The breed was, until lately, almost confined to the Alps, where it was kept by the monks of the convent of Mount St. Bernard, and sent out, provided with a little barrel of brandy tied round its neck, to rescue travellers lost in the snow. The number of people who have been saved from death in this way, by the humanity of these good monks and the intelligence of their Dogs, must be very great, for a single Dog, the celebrated “Barry,” saved no less than forty lives himself, and at last perished on one of his expeditions of mercy. THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG is, according to Youatt, simply a large Spaniel: it is the finest and largest of Water-dogs (see figure on p. 121), besides being amongst the most intelligent and courageous. It is covered with thick curly hair, usually black or black-and-white, the curls being more flowing and not so close and woolly as in the ordinary Spaniel or the Retriever. So fully is this Dog adapted for swimming, that its feet have very considerable webs, extending between the toes--an evident adaptation to its aquatic habits. Of the use and intelligence of this Dog it is needless to give instances. Again and again it has saved the lives of drowning people when human help was unavailable. We can give only one anecdote illustrative of the value of this Dog, whose kindness of heart is equal to his courage: who will guard and play with a little child or save a strong man from drowning with equal skill and readiness:-- [Illustration: FOXHOUNDS.] [Illustration: HEAD OF BLOODHOUND.]