214 DOGS OF TIERRA DEL FUEGO. 



say, in general terms, that the dogs seen by us in 

 the southern part of Patagonia resembled lurchers 

 or shepherds* dogs, with a wild wolfish appearance, 

 not at all prepossessing ; one of this kind I obtained 

 near the Otway water; his habits were savage 

 rather than domestic. These dogs hunt by sight, 

 and do not then give tongue ; but they growl and 

 bark loudly when attacked or attacking. Their 

 colour is usually dark and nearly uniform, spotted 

 dogs being rare. The dogs of the Fuegian Indians, 

 who have no horses but move about in canoes, are 

 much smaller than those of Patagonia or the eastern 

 part of Tierra del Fuego ; they resemble terriers, or 

 rather a mixture of fox, shepherd's dog, and terrier. 

 All that I examined had black roofs to their mouths, 

 but there was much variety in the colours and de- 

 grees of coarseness of their coats. Not one dog, out 

 of the number which were brought to England, 

 could easily be prevented from indulging in the 

 most indiscriminate attacks upon poultry, young 

 pigs, &c. Many Fuegian dogs are spotted, and not 

 a few have fine short hair, but all resemble a fox 

 about the head, although there are among them 

 many varieties of size and colour, as well as of form 

 and hairy coat. One brought from Tierra del Fuego 

 was white, with one black spot, and very hand- 

 some ; his size was about that of a terrier, his coat 

 short but fine, and his ears extremely delicate and 

 long, although erect ; this is the case with all the 

 other breeds likewise, their muzzle also is long, and 

 they have the tail rough and drooping ; they keep 

 most vigilant watch, and bark furiously at a stran- 



