136 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

out, and fly at him. On the day of trial, when the prisoner
was at the bar, the dog was let loose in the court-house, and
in the midst of some hundreds he found him out (though
dressed entirely in new clothes), and would have torn him
to pieces had he been allowed; in consequence of which he
was condemned, and at the place of execution he confessed
the fact.”

The Terrier. There are many varieties of terrier including
numerous celebrated breeds. The English, Scotch, Skye, Bull
and Fox terriers being the best known. Innumerable stories
of the intelligence and sagacity of the various breeds might
be told if space permitted, but it must suffice to say that for
sportsmanlike qualities, for general intelligence and sagacity,
and for affection for his master, the terrier of whatever breed
will hold his own against any other dog. Dogs are said to
have natural antipathies, and that of the Bull-dog for the
buli is an obvious illustration. An equal antipathy is shown
by the English terrier for the rat and by the Fox-terrier
for the cat, though the latter is perhaps as much a matter
of education as of nature. Terriers are, however, among the
best known of dogs and therefore need the less description. -

The Mastiff. The Mastiff is said to be of an original breed
indigenous to England, whence some were exported to Italy in
the days of the Roman emperors. The breed has since been
crossed by stag and blood hounds and the present is a
magnificent animal of great power and noble character. The
ancient breed was brindled yellow and black, the present is
usually deeper or lighter buff with dark muzzle and ears.
The mastiff is sometimes twenty-nine or thirty inches in
height at the shoulder.

The Mastif’s The Mastiff is the best of watch dogs, for he

Fidelity. brings an intelligence to bear upon his duty
which is in the highest degree surprising. He has been
known to walk by the side of an intending thief “for-
bidding his laying hands upon any article, yet abstaining -