TWO distinct types of this breed are now generally admitted - one considerably larger than the other, and known as the Newfoundland, from its being generally found on the island of that name; while the other, distributed over the state of Labrador chiefly, though also met with in the island of Newfoundland, is now known as the Labrador, otherwise called the St. John or Lesser Newfoundland. In addition to these distinct types there are numberless nondescript dogs to be found in both of the above districts, and notably a breed of black and white dogs with curly coats and fine heads and frames, which, from one of them haying been selected by Landseer to serve as a model for his celebrated picture denominated "A Distinguished Member of the Humane Society," are now known as the "Landseer Newfoundland." In spite however, of the immortality thus conferred on them, our judges refuse to recognise their merits as compared with the whole blacks, and they are relegated to a separate class in those shows which recognise them at all. Independently of the difference in colour, they also vary from the black type in being more open in their frames, weaker in their middles, and generally displaying a more shambling and ungraceful gait in walking.

All the varieties of the breed are excellent swimmers.

The large black Newfoundland is remarkable for his majestic appearance, combined with a benevolent expression of countenance. The latter quality, being really in accordance with his disposition, and frequently displayed by his life-saving capacities in cases of threatened drowning, has made him for many years a great favourite as a companion, especially with those who live near the sea or any great river. With these points in view, judges have naturally made a full size of great importance, since it not only adds to the majestic aspect of the dog, but renders him really more capable of distinguishing himself in the career so beautifully commemorated by Landseer in the picture above alluded to.

The general opinion now is, as first pointed out by "Index" in the Field, that a dog of this breed above 26in. is almost unknown in Newfoundland; but it is also allowed that puppies bred and reared in England of the pure strains, which in the island never attain a greater height than 26in., will grow to 30in. or even 32in. Such an animal is Mr. Mapplebeck's Leo, who has recently taken the first prize at Islington in the Kennel Club Show, after distinguishing himself previously at Bath, Swindon, and other exhibitions. He is, I believe, descended from an imported Newfoundland on both sides, and shows his pure descent in all respects, being the grandest specimen I ever saw. For this reason I displaced the portrait of that fine dog, Mr. Robinson's Carlo, who represented the breed in the first edition of "Dogs of the British Islands," although I had intended to retain him; but Leo is so magnificent an animal that I could not leave him in the cold. By many people the rusty tinge in his coat is objected to, and no doubt it is slightly against him but it is admitted by "Index,' Mr. Lort, the late Mr. Wheelwright ("Old Bushman"), and others who are acquainted with the breed in its native districts, that the rusty black is very common among the best strains, though considered by the native breeders to be a slight defect.

The last-named gentleman left behind him on his death in 1865 a very fine Newfoundland dog of this rusty colour, imported by himself, which his sister offered to me, and I gladly accepted the present, partly from respect for the memory of so good a sportsman and writer, and partly from my fondness for the breed. This dog was fully 28in. high, which militates against the truth of " Index's " theory on that point, and had double dew claws on both hind legs, in which Mr. Mapplebeck's Leo is altogether wanting, but showing marks of their having been removed in his puppyhood. In all other respects he closely resembles Mr. Wheelwright's dog, but exceeds him in size by about 2 1/2in. to 3in., being nearly 31in. in height. But although not absolutely perfect in colour, the texture of his coat is so beautiful, that the rusty tinge on it may be almost overlooked; and, even if penalised, the dog must score fully 97 1/2 points out of a possible 100, so perfect is he in all other respects; and we all know the difficulty of getting any dog so nearly correct in all his points as this estimate would make Leo to be. "Index," in his final letter, published in the Field of July 31, 1869, writes with regard to this tinge as follows: "The black dogs, especially when young, often appear to have a brown tinge on their coats.

It is to be seen more or' less in almost all these dogs, though not in all. Combing will often remove it if the dog has not been well kept; but I don't think much combing is advisable, for it sometimes would remove the brown-tinged black hair at the sacrifice of the length and thickness and beauty of the coat. Nor is the slight brown tinge (not visible in all lights) ugly; nor is it inconsistent with purity of breed, though it would be always better absent." This extract is exactly in accordance with the evidence I have obtained on this point from Mr. Lort and other good judges who have visited Newfoundland. With regard to size, the same gentleman further writes in the same letter: "While from 24in. to 26in. is the average height of dogs on the island, I have seen that the standard often reached in England is considerably higher; and I cannot, either in theory or as a matter of taste, object to size if it be united with perfection of shape. All I have said, and all I maintain, is that size apart from colour is worthless, and that very large dogs would often (in my experience almost invariably, though I have not had the presumption to advocate any rule on this experience) be found much inferior to dogs which stood in height in proportion as 24 or 26 is to 31 or 34. Whether young imported Newfoundlands do generally or frequently reach 30in. or 31in., or whether such cases as those adduced as being within the knowledge of the Field are exceptional cases, has not been discussed by me".