DOG. 



29 



Pog- equal number of toes on the feet. The head of the jack- 

 """"'.'""*' al being nearer the size of that of the clog of New Hol- 

 land, presents as striking a similarity ; and the principal 

 difference either in it or the head of the wolf, is seen in 

 the greater or lesser distance between the cavities of 

 the eyes. But in comparing the heads of other dogs 

 with the head of this species, that of the Irish grey- 

 hound bears the nearest resemblance ; and the cranium 

 is somewhat more capacious in the great Danish dog 

 and shepherd's dog. These tliree Bnffon considered 

 as the primitive races, modified into every variety, by 

 intermixture and climate. 



We find it vain, however, to follow that author, or 

 indeed any other, through all the varieties of an animal 

 which breeds promiscuously, and has done so for ages 

 immemorial, with every kind and description of its 

 species, thus adulterating what might have been ori- 

 ginal characters: We shall therefore only notice 

 a few concerning which there is little room for dis- 

 pute, and speak of the properties of the dog in general. 

 Besides, the confusion in which the natural history of 

 the animal is involved is so great, that we could not at- 

 tempt to extricate it from error, without engaging in 

 dry and tedious discussions. 



Size and Dogs are extremely various in size, from the Irish 



colour of greyhound, Danish dog, or mastiff, down to the small- 

 est lap dog, not equal to one half the head of any of 

 them. Brown seems the predominant colour ; almost 

 all others, except red and green, occur in every diffe- 

 rent shade, but we do not know any instance of these, 

 though tiiey may possibly be seen elsewhere. Dogs, 

 confessedly of the same species, are of opposite colours. 

 Blueish, or slate grey, are less common than others ; 

 black, or brown speckled with white, are rare ; and 

 wherethe whole body is spotted, large spots are more ge- 

 nerally disseminated than small ones. These observations, 

 however, are liable to every modification imaginable, 

 and localities may have rendered the distinctions more 

 prominent, by the preference for a certain colour in a 

 breed, or the partialities of the place. 



Irish grey- The Irish greyhound is said to derive its name from 

 bourn). Ireland, where it is now almost extinct, and is one of 

 the largest of the race, if not exceeding the whole in 

 size. If we are to credit Dr Goldsmith, some were 

 known, when he wrote, four feet high, or the size of a 

 calf a year old ; and Button says he saw one which 

 seemed nearly five feet high when sitting ; it resembled 

 the great Danish dog in form, but differed from it in 

 the enormity of its size ; it was entirely white, and of 

 a mild and quiet disposition. More recently, a descrip- 

 tion of the Irish greyhound has been given by Mr Lam- 

 bert, who saw eight of these animals in possession of 

 Lord Altamont, in the year 1790, and they were the 

 tole remnant of their race, which had then degenerated. 

 The hair was short and smooth, brown and white, or 

 black and white. One of the largest dogs was 6'1 

 inches long from the muzzle to the point of the tail, 

 which latter was of itself seventeen inches and a half in 

 length. The ears were six inches long, and pendulous. 

 The height from the toe to the top of the fore shoulder 

 twenty-eight inches and a half; the circumference of 

 the breast thirty-five inches, and of the belly twenty- 

 six. All were good tempered ; and in former genera- 

 tions they are said to have bore greater resemblance to 

 the greyhound. According to Daubenton's measure- 

 ments of the different parts of the dog, these dimensions 

 present the greatest analogy with those of the great Da- 

 nNi dog. By the name matin, it is rather to be inferred 

 tli.it Button means the Irish greyhound; but it is difli- 

 3 



cult to reconcile his description of it with the animals Dog. 

 now alluded to. vw-yw*-' 



We are not aware that the great Danish dog, though Great Da- 

 not uncommon on the continent, is frequent in Britain, nish dog. 

 It is particularly distinguished by its size, and, accord- 

 ing to Daubenton, is chiefly of a brown colour. Buf- 

 fon considers that this dog, the Irish greyhound, and 

 the common greyhound, are " only the same animal, 

 though at first sight different. The great Dane is but 

 an Irish greyhound (matin) better filled up; the com- 

 mon greyhound, the latter more delicate and slender, 

 and better treated. There is no greater difference 

 among the three, than between a Dutclunan, a French- 

 man, and an Italian." 



The small Danish dog, leopard, or spotted dog, g ^ D 

 which has been lately propagated with considerable n ^ ^ogf 

 care in Britain, to attend carriages, differs little from 

 the former, except in size and colour ; and although 

 Daubenton endeavours to prove it a distinct breed, his 

 reasons are inconclusive. Aldrovandus affirms, that its 

 trivial name was brachus, and that it was preferred 

 when spotted like a lynx, although those of uniform 

 colour were not to be despised. Buffon calls it brayue 

 de Bengale, whence the real derivation of the race is 

 not to be traced, especially as we observe, in the 

 older writings in this kingdom, hunting dogs are called 

 brachis and rachis : Caius says, the latter was applied 

 to blood-hounds, in Scotland. 



The common greyhound is well known from its use Greyhound. 

 in the chace, and the breed seems preserved in greater 

 purity than that of most other varieties. It is said 

 there are three different kinds distinguished by size, 

 and we find them either rough or perfectly smooth. 

 It has long been a celebrated dog in Britain, and Mr 

 Strutt has quoted passages to prove that it formerly con- 

 stituted a valuable and acceptable present. The Itali- 

 an greyhound narrowly resembles that animal in propor- 

 tions, and some authors think it is the same degenera- 

 ted. The greyhound is much employed for coursing 

 or hare hunting in the Greek Islands. Analogous to 

 this was the gazehound, of which we know very little, 

 except that it was used in the pursuit of deer ; but 

 whether it was a distinct variety, or only a greyhound 

 of the largest size, is doubtful ; for appellations nearly 

 the same have been bestowed on dogs, specifically dif- 

 ferent ; neither is it evident whence the name is de- 

 rived. It has been affirmed, tliat the badger was an- 

 ciently called a grey, and from this particular species 

 being used in hunting it, the name was thence bestowed; 

 however, we cannot subscribe to that etymology, as it 

 does not rest on repeated example ; but in Scotland the 

 greyhound is simply called a grew. 



The bloodhound, foxhound, harrier, and beagle, had HouiwU. 

 most probably nearly an analogous origin, and have 

 long existed both on the Continent and in Great Bri- 

 tain. Few, if any genuine descendants of the first still 

 remain in this island ; the others are not uncommon, 

 and care is taken to preserve those of the most decided 

 qualities for the chace. The last is the smallest variety 

 of hounds. 



Pointers are of different kinds, either approaching the Pointer!, 

 figure and appearance of the Danish dog, or being long- 

 haired setters, as they are commonly called. For centuries, 

 the English setter has been much esteemed on the Conti- 

 nent. Caius, in his description of the dogs used by 

 fowlers, mentions three kinds, the spaniel, the setter, 

 and water spaniel or finder. This last is the grand 

 barbel of Buffon, entirely covered with long curled 

 hair, its ears large, pendulous, and the eyes concealed 



