The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-09-09
THE NEWFoUNDLAND DOG.


THE. NEWFOUNDLAND DOG.
Froul .qnshaci'a /" Historv and De8crhtioa
cfthe isiaad qf .Neze fo"ndlaad.
The last among the Quadrupeds Of New
foundland which | shall mention, IS the
Newfoundland dog, a valuable and faithful
friend to man, animplacablc enemy to sheep.
When born and reared from an carly age
under the roof Of man, this dog is the most
useful animal in the island as a domestic
lie answers some Of the essential purposes of
a horse is docic, capable Of strong attach
mcnt, and easy to please in Inequality of his
food; he will live upon scraps Of boiled fish,
whether saltctl or fresh, and on boiled pota-
toes anil cabbage; bl. II hungry, he will not
scruplc to steal salmon, or piece OF raw
salt poi''; from the tub i'll which they have
been left to steep; he is likewise fond ct
poultry Of the larger kind but, as Il bcvcr-
age, nothing is equal in his estimation to the
blood Of sheep. The author had purchased
puppy of the true breed, which had been
brought from the northwald OF the island to
Harhour-Grace. This puppy grew up to
the size of small donkey, as strong and fit
for hard work, as he was tractable and gen
whom he seemed to be particularly fond nor
was he ever known, in any one instance, to
disagree with the cats of the house, whom
he treated rather with a kind of dignihcd
condcscension. But the dog, unless closely
watched, would run after sheep wherever he
could trace them, even drive them from high
cliffs into the water, and jump in after them;
not, however, without first considering the
elevation of the cliff; for, il he thought it
too great, he would run down and take the
nearest and most convenient place to con-
tinue his pursuit The owner of that dog
had ut one time, some domcsticated wild
geese, one Of which would frequently follow
him in his morning walks, side by si,lc witt,
Jowlcr; they cmcd to live together OH the
best terms. Unfortunately the servant ne
J., elected one night to con!ine them, accord
ing to custom the next morning the fcath-
ers of the fayorite goose were found scatter
ed i'll a small field adjoining to the grounds
: The dog was soon after found concealed i'll ;
corner Of the woodward, and on his master
5 looking at him, exhibited evident signs Q
conscious guilt his master took him to th'
| field, and pointed out to him the feathers
the dog, staring at him, uttered loud growl
and ran away with all the speed OF which hI
was capable, nor could he bear his MASTER
sight for some days afterwards. Atanothci
: time the author had three young sheep, to
whom in the day time the dog seemed to af
: feet the utmost indifference; the servant ne
4 elected one evening to take them into thci
c shed, and to continc the dog and thc mex
t morning the sheep were found stretched i
S the back yard, lifcless, and without any q
: thcr mark of violence than small wound j
d the throat, from which the dog had suckc
il their blood. 1t is a remarkable circumstanc
IS that the Newfoundland dog, when pursuin
1f a flock of sheep, will single out one OF then
II and, if not prey cntcd, which is a matter
" considerable difficulty, will never leave @
ID the pursuit until he has mastered his IL
st tended victim, always aiming at tho threat
1t and, after having sucked the blood has nt
i. yer been known to touch the ctrcA,c,
e. The natural colour of tins dog was pei
e. feet black, with the exception Of avery tc
N white spots. As soon as winter appruachc
Of he acquireda coat which grew to the dept
III Of about one inch, of close coarse wool, d
or Waiting from the original colour only by ;
DC inclination to rcd the long, thick, CLOS
Ill hairs preserved the same colour up TO Il
surface Of the coat, and then turned gene
O. ally to Il perfect white; it is probable til
ey more constant exposure to the wealth
would have made the change OF colour mo
ty, complete. The sagacity Of this animal W
ID astonishing on many occasions he appear
to to want only the faculty Of speech to ma
'se himself fully understood.
itc Iomention another remarkable instan
ho which also came within the authors obsc
'u- vation one Of the magistrates of Harbou
MS Grace, had an old animal of this kind W
100 was in the habit of carrying lantern bcfc
ng his master at night, as steadily as the me
m attentive servant could do, stopping she
lly when his master made stop, and procce
viii ing when he saw him disposed to follow hi
ew If his master was absent from home, on t
Ter lantern being fixed to his mouth, and t
sit command given, go, fetch thy master
ma he would Immediately set off and proce
Bile directly to the town, which lay at the d
her tance of more than a mile from the place
N his masters residence; he would then ST
lalf at the door of every house which he KIN
that his master was in the habit of freque