diff --git a/mercurial/httprepo.py b/mercurial/httprepo.py
--- a/mercurial/httprepo.py
+++ b/mercurial/httprepo.py
@@ -176,9 +176,6 @@ class httprepository(remoterepository):
 
     capabilities = property(get_caps)
 
-    def dev(self):
-        return -1
-
     def lock(self):
         raise util.Abort(_('operation not supported over http'))
 
diff --git a/mercurial/remoterepo.py b/mercurial/remoterepo.py
--- a/mercurial/remoterepo.py
+++ b/mercurial/remoterepo.py
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@
 # of the GNU General Public License, incorporated herein by reference.
 
 class remoterepository(object):
+    def dev(self):
+        return -1
+
     def local(self):
         return False
 
diff --git a/mercurial/sshrepo.py b/mercurial/sshrepo.py
--- a/mercurial/sshrepo.py
+++ b/mercurial/sshrepo.py
@@ -79,9 +79,6 @@ class sshrepository(remoterepository):
         except:
             pass
 
-    def dev(self):
-        return -1
-
     def do_cmd(self, cmd, **args):
         self.ui.debug(_("sending %s command\n") % cmd)
         self.pipeo.write("%s\n" % cmd)