The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-02-22
THE NAMES OF DOGS.

earth, which has terra Tor It's Lat1n
equivalent. The word in the course
of time gradually became metamor-
phosed into terrier.
The island of Skye is responsible
for the designation of the "Skye"
breed of terriers, inasmuch as at one
time it was almost exclusively raised
there. 1t is not difficult to trace the
origin of Dandy Dinmont" as a title
for certain celebrated breed of ter
riers, the original Of the type having
been depicted by Sir Walter Scott as
the favorite of a character bearing
that name in his "Guy Mannering."
The fox terrier was so called owing
to its having been at one time an ap
pendage to every pack of foxhounds.
In many cases it is still considered
necessary adjunct. The little fellows
are always up within minute or two
of running to ground and assist in no
small way in the capture of the fox.
The derivation of the term "blood-
hound" is fairly obvious. In ancient
and indeed in comparatively recent
times these dogs were employed in the
exercise of their peculiar power of
scenting blood both of men and ami
mails. Once put upon the trail they
will hunt the quarry to the death,
seldom if ever deviating from their
course.
Not long ago there was a great
trial of man hunting by bloodhounds
in the criminal catching interest, but
the idea is repellant and, it may safe
ly be said, will never become popular
When in olden times stag hunting
prevailed as favorite amusement of
the nobility and gentry, the days used
in the sport-part greyhounds, part
bloodhounds-were given the name
ST staghounds. In like manner fox
hounds trained to hunt the 'knave of
the brush" gaining their distinctive
appellation from that fact.
There is learned dispute as to the
true origin of the term greyhound,
some authorities insisting that the
prefix "grey" is derived from "grai-
Gus, meaning Greek" while others
claim that it signifies ''great," still
others saying that it has reference to
the color of the animal. In no other
breed of hounds does the blue or gray
color so predominant; consequently
the last mentioned derivation appears
to be the most plausible.
The barriers are principally used in
hunting hares accounts easily for their
given name.
The title beagle" applied to
rabbit hating breed, is probably de-
rived from the Celtic "beag" or
"bige" or the Welsh "back," signi-
flying "little," they really being a
small species of hound.
A pointer gets its name from its
habit Of pointing at game with its
nose. The setter is so called from
a similar habit, excepting that it
crouches in place of standing under
similar circumstances.
Dalmatian or carriage dogs, popu-
larly known as "plum pudding" dogs,
were it is said, first bred in Dalmatia,
but it is as carriage or coach dogs
that they are best known. This arises
from the fact that they are, as rule,
kept in stables and nearly always
seen running after carriages.
Spitz or Pomeranian dogs, varie-
ty of the Eskimo, were first bred in
Prussian Pomerania. The popular
name of Spitz is an error founded on
the unwarranted notion that their
original breeding place was Spitz-
bergen.
Spaniels, the breed of which are le-
gion, evidently first came from Spain /;
hence their distinctive name. A small
variety of this animal was ardently
admired by our Charles H., from
which circumstance arose the desig-
nation of his pets, known the world
over as the King Charles.
Greatly resembling the latter in
form and general appearance are the
Blenheim or Marlborough spaniels.
These get their English name from
Blenheim palace, Oxfordshire, the
seat of the Marlboroughs, where
since the "great dukes" time the
breed has been religiously preserved.
The term applied to very large
and powerful species of the canine
family is open to much controversy,
the word "mastiff" originating con-
siderable conflict of opinion with re-
gard to the origin of the word.
The Italian "mastino' and the
French ''mastin" have both claims as
good derivatives, both signifying
"large limbed.' These words, or
either of them, were, it it is contend
ed, gradually corrupted into "mas-
ty," Lincolnshire expression mean-
ing very large, muscular or big, until
it in course of time and by degrees
assumed its present form. There is
vet another derivative in the German
"massen," to fatten, because the
mastiff is a large dog and therefore
needs more and better feeding than
any other.
Poodle, though of French associa-
ton, is really derived from the Ger
man "pudel," puddle or pool.
Originally German this dog got its
name probably because of its being
closely allied in species to what is
known as the water dog. More amen
able to training than any other, it is
without doubt the most intelligent of
the whole canine race.
Collie is from the Gaelic words
"cullean," or puppy. 1t is also, and
more frequently in Scotland, called
ed the shepherd dog, gaining its name
from the fact of its being set to watch
sheep.-London 7lt-BitS.
GIVE BEEN looking for my hus-
band for the last two hours" said an
agitated woman to calm one.
Don't be excited, madam" re-
| ,o1;ad tho 1otfar tsT'va hean 1OOkinO