Bulldogs, especially th9 large and new types, are frequently seen with this defective formation, which is termed "frog-faced" and "down-faced," and this formation should deprive the dog of all claim to compete as a pure bred bulldog, and disqualify it entirely for show purposes. The body of the dog is (like that of man) broad and deep in the shoulders and chest, and small in the waist, the forelegs appearing short on account of the deep chest and muscular shoulders. The back short and strong - long backed animals being weak, slow, and unwieldy, easily fatigued, and having a loose, shuffling, and disjointed manner of moving. The hind legs large and muscular, with plenty of propelling power, and like the greyhound's, long in proportion to his forelegs, raising the loins into an arch higher than the shoulders, so as to bring his hind legs well under him, and enable him to spring quickly high off the ground. The belly small and well gathered up; and the flank, under the loins, hollow, to lighten him as much as possible of useless weight.

The wrinkles on the head, the length of the tail, the colour, and other minor points much insisted on by modern fanciers, however much to be admired, were, and ought still to be, of secondary importance to (instead of taking precedence of) a correct general formation, and especially of the square protruding lower jaw, the broad mouth, and receding nose.

In size the best show specimens are found to be - dogs 351b. to 551b., bitches 301b. to 501b. I am not singular in the opinion that at shows bulldogs should not be classed according to weight, but only according to sex, so that all would compete fairly on their individual merits, instead of, as at present, a very, inferior specimen with no chance in one class, being reduced in weight to take a prize in a class of diminutive abortions; or a bull mastiff of 1001b. being given a prize as a bulldog in a class made for the apparently special purpose of excluding the true breed from competition. For, as some people's "geese are all swans," so some people's mongrels are said to be all bulldogs.

In the "good old times," when this dog was kept by all classes, its characteristic qualities were so highly prized as to cause it to be chosen as the type of the national character of that famed " British bulldog courage" and tenacity of purpose which has earned for the nation the rank it has attained amongst the first powers of the world; yet now, when it is commonly said of British institutions, "they do these things much better abroad," and the sturdy policy of our ancestors seems out of fashion, the type of the old "British bulldog pluck," still vaunted by reformers, is neglected and forgotten by the nation, except for he purposes of ignorant abuse.

They call us for our fierceness, English dogges. Now, like to whelpes, we crying run away. Hearke, countrymen! Eyther renew the fight Or teare the lyons out of England's coat-Renounce your soyle. When bull baiting went out of fashion and ceased to be patronised by the upper classes, it was continued by the lower orders, who preserved the pure breed of bulldogs. In the controversy that preceded the passing of the Act of Parliament which made bull baiting illegal, the ill-used bulldog (though it merely served the purposes of his more brutal and degraded masters) was represented by its former admirers as the incarnation of ferocity, "loving bloodshed and combat," etc.; and to be the cause rather than the instrument for perpetrating the crueltiea desired to be suppressed. Most modern authors who have expatiated on dogs, unable to ignore the existence of the bulldog, and having no actual knowledge of him from experience, have been reduced, as the only means of covering their ignorance, to repeat the incorrect statements

......Of one whose hand,

Like base Judean, threw a pearl away Richer than all his tribe......

Such writers have declared the bulldog to be capable of no education, and fitted for nothing but ferocity and combat, entirely deficient in the virtues of the canine race, and, although belonging to the order canidce, scarcely reclaimed from a wild state, never, under any circumstances, to be trusted, and as dangerous as a fresh-caught tiger. The reverse of such statements is truth, as may be proved by anyone who will but make the experiment. Like that of the whole species,

His nature is too noble for the world;

He would not flatter Neptune for his trident

Or Jove for his power to thunder. His heart's his mouth;

What his breast forges that his tongue must vent;

And, being angry, does forget that ever

He heard the name of death.

"Give a dog a bad name and hang him" is an old proverb which has been, unfortunately, exemplified at the expense of the British bulldog. "The virtues of the dog are his own, his vices those of his master." The bulldog is, in fact, a dog - neither more nor less, and as capable as any other variety of dog of being "the companion and friend of man."

A gentle dog; as mild as beauty's breath

To win man's gratitude or 'bide his wrath; Tame as a spirit fading into death,

Or sunshine sleeping on a lion's path; Affectionate as Desdemona's love,

Whose sweet endurance all its wrong withstood; A creature, dwelling on God's earth, to prove

Bad men should blush to find a dog so good.

Like children, dogs have their mental characters formed by their training and associations, and, although different individuals have different dispositions or temperaments, it is not to be imagined that they have different natures. It has been truly said, "the god of the dog is man; " if, therefore, a dog is treated by man as though it were a fiend incarnate, to be ruled with the harshest measures and used in the most cruel and dangerous occupations, to have all the good feelings of its nature crushed by its master, who takes a pride in its ferocity, is it to be wondered at that the poor beast which survives the hardening process should appear to merit the bad character assigned to it by those only who fear it ? If all affection is suppressed by ill-usage, and the animal is kept chained and solitary, in order to cultivate a savage disposition, it learns to look upon man as its enemy, and to be ready to resent the brutality it expects, so that if any - it matters not what - breed of dog be reared in such a manner, the result must be the same if the dog has sufficient courage to sustain its trials; if not so gifted, the speedy result will be a spiritless and treacherous brute, an equal disgrace to its trainer; and libel on its race.