 4lood-hound, formerly used for tracing criminals; the
harrier, beagle, and foxhound, distinguished for their quick
sense of smell; and the dul/-dog, and mastiff, which are our
watch-dogs.

The Dog's Un- Many marvellous instances are on record of the
derstanding. dog’s capacity for understanding not only the
direct commands of his master, to which of course he may
be easily trained, but also, sometimes, the drift of conver-
sations in which his master may engage.

The Rev. James Simpson of Edinburgh had a fine New-
foundland dog of which some good stories are told. On one
occasion, however, Mr. Simpson happening to remark to a
friend in the dog’s hearing that, as he was about to change
his residence, he would have to part with his dog, the dog
took the hint, left the house and was never heard of again.
Sheep dogs have been known to take very apparent interest
in conversations upon the subject of their profession, and to
anticipate the word ot command by their perception of the
drift of the remarks. Mr. St. John, in his “ Highland Sports”,
gives a remarkable illustration of the way in which a shepherd’s
dog understood the conversation of his master :—“ A shepherd
once, to prove the quickness of his dog, who was lying before
the fire in the house where we were talking, said to me, in the