188 



THE NEW HOLLAND DINGO. 



ChrysiBus Australia!. 



PLATE X. 



The Dingo of New Holland, or Canis Australasias of Authors. 



This animal has been regarded by French natu- 

 ralists as a feral dog, although it is unquestionably 

 a wild species, only in a small degree reclaimed by 

 the savage natives. The fact of being partially do- 

 mesticated is not sufficient ground for assuming that 

 the Dingo was introduced by human intervention ; 

 for this argument would demand its existence in 

 New Guinea, and include the necessity of the other 

 canines, the jackals of Sumatra and Java, being 

 introduced by similar means. The wild Dingos are, 

 however, larger and more powerful in the interior 

 than the domestic race. In confinement they are 

 entirely mute, neither howling, barking, nor growl- 

 ing. When offended, they raise the hair upright, 

 and assume a truly menacing aspect, but howl in a 

 melancholy tone when prowling in a state of free- 

 dom. When they attack sheep, their delight is to 

 kill as many as they can overtake ; and their bite is 

 so severe, that few who are wounded recover. They 



