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In picking it up again, the Greenlander shows a great deal of dexterity: and, in truth, it is highly necessary that he should be expert in this most difficult part of his exercise; for the moment the dogs find that the driver has lost his stick, unless the leader is both steady and resoJute, they immediately set off at full speed, and continue to run till their strength is exhausted, or till the carriage is overturned and dashed to pieces, or harried down a precipice and buried in the snow.

The Greenland dogs live a very hardy life, sleeping constantly abroad, where they make a lodge in the snow, in which they lie completely covered except their noses.

The Mastiff is a variety of the dog kind, to which the people of Great Britain are much indebted, for his singular fidelity and care in guarding whatever property is placed under his protection; and this office he is particularly well enabled to perform, by his extraordinary size, strength, and courage. His head is large, his underlip hangs down on each side, and his countenance is majestic and noble: he appears to treat all other dogs with a contempt which clearly indicates a consciousness of his superiority over them.

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His disposition is generous, and he will not abuse the power with which he is intrusted, nor call it forth into action, unless provoked by injuries; and even then; he will not resent trifling

insults, farther than by shewing his power to do it: of this, an anecdote mentioned by Mr. Berwick, is a striking instance. "A large dog of this kind, belonging to the late M. Ridley, Esq. of Heatton, near Newcastle, being frequently molested by a mongrel, and teased by its continual barking, at last took it up in his mouth by the back, and with great composure dropped it over the quay into the river, without doing any further injury to an enemy so much his inferior. The mastiff is generally kept confined by a chain during the day time, and when night approaches, he is turned loose to guard and defend the premises committed to his care; these he examines all over, with great attention and accuracy, to see that all is safe, and then by his loud barkings, announces his presence and readiness to acquit himself faithfully of thetrust reposed in him. As an instance of the fidelity and courage with which he guards his master's pro. perty, it is related, that a labourer in one of the English counties, having been, for a long time, employed by a farmer, at last acquired so much of his confidence, that he was entrusted with the key of the barn, and frequently engaged in bringing sacks of corn from thence to the house, for family use -One night, this man went after the farmer's mastiff had been unchained, and took a sack of corn, The dog attended him very quietly as long as he pursued the path that led to his master's house, but when he turned into the road

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that led to the village, he caught hold of his leg and would not let him stir, as much as to say, where are you going with my master's property? The man tried then to go back again with the sack to the barn, but neither would the dog let him do that, In this situation, the thief was obliged to remain all night, standing with the sack of corn, and the dog, who held him fast, though without biting him, until he was discovered in the morning.

It appears from Stow's Annals, that the mastiff will attack even a lion; and an account is there given of an engagement between a lion and three mastiffs, in the presence of King James I. One of the dogs being put into the lion's den, was soon disabled-another was then set at the lion, and presently met with the same, fate--but the third instantly seized the lion by the lip, and held him fast for some time, till at length, being terribly wounded by the lion's claws, he was forced to quit his hold; when the lion, who was, no doubt, much fatigued by the combat, declined renewing the engagement, and leaping over the dogs, fled away into the interior part of his den. The first two dogs did not long survive, but the third recovered and became a great favourite of the king's son.

In the time of the Roman Emperors, the English mastiffs were held in high estimation at Rome, for their strength and courage, and an officer was appointed in Britain, on purpose to breed and transport such as he thought would

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