94 MAMMALIA. FEE*. 



in size and the proportion of the members. The greyhound seems most removed. 

 The shepherd's dog and the Pomeranian wolf dog have the erect ears of the wild 

 dogs, but with a greater developement of the cranium, which is still further develo- 

 ped in the Spaniel family, and with an increase of intelligence. M. Desmarest, from 

 having remarked in an immense number of domesticated individuals, that when white 

 is one of the colours of the tail, the tip is always white, and from having also remar- 

 ked that all the wild species have the end of the tail white, is inclined to believe that 

 this marked character is derived from the primitive race, and has descended to our 

 domestic varieties. The Antarctic dogs lately brought to Europe were distinguish- 

 ed by the tip of the tail being white. 



The young are born blind, and they attain their growth in two years. The period 

 of gestation is two months, and they bring forth from six to twelve young. The 

 dog is old at 15 years, and seldom lives beyond 20. 



M. F. Cuvier divides the varieties of the dog into three groups, each differing 

 materially in the shape of the head, and the length of the jaws and muzzle. 



Section 1. Matins. <Head more or less elongated; parietal bones 

 approaching in an insensible manner ; coiidyles of the lower jaw 

 in a line with the upper molar teeth. 



Var. A. C. F. Australasias, Desm. The Dingo. Size and form of the shepherd's 



dog, with the head resembling that of the fox. 

 Var. B. C. F. Sitmatrensis, Hardwicke. Muzzle like the fox : nose pointed, eyes 



oblique, ears rounded, very hairy ; tail bushy, pendulous Shaw, i. t. 78. 

 Var. C. C. F. laniarius, Lin. The Matin. Head elongated, forehead flat, ears erect 



at their base and half drooping. Crossed with the bull-dog the offspring is the 



English mastiff. 

 Var. D. C. F. danicus, Desm. Body generally white, marked with numerous small 



round black spots. 

 Var. E C. F. grajus, Lin. The Greyhound. Forehead very low ; muzzle 



much elongated ; limbs long and slender, feet frequently wanting the fifth toe. 

 To this family belong the following subvarieties : 1. The Irish greyhound, of a 



brownish white colour and of large size. 2. The Scottish greyhound, with the hairs 



slightly curled and wiry. 3. The Russian greyhound, with long and thick hair, 



and tail twisted spirally 4. The Italian greyhound. 5. The Turkish greyhound, 



with the skin nearly naked. 



Section 2. Spaniels. Head moderately elongated ; parietal bones 



diverging. 



Var. A. C. F. Extrariux. The Spaniel. Ears large and pendant ; tail elevated ; 

 fur of varying length in different parts of the body ; colour whitish, with brown 

 or black patches. Employed in the chase as a setter, for which it is qualified by 

 its exquisite powers of smell. 



The subvarieties are the Alpine Spaniel, the Newfoundland Spaniel, the Calabrian 

 dog, all of large size, and a number of smaller races: The group of Spaniels seem 

 to have been originally from Spain, whence the name. 



Var. B C. F. aquations, the Barbet Great Water Spaniel, or poodle. Two sub- 

 varieties, the Little Barbet and the Griffon. 



Var. C. C. Gallicus. The Harrier. Peculiar for its fine scent. 



Var. D. C. avicularius, the Pointer. 



Var. E. C. vertagus, the Turnspit. 



Var. F. C. domesticus, the Shepherd's dog. 



Var. G C. Pomeranus, the Wolf dog. 



Var. H C. Sibiricus, the Siberian dog. 



Var. I. C. Borealis the Esquimaux dog. 



Var. K. C. Americanus, the Alco. 



Section 3. Muzzle more or less truncated ; cranium much elevated ; 

 frontal sinuses large ; condyles of the lower jaw placed above the 

 line of the upper molars* 

 Var. A C. molossus, the Bull-dog. 



