Mr. Children on the Esquimaux Dog. 55 



portunity afforded us by the kindness of Lieut. Elliot Morris, R.N. 

 of giving an accurate figure (Plate I.) of an unquestionably genu- 

 ine male Esquimaux Dog, brought from the Polar sea by Mr, 

 Richards, in Captain Parry's first Voyage, and by him presented 

 to his friend Mr. Morris, in whose possession the dog still remains. 

 The dimensions of Akshelli (so the Esquimaux had named this 

 animal) are as follows — 



Length from the occiput to the insertion of the tail . 28 Inches, 



from the occiput to the extremity of the nose 1 1 



tail (about) 18 



ears 3 



from the eyes to the point of the nose ...... 4 



Breadth between the ears 4| 



Height from the ground to the top of the shoulder .... 24 



The ears are erect and pointed, the tail very full, and thickly 

 covered with very long hair, and curled, towards the right hand 

 over the back. The legs are very stout. The hair on the body 

 and legs is rather long, very thick, soft, and somewhat woolly — 

 its colour above is nearly black — the forehead is black, with a 

 white streak down the centre, from the top of the head nearly to 

 the extremity of the nose — over each eye is a white spot — the 

 lower part of the face, the chin, belly, legs, and feet are white. 

 The tail is blackish above, from its insertion to about five inches 

 from the tip, which with the whole of the under side is white. 



Such are the colours and markings of the Dog before us, but 

 like those of most other domesticated animals, they are of course 

 very liable to considerable differences in different individuals. 



Akshelli is good humoured, but rather impatient of restraint, 

 and seems particularly to dislike being examined about the head, 

 snapping at my hands somewhat angrily, on my applying the rule 

 to measure its length. He seldom barksj but if displeased utters 

 a low wolfish growl. He takes very little notice of strangers, 

 and is of no use whatever as a guard. He feeds on carrion, and 

 prefers raw flesh to such as has been cooked. The strength of 

 this dog is very great ; when taken from his kennel, he appears 

 extremely anxious to get at liberty, and when held back by his 

 chain and collar, exerts himself with great powerj increasing his 



