ESQUIMAUX DOG. 283 



entire profits of the flock. The Colley is untiring in the discharge of 

 any useful task, but will not display his talents for the idle gratilication 

 ot spectators. 



The Si'i rz Dog is one of the conuuonest house-dogs we see. In its 

 native country l^omcrania it discharges the duty of a sheeu-dog, and it 

 is fit for nothing else. Its intelligence is of a low order, and its courage 

 is conspicut)us by its absence. It has a pointed lox-hkc head, short legs, 

 and a long tail tightly curled up, and is clad in a thiik woolly coat 

 usually of a white color. It has the merit of being a good watch-dog, 

 and witii this ends all its good qualities. It is irritable and snajjpish and 

 therefore unfit to be a playmate for cliildren. Most cases of hydrophobia 

 can be tracetl to tiic bite of a Spitz; not that he is more subject to the 

 disease, bu( tliat he is more addicted to biting than other dogs. 



THE ESQUIMAUX DOG. 



The Esquimaux Dog (Plate XIV) is a wolfish-looking creature with 

 obliijue eyes, bushy tail and elongated muzzle ; its color is a deep dun 

 uilii obscure bars and pate lies; its height about twenty-two inches. Ir. 

 winter it is used entirely for drawing sleds and sleighs, but is usually 

 turned loose in the summer. The team of dogs is harnessed to the sleigh 

 by leathern straps, and directed by the voice or the crack of the whip of 

 the driver. The old and experienced animal which leads liie team will 

 dash forward, slacken speed, halt, or turn to right and left at the word of 

 commantl, and, the actual stroke of the whip is used as little as possible, 

 for when a dog feels the sting of the biting lash, he turns round and 

 attacks the dog nearest to him. The others immediately join in the fight, 

 and the wliole team is thrown into confiision, the traces being entangled 

 with each other, and the sledge in all likelihood upset. When such a 

 rupture occurs, the driver is generally forced to dismount, and to 

 harness the dogs afresh. Usually, the leading dog is permitted to run 

 iiis own course, for he is able to follow the right path with marvelhuis 

 accuracy, and to scent it out, even when the thickly-falling snow- 

 flakes have covered the surface of the ground with an uniform 

 white carpet. 



These dogs are able to travel for very great distances over the snow- 

 clad regions of the north, and have been known to make daily journeys 

 of si.vty miles for several days in succession. 



