s master. Hydrophobia becoming common, all dogs were shot
that were found running about, an exception being made in the case of
Mr. Decouick's dog on account of his sagacity and fidelity, a
distinctive mark being placed upon him.

The following anecdotes are from Daniel's "Rural Sports:"--

Upon the fidelity of dogs, the following facts deserve to be here
recorded: of this property, or other peculiar traits, if they
appertain to any class of sporting dogs, in that class they will be
noticed.

Dr. Beattie, in one of his ingenious and elegant essays, relates a
story, in his own knowledge, of a gentleman's life being saved, who
fell beneath the ice, by his dog's going in quest of assistance, and
almost forcibly dragging a farmer to the spot.

Mr. Vaillant describes the losing of a bitch while travelling in
Africa, when after firing his gun, and fruitlessly searching for her,
he despatched one of his attendants, to return by the way they had
proceeded; when she was found at about two leagues' distance, seated
by the side of a chair and basket, which had dropped unperceived from
his waggon: an instance of attentive fidelity, which must have proved
fatal to the animal, either from hunger or beasts of prey, had she not
been luckily discovered.

As instances of the dog's sagacity, the following are submitted. In
crossing the mountain St. Gothard, near Airola, the Chevalier Gaspard
de Brandenberg and his servant were buried by an avalanche; his dog,
who escaped the heap of snow, did not quit the place where he had lost
his master: this was, fortunately, not far from the convent; the
animal howled, ran to the convent frequently, and then returned.
Struck by his perseverance, the next morning the people from the house
followed him; he led them directly to the spot, scratched the snow,
and after thirty-six hours passed beneath it, the chevalier and his
domestic were taken out safe, hearing distinctly during their
confinement the howling of the dog and the discourse of their
deliverers. Sensible that to the sagacity and fondness of this
creature he owed his life, the gentleman ordered by his will that he
should be represented on his tomb with his dog; and at Zug, in the
church of St. Oswald, where he was buried in 1728, they still show the
monument and the effigy of this gentleman, with the dog lying at his
feet.

In 1792, a gentleman, who lived in Vere Street, Clare Market, went
with his family to the pit of Drury Lane Thea