74 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



alone ; and when their owners turn them out to obtain 

 their own living, often fish with great dexterity. When 

 they quarrel, they constantly destroy each other, for they 

 never will give up while they are alive. Among them 

 are the Siberian Dogs, remarkable for the instinct with 

 which they return to their masters, after weeks of ab- 

 sence and self-subsistence, to drag their sleighs. This 

 is the more curious, as they are then always very ill 

 fed and ill treated. They utter yells when about to be 

 yoked ; but once in file, they move silently and rapidly, 

 sometimes, however, trying to upset their drivers. 



The tail of the Esquimaux Dogs is bushy, and curls 

 very much over the back, which is covered with long 

 waving hair. They are very patient and faithful, rapid 

 in their paces, skilful and courageous when hunting, 

 carry burdens, and are very good-tempered. The^ 

 form a close attachment to their masters ; and one 

 which had been kept in confinement in Edinburgh, 

 being let loose, entered the kitchen door, found his 

 way through his owner's house, and leaping on his 

 bed, gave every sign of affection. At another time,, 

 as his master was walking in Princes Street Gardens, 

 his foot slipped and he fell, upon which the dog tried 

 to lift him up by his coat. He was very cunning, and 

 when he ate, strewed his meat around him, to entice 

 fowls and rats. He then laid himself down, and pre- 

 tended to be asleep; no sooner, however, did they 

 come, than he pounced upon and killed them. 



A pair of Esquimaux dogs lived in the Menagerie of 

 the Jardin des Plantes, where they were great favourites; 

 but it was extremely painful to see the poor creatures 

 panting with heat, and almost unable to move during 

 the hot weather, only feeling happy when cold water 



