THE TUMBLER,

(Canis Saltator.)

THIS dog is somewhat less than a greyhound, with a long lean body; his head is shaped somewhat like that of the latter, with short pricked ears. He is nearly allied to the lurcher, which he strongly resembles in the cunning arts which he uses in taking his prey. Hence his name, as in hunting he does not directly run at the game, but scampers about in a careless and apparently inattentive manner, tumbling himself over till he comes within reach of it, and then seizes it by a sudden spring, somewhat in the manner of one of the feline tribe.

When a dog of this kind enters a warren, he makes a circuitous course about a rabbit-burrow in a slow and cautious manner, and, with the utmost silence, diligently marking their holes. He crouches down with his belly close to the ground, taking care always that the wind be blowing towards him, so that the rabbits may not discover by the sense of smell that he is lurking, while he has the advantage of having the scent of them. When he perceives the rabbits at such a distance from their holes that he is sure to cut off their

retreat, he makes towards the earth, and, from his superior swiftness, generally succeeds in catching them. He then takes his prey and lays it at the feet of his master, who is usually waiting at some little distance.

This breed of dogs is nearly extinct in Great Britain, and hence we have not been able to trace their origin. In former times great depredations were committed by means of them, which have been almost completely checked by some severe enactments in the game-laws, and by the greater vigilance of persons who have the charge of warrens.

THE TURNSPIT,

(Canis Vertagus, Linnæus.)

THIS dog is generally long in the body, with short crooked legs; his tail is curled upon his back; his head rather large in proportion to the size of his body he has for the most part a peculiarity in the colour of his eyes, having the iris of one eye black and the other white. The Turnspit is to be met with of all hues, but the usual one is a bluish-grey, spotted with black,-occasionally he is found of a slate colour. The shape of his head is something between that of the pointer and hound, with long ears.

There is a variety of this dog which has straight legs.

The Turnspit is a bold, vigilant, and spirited little dog; but its services, which were at one time much valued, have been superseded in Great Britain by the invention of machinery to do his work; he is, in consequence, becoming extremely scarce, and in all probability will soon become extinct, although in France and Germany he is still used in the kitchen.*

"It is probable that canine Turnspits were not used at court while James the Sixth reigned here, for in the list of his servants we find turnbroches.

Several instances are recorded of dogs distinguishing the days of the week. In the neighbourhood of some towns there are dogs that regularly repair thither on market-days, because they know that they can procure some booty.

Turnspits, that take their hours for labour in regular rotation, know very well how to distinguish the roasting days from the rest; and it is difficult to make them work on the latter, as if they had a notion that then it was more than they were in duty bound to do.

A REASONING MACHINE.

Dr Arnaud d'Antilli, one day talking with the Duke de Laincourt upon the new philosophy of M. Descartes, maintained that beasts were mere machines; that they had no sort of reason to direct them ; and that, when they cried or made a noise, it was only one of the wheels of the clock, or machine, that made it. The duke, who was of a different opinion, replied, "I have now in my kitchen two Turnspits which take their turns regularly every other day to get into the wheel; one of them not liking his employment, hid himself on the day he should have wrought, so that

"I have heard a curious story of the Bath Turnspits, which were fond of collecting together in the Abbey-Church, during divine service. Once, at the mention of the word spit, (I forget in what lesson for the day,-it may be in none,) they all ran out of the church in a hurry. I think this is printed somewhere." -C. K. S.

his companion was forced to mount the wheel in his stead; but, crying and wagging his tail, he made a sign for those in attendance to follow him. He immediately conducted them to a garret, where he dislodged the idle dog, and killed him immediately."

THE IDLER BROUGHT TO HIS DUTY.

The following occurrence took place in the Jesuits' College at Fleche :—

After the cook had prepared his meat for roasting, he looked for the dog whose turn it was to work the spit; but not being able to find him, he attempted to employ for this service another that happened to be in the kitchen. This dog, however, resisted, and, having bitten the cook in the leg, ran away. The man, with whom the dog was a particular favourite, was much astonished at his ferocity. The wound he had received was a severe one, and bled profusely, so that it was necessary to dress it. While this was doing, the dog, which had run into the garden, and found out the one whose turn it was to work the spit, came driving him before him into the kitchen, when the latter immediately went of his own accord into the wheel.

AN INDUSTRIOUS TURNSPIT.

The following circumstance shows the use and tractability of the dog :

"When I was (says a gentleman) last in London, only a few days since, I saw a dog of a very ordinary description, something of the large-sized old Turn