ALLEN: DOGS OF THE AMERICAN ABORIGINES. 



473 



studied by Xehring (18S4a) was smaller than a Sheep-dog, with a skull 

 about 172 mm. long, humerus 147, ulna 172, radius 140. A smaller 

 one had a skull length of 165, head and body 060, tail including hair 

 240, humerus 130. In the lower jaws the first premolar was fre- 

 quently missing. 



The following table gives measurements of the six largest skulls 

 among a series of nine belonging to the U. S. N. M. 



Remarks. — Writing about 1844, Tschudi describes the chief char- 

 acteristics of this dog as treachery and mischievousness. Every 

 Indian hut and shepherd of the. Sierra and puna had several. They 

 seemed to show a special antipathy toward white people. A Euro- 

 pean traveller approaching an Indian hut on horseback woiUd be beset 

 by these dogs springing up against his horse to bite his legs. They 

 are courageous, and fight an enemy with determination, dragging 

 themselves to the attack even when mortally wounded. The Indians 

 train them to track and capture tinamous. 



In their great work on the Necropolis of Ancon, Reiss and Stiibel 

 include a brief chapter by Nehring (1884b) on the mummified remains 

 of dogs discovered there. Some of these are figured and show a pale 



