The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-27
DOG NOMENCLATURE.
The Way Various Species of Canine
Got Their Namea
From the Detroit Free Press.

From the Detroit Free Press
Dog nomenclature is quite an interesting
subject. Take, for instance, that favorite
canine known as the terrier, a name given
tne breed from his habit Of following game
into burrows in the earth, which latter in
Latin is termed terra.
BY way OF quick gradations the word was
metamorphosed into terrier. A Skye terrier
Is 90 called because the breed was once
chiefly raised on the Island of Skye, one of
the Hebrides. The celebrated Dandy Din
mount terrier obtained its distinctive title
from the fact OF its being depicted as the
lavorlte OF character bearing that name
in Sir Walter Scott's "Guy Mannering"
The fox terrier was so named because it
was originally kept as an addition to every
pack OF foxhounds. 1t was always noted
Tor being up within a few minutes of run
ming TO ground and aiding very materially
In the capture of Reynard.
Bloodhounds derive their name from the
possession OF a peculiar power of seeming
the blood OF wounded animal, 80 that il
once put on the trail they will hunt the
quarry through thick and thin, and seldom,
If ever. deviate from their course
In olden times stag hunting was a favor
ite amusement or che nobility, and the dogs
used In such sport-part greyhounds and
part observation-disclosures given the name of
staghounds. Foxhounds, in like manner,
were trained to hunt the willy animal from
which they gained their distinctive appella-
ton.
Various explanations have been given of
the origin OF the term greyhound, some
authorities claiming that the prefix grey is
taken from Fratus, meaning Greek; 9TH
ers that it signifies great, while still others
say that IL has reference to the color Of the
animal. In no other breed of hounds Is the
mr. M ~
quently the last mentioned seemed the most
plausible.
Harriers are chiefly used in hunting hares
In England, while the title beagle, applied
to a breed which is an inveterRte enemy of
rabbits, is probably derived from the Celtic
beag or bIge. or the Welsh back, signifying
little, they being in reality small species of
hound.
A pointer Is 80 called because of its habits
OF stopping and pointing at game with its
nose, while the setter gets its name from a
habit, excepting that 1t crouches instead of
standing when pointing under similar cir
cumstances.
Dalmatian, or coach dogs, are said to have
been first bred In Dalmatia, but it is by the
last quoted name that they are best known.
This arises from the fact of their BEN kept
In stables and are nearly always seen run
ming after carriages.
Newfoundland dogs were originally
natives of that country and Labrador, from
which circumstance they received their
title. In the same manner the noble st.
Bernsrds are 80 called from the famous
monastery OF that name in the Alps.
That rather dangerous breed called Spite
or Pomeranian dogs, a variety of the Esoui-
maux, were first bred In Pomerania, Russia,
but the popular name of Spitz was probably
derived from the erroneous notion that they
originated in Spitzt ergen.
h., ,Nak,, aF,,l 4
tives of Greenland and other Arctic chimes
Is peculiar looking animal to which the
name OF Esquimau dog has been given.
Spaniels, OF which there are many breeds.
are supposed to have first come from Spain,
from which circumstance is derived their
distinctive names. Charles |. was an ardent
admirer of q small variety of this animal,
and from that arose the designation of his
pets known the world over as the King
Charles.
Blenheim, or Marlborough spaniels, which
greatly resemble the latter in form and
general appearance, get their English name
from BleDheirn palace, In Oxfordshire, where
the breed has been preserved since the be-
ginning Of the eighteenth century.
Mastif is the term applied to a very large
and powerful species of the canine family,
and there is considerable conflict Of opinion
regarding the origin of the word. Some
claim that it Is derived from the Italian
msstino, or the French mastin, both of
which signify large limbed.
This word, they say, was gradually cor
rupted into NASTY, Lincolnshire express
sion. meaning very large, muscular or big.
until it gradually assumed its present form.
Others, again, say its true origin is the old
German masten, to fatten, because the
mastiff is a large dog and SO seems better
fed than any other.
These animals were very highly priced by
the early Romans, who matched them to
fight in the arena " th wild animals IL is
related that very often two or three mas
tiffs defeated lion 10 such oombats.
Poodle Is derived from the German pudel.
puddle or pool. This dog was originally
German, and the name was probably given
1t because OF being very closely allied to
what is known as the water dog. They are
without doubt the most intelligent of
all CANNES.
The shepherd dog-called the collie in
Scotland, from the Gaelic cuilan or puppy
gains its title from the fact of it's being used
TO watch sheep and protect them from ma
RAIDERS of every description.
AS to the derivation of the word bull dog
tits only necessary to state that at one time
this species was used exclusively in bull
batting, and from that circumstance arose
the name by which it is universally known.
cross between this and the terrier is D.
propriately termed the pull terrier