CAXIS FAMILIARIS. ] 73 



same may be said of all the species of Jackals. This being so, it is 

 highly probable that both Wolves and Jackals were for many ages found 

 in the company of man, and that owing to this association the different 

 species of these animals may have hred together and become mixed. 



" Ajriix ed breedwould aron ce~ develop a new variety. A variety 

 once_commenced would in all proljability, in a few generations, under'^o '^'■ 

 many chang es, especially if any will-marked variety should occurT 

 Xo^hin^ would be inore naturaLthau._ta-suppose that the owners of 

 this:vajiety_yvould,endea}'o ur to increase its nun t ber, especially if it w as 

 found^tojjoss ess useful qualif ies . 



" The fashion of hunting led in all probability to the separation of 

 Domestic Dogs into two well-known breeds, viz., those that hunt by 

 sight, as distinguished from those that hunt by scent ; for there can be 

 no doubt that at a very early period dogs were used in the chase of wild 

 animals. There are plenty of ancient monuments on which there is 

 unmistakable evidence of this fact, j^he _u sefulness of dogs being 

 established at a very early period would naturally lead to great ca re 

 be ing bestojved upon them, and dou btless to the breedin g of them in a 

 domestic_§tat e. This would lead to the producti on of the many breeHs 

 and varieties that have been developed, and th us varieties may have been 

 pe rpetuateHby the mixing and crossing of Ijrctds originally obtained 

 from distinct wild animals. 



" I have found no difficulty in crossing Wolves and Jackals with 

 Domestic Dogs, when suitably matched. It is a well-known fact that 

 the Esquimaux frequently allows his dogs to breed with wolves, in 

 order to keep up the strength, the power of endurance, and the courage 

 of the race. But as regards Foxes, so far as my experience goes, I 

 have never met with a well-authenticated instance of a hybrid between 

 a fox and a dog, notwithstanding numerous specimens of sup})osed 

 hybrids of this sort which from time to time have been brought to my 

 notice. The habits of Wolves and Jackals are so much alike that I am 

 unable to point out any marked differences between them. 



" Domestic Dogs exhibit many of the habits of Wolves and Jackals, 

 such as the scratching up of earth with the front feet, and the pushing 

 back of it with the hind feet, in order to cover up the droppings. 



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