File:The animals of the world. Brehm's life of animals; (1895) (20587229539).jpg

Title: The animals of the world. Brehm's life of animals;
Identifier: cu31924024782827 (find matches)
Year: 1895 (1890s)
Authors: Brehm, Alfred Edmund, 1829-1884; Pechuel-Loesche, Eduard, 1840-1913; Haacke, Wilhelm, 1855-1912; Schmidtlein, Richard
Subjects: Mammals
Publisher: Chicago, A. N. Marquis
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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226 THE BEASTS OF PREY. benefits received; but his memory of injuries and •castigations abides for a long time, and he may become dangerous to people who intentionally tor- ment him. The St. Bernard The St. Bernard Dog (Canis familiaris Dog, the extfaritis St. bemardi) resembles the Worthiest of All. Newfoundland. Tschudi says: "The St. Bernards are large, remarkably strong animals, with long fur, short, wide muzzle, and long ears. They are exceedingly intelligent and faithful. Then- breed was kept pure during four generations, but is now no longer so, because so many of these Dogs
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THE ST. BEBNAKD BOG. While other Dogs may have greater capabilities as Beasts of Prey, the St. Bernard Dog stands foremost among animals in his deeds of mercy and kindness. These are eloquently told in the text; and the physical characteristics of the Dog are faithfully depicted by the artist. The thick, Shaggy coat and strong body are needed in the Dog's work of succor in the deep snows that abound in the Pass of the Great St. Bernard, where the Dog lives with his masters, the good monks whose devoted lives he shares. ^Canis famil- iaris extrarius st. bemardi.) have perished in avalanches encountered in their faithful service. A closely allied Dog is now being bred, and even young Pups of this breed bring a good price. Noble Service "The native home of these noble ani- oftheSt. mals is the Hospice of St. Bernard, Bernard Dog, situated at an elevation of about seven thousand five hundred feet above the sea, on a desolate mountain crest, in the vicinity of which winter lasts for eight or nine months. It is only in summer that large snow-flakes fall in this locality; in winter dry, small, brittle crystals of ice fall there: so fine that the wind drives them through every crevice in doors and windows. Near the monastery, especially, the wind often piles these crystals in loose walls of snow, from thirty to forty feet high, covering all roads and the edges of the precipices, and falling down into the latter at the slightest knock. "The journey across this old mountain pass is de- void of danger, even in summer, only during clear weather. On stormy days, or during the winter months, when the numerous clefts and precipices are covered with snow, the passage is fraught with much danger and trouble to the stranger. Every year the mountain claims a small number of victims. The wanderer either falls into a cleft, or is.buried under an avalanche; or the fog is so dense that he loses his way and perishes in the wilderness with hunger and weariness, or is overcome by a sleep from which there is no awakening. Without the Christian and self-sacrificing activity of the noble monks the Pass of St. Bernard would be available but a few weeks or months of the year. Ever since the eighth century they have devoted them- selves to the pious care and rescue of travelers. The latter are entertained at the monastery free of cost. The stone buildings on the hearths of which the fire never goes out, can ac- commodate several hun- dred people in case of necessity. But the most peculiar feature is the reg- ular rescuing service, which is much facilitated by these celebrated Dogs. Every day two servants of the convent go over the most dangerous places of the pass; one goes from the cottage of the Cow- keeper of the monastery (which is much lower down on the mountain) up to the Hospice, the other goes down. In stormy weather, or after an avalanche, the number of searchers is trebled and several priests go with the party, accom- panied by the Dogs and provided with spades, poles, biers and refresh- ments. Every suspicious track is indefatigably pur- sued, signals are being given all the time, and the Dogs are closely watched. They are trained to track a human being, and often prowl around all the precipices and roads of the mountains for days. If they find a frozen body, they run back to the convent by the shortest way, bark violently, and lead the ever ready monks to the lost one. If they meet an avalanche, they make dili- gent search for the track of a human being, and if their keen scent discovers one, they immediately proceed to dig up the snow-buried unfortunate, their strong paws and great strength standing them in good stead at this task. They usually carry a small basket with restoratives or a flask of wine tied to their neck, and sometimes they have woolen blank- ets on their back. The number of people rescued in this way is very great and their names are in- scribed in the historical books of the Hospice. The most celebrated Dog was " Barry," the indefatigable creature who saved more than forty people." Scheitlin's Account A poem has been written about of Barry, the this Dog and Tschudi gives it in Life-Sauing Dog. his work; but I know a Still finer poerh on the subject, though it is not written in

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