78 FAUNA AMERICANA. 



prolific hybrids have been produced by the 

 union of animals generically distinct, between the 

 ifiartin, {Miistela martes) and the domestic cat. 

 An account of which is published in one of the 

 early numbers of the New Edinburgh Philoso- 

 phical Journal.* 



* Mr. Sabine states, that during Parry's expedition to the 

 North Pole, the dogs pertaining to the ship, were observed to 

 copulate with the savage wolf; which circumstance he con- 

 ceives as a convincing proof of identity of species ; but the same 

 argument would apply almost equally to prove the identity of 

 the dog and hog. 



We are indebted to the late Dr. B. S. Barton, for some very 

 interesting observations concerning the native North American 

 dogs. 



"The Indian dog is frequently called by the traders and 

 others, ' the half wolf breed.' His general aspect is much more 

 that of the wolf than of the common domesticated dogs. His 

 body, in general, is more slender than that of our dogs. He is 

 remarkably small behind. His ears do not hang like those of 

 our dogs, but stand erect, and are large and sharp pointed ; he 

 has a long, small snout, and very sharp nose ; his barking is 

 more like the howling of the wolf. When attacked, and when 

 fighting, he does not shake his antagonist like our dogs ; his 

 teeth are very sharp, and his bite sure ; when he snarls, which 

 he is wont to do upon the slightest occasion, he draws the skin 

 from his mouth back, presenting all his teeth to view. Our 

 dogs when once attacked by these Indian dogs, always fear and 

 shun them. It is a vei'y curious circumstance, that the Indian 

 dog will never attack or pursue the wolf, which the common 

 dog-s so readily do ; this fact Seems to point very strongly to the 

 origin of the American animal. For the purpose of hunting, 

 the Indian dogs are very useful ; but in other respects, they are 

 by no means so docile as the common dogs; they have less 



