1 72 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



ways so. The wild dog and wild man might have been chance 

 allies when, for instance, a fatigued quarry pursued by the pack 

 was struck down by a flint weapon, and the greater part of the 

 carcass left to the original hunters ; or when a wounded animal 

 escaped its human foe to be followed up and devoured by the 

 dogs. But, as a rule, the interests of dog and man would be con- 

 flicting, as is still the case where wild dogs exist, such as the din- 

 goes of Australia, the dholes of India, and the hyena-like-wild 

 dogs of central and southern Africa. 



It must be borne in mind that in dealing with these primitive 

 canine creatures the word " dog " is used in its widest sense, and 

 must include such animals as wolves and jackals, which un- 

 doubtedly share in the ancestry of our familiar domestic breeds. 



Probably the partnership first began through small, helpless 

 whelps being brought home by the early hunters, and being after- 

 ward cared for and brought up by the women and children. The 

 indifference with which almost all savages regard their dogs 

 seems to negative the idea that primitive man took the trouble to 

 tame and train adult wild animals of this kind for his own pur- 

 poses. The young dog would form one of the family, and would 

 unconsciously regard himself as such. The reason why he should 

 so regard himself will be discussed later when we come to con- 

 sider the probable canine view of the relationship. 



It would soon be found that his hunting instinct was of use to 

 his captors, for while wandering abroad with them his keen nose 

 would detect the presence of hidden game when the eyes of his 

 savage masters failed to perceive it ; and when a wounded animal 

 dashed away, his speed and instinct for following a trail by scent 

 would often secure what would otherwise have been lost. The 

 dog in his turn would find an easier living and a better shelter 

 while associated with man than if he were hunting on his own 

 account, and thus the compact would be cemented by mutual 

 benefits. 



Now let us consider why the dog should so readily fall into 

 the position of the companion and subordinate of man. What 

 " stock and good-will " did he bring into the partnership besides 

 his swiftness and powers of scenting and seizing his quarry ? 

 Let us look for a moment at his life at home as apart from his 

 duties while hunting. In the first place, he evidently regards the 

 dwelling of his master as his own place of abode in which he has 

 certain vested interests, and, while he is complaisant and sub- 

 missive to the regular inhabitants, he looks upon strangers of all 

 kinds with suspicion, and regards their intrusion as an infringe- 

 ment of his rights or of his rudimentary sense of what is lawful. 

 Although watch-dogs have doubtless been valued for many gen- 

 erations, and their distinctive qualities cultivated by artificial 



