284 DOGS. 



were intended to be messmates with dogs over their car- 

 rion ; and seem to be appointed by Nature as fellow-scaven- 

 gers, to remove all cadaverous substances from the face of the 

 earth.* 



vultures at Grand Cairo maintain such a friendly intercourse, as to bring up 

 their young together in the same place. 



* See some very interesting observations on the natural history and origin 

 of our domestic race of dogs, in the fifth number of the Journal of Agriculture, 

 by Mr. J. Wilson. The origin of all our domestic breeds is there traced to 

 the wolf and jackal ; allowing, of course, the native dogs of Africa and 

 America, with the New Holland Dingo, to be distinct species. W. J. 



The Chinese word for a dog, to a European ear, sounds like quihloh. 



While on the subject of dogs I may mention, notwithstanding Sir W. 

 Jardine's note at the end of this letter, that the dog is of a breed distinct from 

 either the fox, the wolf, or the jackal, and has also propensities distinct from 

 the wild-dog, which is just as much a native of the wilderness as the lion or 

 tiger. Sir John Sebright's offspring of a wild-dog caught in Australia, and which 

 was born on board a ship, never could be tamed, and never showed the least 

 affection for any particular person, although Sir John kept it constantly in his 

 room for nearly a year. While the dog, on the contrary, shows the utmost 

 affection for his master ; he guards property with the strictest vigilance, his 

 courage is unbounded a courage which neither the wolf, the fox, or the wild- 

 dog possesses he never forgets a kindness, but soon loses recollection of an 

 injury ; his habits are social, and his fidelity not to be shaken hunger cannot 

 weaken, or old age impair it if he commits a fault, he is sensible of it, and 

 shows pleasure when commended. These qualities are distinct from those of 

 the animals mentioned. In fact the dog appears to have been a precious gift 

 to man by a benevolent Creator, to become his friend, companion, and pro- 

 tector. While all other animals have the fear and dread of man implanted in 

 them (see Genesis, ix. 2.) the poor dog alone looks at his master with affection, 

 and the tie once formed is never broken. Again, the wolf has oblique eyes, 

 while the eyes of dogs have never been observed to be in that position. If the 

 dog descended from the wolf, a constant tendency would have been observed in 

 the former to revert to the original type or species. This is a law in all other 

 cross breeds ; but amidst the variety of dogs, this tendency has not existed. 

 We have besides no proof that the breed between the dog, the wolf, the fox, 

 and jackall, is continuous. The domestic dog, besides, has its peculiar bark, 

 perfectly distinct from the three latter animals. In the most ancient Egyptian 

 hieroglyphics, also, we find representations of dogs with all the characteristic 

 appearance and gallant bearing of our English fox-hounds. Other facts might 

 be brought forward, but perhaps enough has been said to show that the domestic 

 dog may be considered as a distinct breed, although some may suppose that 

 its origin is lost in antiquity. ED. 



