290 CARNIVORA. 



generally seen shaven, all but a ruff round the neck and legs and a tuft 

 at the end of the tail. He is good-natured, playful and sociable, and 

 makes a good watch-dog. He fetches and carries readily, and swims 

 well ; but, although possessed of keen scent, he has no sporting tastes. 



The King Charles Spaniel (Plate XV) is a very small anim.al, as a 

 really fine specimen ought not to exceed six or seven pounds in weight. 

 Some of the most valuable King Charles Spaniels weigh as little as five 

 pounds, or even less. These little creatures have been trained to search 

 for and put up game after the manner of the springers and cockers ; but 

 they cannot endure severe exercise or long continued exertion, and 

 ought only to be employed on very limited territory. 



When rightly managed the King Charles is a most amusing com- 

 panion, and picks up accomplishments with great readiness. It can be 

 trained to perform many pretty tricks, and sometimes is so appreciative 

 of its human playfellows that it will join their games. 



The Blenheim Spaniel is even smaller than the King Charles, and 

 resembles it closely in its general characteristics. Both these animals 

 have very short muzzles, long silky hair without any curl, extremely long 

 and silky ears, faUing close to the head and sweeping the ground. The 

 legs are covered with long silky hair to the very toes, and the tail is well 

 " feathered." The eyes of these little dogs are extremely moist, having 

 always a slight lachrymal rivulet trickling from the corner of each eye. 



A very celebrated but extremely rare " toy " dog is the Maltese 

 Dog, the prettiest and most lovable of all the little pet dogs. 



The hair of this tiny creature is very long, extremely silky, and almost 

 unique in its glossy sheen, so beautifully fine as to resemble spun glass. 

 In proportion to the size of the animal, the fur is so long that, when it is 

 in rapid movement, the real shape is altogether lost in the streaming mass 

 of flossy hair. One of these animals, which barely exceeds three pounds 

 in weight, measures no less than fifteen inches in length of hair across 

 the shoulders. The tail of the Maltese dog curls strongl)' over the back, 

 and adds its wealth of silken fur to the already superfluous torrent of 

 glistening tresses. It is a lively and very good-tempered little creature, 

 endearing itself by sundry curious little ways to those with whom it is 

 brought in contact. 



The Indians possessed two kinds of dogs before the Spanish discovery, 

 both called by the generic name Alco. Buffbn gives as the native names 

 of the two species, Ytzaiinte potzotli, a short-necked, silky-haired dog ; 



