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these old-fashioned sports, yet, I am sure, my brother-sportsmen will see the bad taste of running down a dog who, with all his faults, is not only the most courageous dog, but the most courageous animal in the world.

The points of a well-bred bulldog are as follows. The head should be round, the skull high, the eye of moderate size, and the forehead well sunk between the eyes, the ears semi-erect and small, well placed on the top of the head, rather close together than otherwise, the muzzle short, truncate, and well furnished with chop; his back should be short, well arched towards the stern, which should be fine and of moderate length; many bulldogs have what is called a crooked stern, as though the vertebræ of the tail were dislocated or broken. I am disposed to attribute this to in-breeding. The coat should be fine, though many superior strains are very woolly-coated; the chest should be deep and broad, the legs strong and muscular, and the foot narrow and well split up like a hare's.

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There is every reason to suppose that this is an indigenous breed, like the bulldog, for though the Cuban mastiff closely resembles it, yet the latter is to all appearance crossed with the bloodhound (see cut).

The English mastiff is a fine noble-looking animal, and in temper is the most to be depended on of all the large and power

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"WALLACE," an English Mastiff, the property of T. Lukey, Esq., of Morden.

ful dogs, being extremely docile and companionable, though possessed of the highest courage. When crossed with the New

foundland or bloodhound they answer well as yard-dogs, but the produce is generally of a savage nature, while the pure breed is of so noble and mild a nature that they will not on any provocation hurt a child or even a small dog, one of their most remarkable attributes being their fondness for affording protection. Mr. Lukey of Morden, Surrey, has a very fine breed of the pure mastiff, an engraving of one of which accompanies this article, together with his account of the mode in which he obtained the blood.*

The English mastiff is a most useful watch dog, and is so capable of attachment to the person of his master, and so completely under control, that he makes a most excellent nightguard to the game-keeper, for which purpose he is much used in this country, especially crossed with the bulldog, to give extra courage. This cross is, however, not to any great extent, and many true mastiffs are used for the purpose. The well-known

"In 1835 I bought of the late Geo. White, of Knightsbridge, a brindled mastiff bitch, at a high price (407.), from the Duke of Devonshire's stud. I bred from her with a fawn black-muzzled dog, 'Turk,' the property of the late Lord Waldegrave, a splendid high-couraged dog. I kept two brindled bitch pups; and with great interest and considerable cost I obtained the use of Pluto,' the Marquis of Hertford's well-known mastiff dog, considered by judges the finest and best-bred dog of his day, and valued immensely by the Marquis. I have not had any other cross but the "Turk' and 'Pluto' breed, having kept bitches from the one and dogs from the other. 'Wallace,' the grandsire of the dog engraved, was an immense animal, standing 33 inches at the shoulder, 50 inches round the body, and weighed 172 lbs. The Nepaulese Princes bought his brother and sister at eight months old, and gave 1057. for them. The late Pasha of Egypt for five successive years had two pair of whelps (brindled) sent spring and autumn from Southampton.-T. L."

Bill George is also celebrated for his breed of mastiffs; but in modern days (1860–70) Mr. Edgar Hanbury has produced the finest specimens of this breed.

The points of the mastiff are:-A head of large size between that of the bloodhound and bulldog in shape, having the volume of muscle of the latter, with the flews and muzzle of the former, though, of course, not nearly so deep; the ear being of small size but drooping, like that of the hound. The teeth generally meet, but if anything there is a slight protuberance of the lower jaw, never being uncovered by the upper lip like those of the bulldog. Eye small. In shape there is a considerable similarity to the hound, but much heavier in all its lines. Loin compact and powerful, and limbs strong. Tail very slightly rough, and carried high, over the back when excited. Voice very deep and sonorous. Coat smooth. Colour red or fawn with black muzzle, or brindled, or black; or black, red, or fawn and white, the latter mixture objected to. Height about 28 to 31 inches.

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