in the Maroons wars, where they were called into action, and drove the inhabitants from their mountain fastnesses, are horrors at which the feeling mind would shudder.

Blood-hounds were formerly used in certain districts lying between England and Scotland, which were much infested by robbers and murderers, and a tax was laid on the inhabitants for keeping and maintaining a certain number of these animals. But as the arm of justice is now extended over every part of the country, and there are now no secret recesses where villany can lie concealed, their services are happily become unnecessary; at that time too deer-stealing was a very prevalent crime, and the forest and the parkkeepers were chiefly employed in perpetual watching and nocturnal warfare, in which they were materially assisted by the blood-hound.

Some few are still to be found in this country; but the finest and most ferocious come from the Manillas in the East Indies, and from Cuba in the West Indies.

Mr. Boyle informs us, that a person of quality, to make trial whether a young blood-hound was well instructed, caused one of his servants to walk to a town four miles off, and then to a market-town three miles from thence. The dog, without seeing the man he was to pursue, followed him by the scent to the above mentioned places, notwithstanding the multitude of market people that went along the same road, and of travellers who had occasion to cross it; and when he came to the chief market-town, he passed through the streets without taking notice of any of the people there, and ceased not till he had gone to the house where the man he sought had rested himself, and where he found him in an upper room, to the wonder

of those who had accompanied him in the pursuit These hounds are easily taught, and very tractable with those to whom they are known.

THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG.

THIS animal, which came originally from the island whence it derives its name, has a remarkably pleasing countenance, is exceedingly docile, and of great size and sagacity. The feet of this dog are more palmated than usual, which structure enables it to swim very fast, to dive easily, and to bring up any thing from the bottom of the water.

The sagacity of this animal has long been noted, a remarkable instance is quoted by many authors.

In the reign of Charles the Fifth, a gentleman named Aubrey de Montidier, while taking a solitary walk in the neighbourhood of Paris, was murdered and buried under a tree: his dog, which he had left at home, went out at night to search for his master, and discovered his grave in the forest; having remained some days on the spot, his hunger compelled him to return to the city. He hastened to the Chevalier Ardilliers, a friend of the deceased; and by his melancholy howling, gave him to understand that their common friend was no longer in existence. Ardilliers offered the dog food, and endeavoured to quiet him by caresses, but the distressed animal continued to howl, licked his feet, and laying hold of his coat pulled him towards the door. Ardilliers at length resolved to follow him: the dog led him from street to street, and conducted him from the city to a large oak in the forest, where

up

he began to howl louder, and scratch the earth with is feet. Aubry's friend surveyed the spot with melancholy foreboding, and ordered his servant to dig the earth; in a little time he discovered the body of his friend. Some time after the dog accidentally met the murderer of his master; he rushed upon him, barked, and attacked him with so much fury, that the spectators could not without difficulty extricate him : the same circumstance occurred several times. The faithful animal, which was in general as quiet as a lamb, became like a raging tiger every time he saw this person.

This circumstance excited great astonishment, and some suspicions having arisen, it was remembered that this man, (the Chevalier de Maquer), on several occasions had betrayed symptoms of enmity to Aubry; and several other circumstances combining, the evidence was brought almost to a certainty. The king hearing of the affair, was desirous of being convinced with his own eyes whether the dog was in the right, and that the animal which fawned upon every body else, attacked Maquer as soon as he perceived him. At that period it was customary, when the evidence was not decisive, to determine the fate of the accused by single combat. A time and place was therefore appointed; the Chevalier entered the lists armed with a lance; the dog was let loose, and a most dreadful contest took place. The chevalier made a thrust, but the dog springing aside, seized him by the throat, and threw him down. The villain now confessed his crime; and the king, that the remembrance of the faithful animal should be transmitted to posterity, caused to be erected to him, in the forest where the murder was committed, a marble monument, with the following inscription :

Blush, hard-hearted wretch! an irrational animal knows and loves gratitude; and thou, perpetrator of crimes, in the moment of guilt, be afraid of thine own shadow."

In the month of December, 1803, as a gentleman was going along the path that leads from Kennington Common to Camberwell, and which stood between two ditches, he observed several children playing at a distance, and almost at the same instant perceived one of them fall into the ditch: he hastened to the spot, accompanied by a Newfoundland dog he had with him; the sagacious animal no sooner perceived the child struggling in the water, than he plunged in, and seizing her by the hair of her head, brought her with some difficulty to the side of the footpath; when with the assistance of his master she was drawn out, without sustaining any other injury than a violent retching, occasioned by the stagnant water she had swallowed, and which was of so foul a nature that it would have caused almost immediate suffocation

THE SIBERIAN, OR WOLF DOG.

THIS animal is found an inhabitant of the North; and is especially used by the inhabitants near the Arctic Circle for purposes of draught instead of the horse.

In Kamptschatka is found the finest breed; they possess remarkable strength, and five of them when harnessed will draw a sledge containing three persons with a small quantity of luggage. The method of using them is as follows: they are yoked two and two together, the fifth acting as leader, and will occasionally