There is no animal that appreciates our attention more, or is more worthy of our attachment, than the Dog. It appeals by instinct (or reason - which?) to our care, our affection, and protection. It possesses the capability of placing the utmost reliance and good faith upon those who use it considerately and kindly, and will fearlessly expose its life to imminent danger in order to guard and protect its friend from harm. Its courage, faithfulness, sagacity, endurance, honesty, gentleness, submission, including many other attributes, are unquestionably without a parallel in other domestic animals. When you are deserted by those in whom you have confided, when the world forsakes or ignores your existence, turn to your dog if you possess one, and there you will find a trustworthy friend, one on whom you can with confidence depend. Yet how often is this affectionate, brave creature despised! the valuable services that it has already rendered are surely sufficient to entitle it to some little consideration; but alas! how often are those services forgotten when advancing age proclaims the fact that he can no longer masticate his food, when teeth are no longer visible, when the eyes grow dim, and the limbs stiffened; he is either remorselessly hanged, shot, drowned, or poisoned, or maybe wilfully lost. Such is too often the fate of one of our best friends.

Passing then to the consideration of the distinct breeds of the British Dog, let us notice in the first place,

The Colley, or Shepherd's Dog (Canis familiaris) the most useful variety of the canine species, for owing in a great measure to its sagacity, talent, and energy, depends the chief safety of the flock.

It is considered that this animal seems to be, as far as can be judged from appearances, the original ancestor of the true British dogs, and preserves its peculiar aspect in almost every country in Europe. It is rather a large dog, as is necessary in order to enable the animal to undergo incessant Labour which it is called on to perform, and is possessed of limbs sufficiently large and powerful to enable it to outrun the truant members of the flock, who, if bred on the mountain-side, are so swift and agile that they would readily baffle the efforts of any dog less admirably fitted by nature for the task of collecting and keeping them together.

Now, as the Sheep-dog is constantly exposed to all weathers, it requires the protection of very thick and closely-set fur, which, as a rule, is woolly in its character, and is especially heavy about the neck and breast. The tail is naturally long and bushy, the muzzle is sharp, the head of moderate size, eyes bright and very intelligent, as might bo expected in an animal of so much sagacity and ready resource in time of absolute need. Its legs are strongly made, and sufficiently well protected to endure severe work among the harsh stems of the heather on the hills, or the sharp cutting stones of a turnpike road. And no doubt owing to its constant exercise in the open air, and the hardy manner in which it is brought up, the Sheep-dog is perhaps the most untiring of our domesticated animals.

There are many breeds of this animal, differing from each other in colour amd aspect, and deriving their varied forma from the dog with which the family have been crossed. Nearly all the sporting dogs are used for this purpose, so that some Sheep-dogs have traces of the Pointer nature in them, others of the Foxhound, and others of the Setter; this last cross being the moat common. Together with the outward form the creature inherits much of the sporting predilection of its ancestry, and is capable of being trained into a capital sporting dog.

We frequently find, however, that many of these animals possess (like a number of creatures) two distinct characters; they are often very respectable and worthy Sheep-dogs, but at night are most disreputable poachers. This characteristic becomes the more apparent when there is an element of the Setter blended with the Colley; in such a case they can with great success silently discover and mark their game by night, as well as the more useful occupation of managing the flocks by day. To some natures this double qualification would be of inestimable value, and would add materially to the larder of his master, provided his sporting proclivities tended in that direction, while the animal is further and more efficiently fitted for midnight manoeuvres by the training to which he is subject. Therefore it so happens that he spends the whole time at his disposal in the society of his master, and learns from companionship the least gesture of hand or tone of voice. Consequently he is for bettor adapted for a nocturnal visit to the happy hunting-grounds than the more legitimate Setter or Retriever, and will cause far more deadly havoc among ground game than either of these last mentioned. It is also worthy of consideration that, owing to his avocation, he frequently escapes suspicion, for witness his quiet and impressive demeanour during the day; he assiduously adheres to his arduous task of guarding the fold, and reclaiming its wandering members, therefore it appears incredulous that such an honourahle-looking animal would be guilty of beating for game at night. Hut let us not be hasty in our condemnation, for, after all, to use the old proverb, as the sapling is bent so shall the tree be inclined.

Again, sometimes there is an infusion of the Bull-dog into the Colley, but this mixture is now thought to be unadvis-able, as such animals become too ferocious and apt to bite their charge, and as a result alienate from themselves the confidence of the helpless sheep whom they are intended to protect, and not to harm.

A good Sheep-dog bestows no attention upon a stranger, neither will he court to be caressed, but respectfully keeps his distance; even with other dogs he seldom makes companionship, contenting himself with absolute confidence with the society of his master only.