FERAL DOG OF ST. DOMINGO. 123 



likewise blackish ash, came from Cuba ; but nei- 

 ther of the last had the greyhound lurcher aspect, 

 but seemed to have a cross of the Spanish common 

 cattle-dog.* Portraits of these kind of dogs occur 

 in some of the Spanish old masters ; and, consider- 

 ing the evident resemblance they bear to the old 

 northern Danish dog, it may be conjectured that 

 the race was originally brought to Spain by the 

 Suevi and Alans, and afterwards carried to the 

 New World for the purposes of war. 



There is also in Mexico a small feral dog ; but 

 the accounts hitherto received are so obscure, that 

 we shall defer to notice it until we describe the 

 Alco. But, on the Pampas of South America, there 

 are numerous troops of Perros zimarrones, or feral 

 dogs, having the undetermined form of the mixture 

 of all the breeds that have been imported from 

 Europe, and thus assuming the shape of cur-dogs, 

 or of a primitive species. They have the ears erect, 

 or the tips but slightly bent forward. They are 

 bold, sagacious; not hostile to man, but destruc- 

 tive to the calves and foals of the wild herds. When 

 taken very young, they may be tamed ; but, when 

 old, they are totally irreclaimable. They hunt 

 singly, or in troops ; burrow in the open country ; 

 and, when redomesticated, they are distinguished 

 for their superior courage and acuter senses. 



* These races of dogs were more anciently known in Europe 

 by the name of Buccaneer dogs (Chiens des Flibustiers), be- 

 cause several were brought home by them. We have lately 

 seen one brought from the Falkland Islands, 



