CANINE MORALS AND MANNERS. 179 



Jesse states that when a pariah dog of one of the Eastern cities 

 desires to pass through a district inhabited by another pack, he 

 skulks along in the humblest fashion, with his tail depressed to 

 the utmost, and, on being challenged, rolls over, and there re- 

 mains, limp and supine, submissively awaiting leave to proceed. 

 The same thing can be observed when a large and fierce dog 

 makes a dash at a young and timid one. This expressive and un- 

 mistakable method of showing submission is calculated to disarm 

 hostile feelings, and contributes to peace and harmony, and there- 

 fore to the unity and prosperity of the body politic. 



Although it would seem that the canine imagination from its 

 very feebleness transforms man into a dog, yet, as we should ex- 

 pect, arguing from the cynomorphic hypothesis, it does not stop 

 here. In Darwin's most interesting account of the shepherd dogs 

 of the Argentine, given in Chapter VIII of his Voyage of the 

 Beagle, he shows that, by a careful system of training, the herds- 

 men have taught the dogs to regard their charges as fellows of the 

 same pack with themselves ; insomuch that a single dog, although 

 he will flee from an enemy if alone, will, as soon as he reaches the 

 flock to which he is attached, turn and face any odds, evidently 

 with the notion that the helpless and frightened sheep ranged 

 behind him are able to back him up just as if they were members 

 of a canine community of which he was leader. The passage is 

 too long for quotation, but all who are interested in the subject 

 should refer to it. 



An instance of the operation of the cynomorphic idea can be 

 seen in the behavior of a dog when a bone is given to him. He 

 will generally run off with it to some quiet spot, and is supicious 

 of every one who comes near him, evidently having the notion 

 that what is to him a valuable possession is likely to be regarded 

 as such by his human associates. Few dogs when gnawing a 

 bone will allow even their masters to approach without showing 

 signs of displeasure, and a fear of being dispossessed of their 

 property, only consistent with the idea that the bipedal " dog " 

 wants to gnaw the bone himself. 



Every one has noticed the elaborate preliminaries which go 

 before a canine battle. Teeth are ostentatiously displayed, the 

 animals walk on tiptoe round one another, and erect the hair on 

 their backs as if each wished to give the impression that he was 

 a very large and formidable dog, and one not to be encountered 

 with impunity. Frequently hostilities go no further than this, 

 and one turns and retires with a great show of dignity, but plainly 

 with no wish to fight. 



When we come to analyze these proceedings, it will be seen 

 that the ends of battle are often gained in a bloodless manner by 

 this diplomatic exhibition of warlike preparations and capabilities. 



