2i6 British Dogs. 



Saskatchewan and east of Lake Winnipeg it dissappears, and the Arctic 

 takes its place a peculiarity common to the two breeds of wolf, the 

 prairie wolf being unknown in these regions. The true " Husky " dogs 

 are, I believe, peculiar to the American Esquimaux. The dog of the 

 Greenland Esquimaux, as obtained at Disco, being, I believe, a distinct 

 breed. These I consider the best sleigh dogs known, especially the black 

 variety of Hoosque. They are also found in all shades of yellow, sometimes 

 almost white. Out of a good many hundred I have not seen a single 

 specimen marked with either white or brown patches. When skinned it 

 is at once noticed that the skull is unusually flat ; this peculiarity is 

 hidden in the live animal by its hair. It has a heavy jaw, very small 

 round ears, which are always erect, and the hair, which is long, hard, 

 and wiry, invariably stands erect off the skin, very similar to that of a 

 black bear, to which the whole dog bears a very close resemblance when 

 lying down. All of this breed are fierce, treacherous, and active. A 

 man would be considered a fool who attempted to harness them without 

 his whip, and that whip must have some little bells, thimbles, or pieces of tin 

 attached, so as to constantly jingle. Approaching the dog, the driver 

 throws the lash, which is about 10ft. long, round the dog's neck, twists 

 it until it almost chokes him, and then drags him to his collar by main 

 strength, grasps his head between his thighs, and then slips the collar, 

 which is very tight, over the head. From that instant the dog is quiet 

 and submissive enough. The whips used are of plaited caribou hide, 

 with from 2oz. to 8oz. of small shot woven into them to give them weight. 

 Besides this, with most trains, it is necessary to carry chains to fasten 

 the dogs at night, and, if travelling on ice, also a spear to picket them 

 to. Mr. Ouyon, of Fort Chippewyan, on Lake Athabasea, has some 

 splendid dogs of this breed. This post has the reputation of having the 

 finest dogs in the North. 



" A peculiarity in these dogs is that they all have bright, clear, yellow 

 eyes, similar to a cat, with great powers of dilating the pupils." 



The illustrations are facsimiles of some rough sketches which accom- 

 panied Mr. Neison's letter. 



Although we have had dogs exhibited under the distinctive names of 

 the North American wolf dog and sleigh dogs, I have not seen any to 

 warrant a separate description, and have, therefore dealt with them as 

 Esquimaux dogs, of which they are varieties. 



