108 



INTRODUCTION. 



see how or why a difficulty should he overcome, 

 which in itself seems to lie more in the maxims of 

 a system than in an invariable law of nature. 



Before we close the introductory view of the 

 origin of dogs, it is proper to notice in a few words 

 the fossil canines. Of these only one questionable 

 species is, we believe, indicated in the older or 

 deeper strata of ossiferous caverns ; one that must 

 have been adequate to walk the earth at a period 

 when colossal forms of various kinds abounded. It 

 is noticed by Kaup under the name of aynotherium^ 

 and stated by him to have been in size equal to a 

 lion. It is doubtful whether a true diurnal canine 

 of the existing zoological forms has yet been de- 

 tected in the same assemblages of bones where the 

 fossil hysena is found mixed with so many others. 

 One, considered to be of a wolf, we examined in the 

 collection taken from the cave near Torquay, but 

 the Rev. Mr M'Ennery stated that it was discovered 

 on the surface of the stalagmite which covered the 

 deeper hysena deposit, and lay on the same floor 

 with flint knives. Whether domestic dogs have 

 ever been found in a fossil state, is still more ques- 

 tionable. The Canis speleits of Goldfuss, found in 

 the cavern of Gailenreuth, we know not under what 

 conditions, has the muzzle shorter and the palate 

 wider than the present wolf, and may be the most 

 ancient representative of the family, which even in 

 that case may not have preceded the first hunters or 

 the later shepherds who migrated from high Asia 

 westward ; for goats and sheep are equally wanting 



