ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



35 



ing beasts of the forest and the desert. But as so much has 

 been, and is continually being written on the subject, and as 

 every one knows numerous anecdotes connected with this 

 animal, we will confine ourselves strictly to the true American 

 or Esquimaux dog : He is large and powerful, equalling the 

 mastiff in size ; hair long and thick, tail long and bushy, and 

 turned over the back ; ears short, pointed, and ereet. And 

 here, speaking of his tail being turned over his back, let us 

 mention that the domestic dog is distinguished from the other 

 species of this tribe, by his recurved tail, this member in the 

 others being straight. This is the dog which draws sleighs, 

 or sledges in Arctic phrase, and transports loads from place 

 to place, with one or more persons in them, over the frozen 



snows. He is good-tempered and very enduring, and though 

 often cruelly treated, is still willing to do everything in his 

 power at the command of his master. What the camel is to 

 the Arabians, and the reindeer to the Laplanders, the Esqui- 

 maux dog is to the inhabitants of the Arctic regions. These 

 creatures seem designed to work in the harness, and hence, it 

 is said, perform their duty almost instinctively, requiring but 



