Volume 28, Plate V / Mammalia (Mammals)

Shepherd’s, or Sheep-Dog

Canis domesticus

The shepherd’s dog, thought by some the parent stock of the whole species, is scarcely inferior to the Newfoundland in intellect and superior in trained sagacity, vigilance, and patience, gathering and driving flocks at a word with astonishing rapidity and no violence. Seldom two feet high but muscularly made, with pointed nose, erect ears, and rough fur of black and fulvous, it shows in Britain more mixed brown shades and ears often drooping at the tips.