De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe DoggesCaius, John
Science
De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe Dogges
Caius, John
Dogs -- Early works to 1800
The common sort of people call them by one generall word, namely
Spaniells. As though these kinde of Dogges came originally and first of
all out of Spaine, The most part of their skynnes are white, and if they
be marcked with any spottes, they are commonly red, and somewhat great
therewithall, the heares not growing in such thicknesse but that the
mixture of them maye easely bee perceaued. Othersome of them be reddishe
and blackishe, but of that sorte there be but a very few. There is also
at this day among vs a newe kinde of dogge brought out of Fraunce (for
we Englishe men are maruailous greedy gaping gluttons after nouelties,
and couetous coruorauntes of things that be seldom, rare, straunge, and
hard to get.) And they bee speckled all ouer with white and black, which
mingled colours incline to a marble blewe, which bewtifyeth their
skinnes and affordeth a seemely show of comlynesse. These are called
French dogges as is aboue declared already.
The Dogge called the Setter, in Latine _Index_.
Another sort of Dogges be there, seruiceable for fowling, making no
noise either with foote or with tounge, whiles they followe the game.
These attend diligently vpon theyr Master and frame their conditions to
such beckes, motions, and gestures, as it shall please him to exhibite
and make, either going forward, drawing backeward, inclining to the
right hand, or yealding toward the left, (In making mencion of fowles,
my meaning is of the Partridge & the Quaile) when he hath founde the
byrde, he keepeth sure and fast silence, he stayeth his steppes and wil
proceede no further, and with a (16) close, couert, watching eye, layeth
his belly to the grounde and so creepeth forward like a worme. When he
approcheth neere to the place where the birde is, he layes him downe,
and with a marcke of his pawes betrayeth the place of the byrdes last
abode, whereby it is supposed that this kinde of dogge is called
_Index_, Setter, being in deede a name most consonant and agreable to
his quality. The place being knowne by the meanes of the dogge, the
fowler immediatly openeth and spreedeth his net, intending to take them,
which being done the dogge at the accustomed becke or vsuall signe of
his Master ryseth vp by and by, and draweth neerer to the fowle that by
his presence they might be the authors of their owne insnaring, and be
ready intangled in the prepared net, which conning and artificiall
indeuour in a dogge (being a creature domesticall or householde seruaunt
brought vp at home with offalls of the trencher & fragments of
victualls,) is not much to be maruailed at, seing that a Hare (being a
wilde and skippishe beast) was seene in England to the astonishment of
the beholders, in the yeare of our Lorde God, 1564, not onely dauncing
in measure, but playing with his former feete vppon a tabberet, and
obseruing iust number of strokes (as a practicioner in that arte)
besides that nipping & pinching a dogge with his teeth and clawes, &
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account