pleased to say (as I have known and conversed with many of the men who are acquainted with my love for animals, and know what numbers I have bred and owned), that the greater part of them value their dogs, and appreciate their services, so much so, that what might be considered really big offers, have frequently been refused by them. One of them said to me, "What good, sir, for me to take a ten pound note for 'Bess,' I couldn't do nothing without she, and 'twould take me a doose of a time to make another larn to do like she can, with the beasts, and that, let alone her being such a 'pal,' and my missus, she do think a deal of Bess, to be sure sir."

I have no doubt, that a great many varieties of dog have been pressed into the service of the many and some highly accomplished troupes of performing dogs, which the great increase of music halls throughout the kingdom as well as the continent have brought forward. I have at different times seen Great Danes, Scotch Deer Hounds, Dalmatians, Poodles, and many members of some of the Terrier and Spaniel families and hosts of undoubted mongrels taking part in these entertainments, as well as occasionally Greyhounds and Collies, but these were, I think, exclusively engaged in jumping competitions, when a sort of steeplechase was arranged. These come under the category of "utility dogs," as they assist their owners in gaining a living, and the same may be said of the blind men's dogs, which are a great multitude, and enjoy freedom from taxation, on the ground of their value to their helpless owners.

Another interesting class of utility dogs are those we see at so many of our railway stations and other public places with a small box hanging under their chins, in which may be placed any donations the charitable are disposed to give to the "Railway Servants' Benevolent Association," or some other charitable object, and from the way the animals run up to passengers, to be noticed, and wait, patiently, while a coin is found, and placed in their boxes, gives one the idea they know what is going on, and that the credit of a "good haul" at the end of the day, will be in some measure reflected on the carrier of the collecting box! I have often been surprised to see mentioned, in the newspapers, the large sums a single dog has been the means of gathering, in this way, for some good object, and, for aught I know, there may have been dogs hard at work, during 1898-9, for "The Prince of Wales's Hospital Fund," or other charitable objects!

One use to which dogs were formerly put, as "Turnspits," and another as beasts of burden, I am pleased to say are no longer allowed by law. I have often, when a child, seen them employed in the latter capacity in the West of England, drawing small, usually two-wheeled carts, with not only the usual market stock and trade utensils, but sometimes the owner, in shape of a burly man or woman seated on the top, and not unfrequently racing along country roads with the owners of similar vehicles, often with two or three dogs to each, harnessed in tandem fashion, the noise and excitement of the cavalcade being very great, and announcing their approach long before their coming in sight. I am very pleased that both these abuses of dogs have been abolished here, although as beasts of burden they are still extensively employed on the continent of Europe, and, I am bound to say, I have not seen them ill treated, badly fed, or seeming neglected.

Of course, we know that in the Arctic regions dogs, as carriers, are actual necessaries, and that locomotion, difficult and dangerous enough there under any circumstances, would be simply impossible without the aid of the Esquimaux dogs, of which I have seen a good deal, and handled many. They have a dense double coat, are very wolf-like in expression and shape of head, with small, pointed ears, oblique, sly-looking eyes, rather long, arched necks, and tails with characteristic curl and carriage. I do not consider them very sociable, but they would, I dare say, be all right with persons they knew well. I fancy they are a breed that has never been "made much of," (particularly in their native lands,) by their owners, but usually get what is popularly known as "more kicks than halfpence," and when "off duty," have often to go on short commons, or do a little cadging on their own account, and being thrown on their own resources, we know (on the authority of the late immortal "Mr. Weller, Senr." evidenced in the case of his well known son "Sam!") has a great tendency to sharpen the wits, and it is the same with the Esquimaux dogs, who always struck me as very suspicious of attentions from strangers, however well intentioned they may be.

CHAPTER II

Dogs Used in Sport

staghounds—foxhounds—harriers—beagles