Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-23
TIE ST. BERNARD DOG.

The st. Bernard dog derives its name
from the Hospice OF the ST. Bernard Pass,
the highest inhabited point in Europe,
which was founded A. d. $50, by Bernard
de Mouthon, and where this breed of dogs
have been used almost continuously sincs
that time for the purposes of guiding par
ties Of travellers through the bewilderlng
and trackless SHOWS of the Alps, and to re-
cover those who were lost in the snow
storms of that Indictment region. Stone
henge says, " The old breed died many years
ago, and we doubt whether the monks have
possessed the present race of dogs more
than forty or fifty years" About half a
century ago all their dogs were swept away
by an avalanche, and the breed was pre-
served by regaining possession of two
which the monks had previously given
away They are closely allied to the
mastiff; are thought generally to have
been originally. brought from Spain, aud
resemble the Newfoundland In temper and
disposition. In hight they are from
twenty eight 20 thirty one inches, and
about SIX feet in length, including
the tail, weight about $50 pounds
There are two varieties of the breed, the
smooth-coated and rough coated, the dis.
| tinction being based upon the variation in
the length of the coat The smooth dog
is red and white, or brindie and white,
while the rough dog, the more highly
priced of the two, is orange tawnY, or q
deep tawny brindle, with some white, but
not so much as the smooth variety. Stone
| henge gives the following description of
these dogs from personal inspection made
during a visit for that purpose to the
monastery st. Bernard "All of these
| dogs were orange tawny; they had
white legs flecked slightly with orange,
white belly, white collar around the neck /;
the head remarkably fine, majestic, and
| full of character the ears small and set
| low the eyes deeply set, crease between
them, giving mastiff character to the
whole animal; from the eyes half way
down the face, black, then suddenly white
| down the nose, which is black /; the white
above the nose is continued in blaze or
streak up the forehead, and extends in a
narrow line down the poll. meeting the
white collar around the neck. The
monks begged us to observe this
peculiar mark, and compared it to thu
badge of their order-a white band or
tape, single behind, split to pass over the
| utChs IIS Two tuuS luChtN iulO VIZ
black dress IN front at the waist. Some
very fine specimens, however, are brindled
instead of orange tawny, and many have
no white In the face at all, nor down the
poll. The coat, which appears TO the ,s-
ual observer hard and smooth, when clos sly
! examined proves to be very thick and
feecy, and is well suited to repel
cold by animal heat. The tail
is bushy, but carried generally
down between the hooks, and the gait or
carriage of the dog much resembles the
march of the lion. The character of the
dog is majestic and important. He has
the true nobility possessed by the highest
type Of Newfoundland. The same thou yht-
full, observant eye, the wide brow, the
muscular neck, the enormous loin, and
sinewy arms and thighs. and the large,
round arehed feet and toes tpattss enor7aes,
the monks called them. and that general
intimation of power and sense and benevo-
lence which no other domesticated animal
possesses in the same compass"