* t H E D O G K I N D. j! 



{liiape, colour, hair, fize, and in every thing but its nature. Nothing 

 appears conllanc, but internal confornrjation, and a capacity of pro-k 

 ducing among each other, through all their varieties, which determines 

 the identity of the fpecies, and approximates forms that at firft fight 

 feem never made for conjunflion. 



Which is the original animal is a queftion not eafily folved. Probably 

 that which moft nearly approaches the wolf or the fox externally ; for as 

 the dog nearly refembles them internally, his external refemblance may 

 naturally approach them alfo, except where art or Occident has altered 

 his form. 



On this principle, we feled: that which is called the Shepherd's Dog, 

 with long coarfe hair, except on the nofe, a long nofe and pricked ears^ 

 which is common among us, and ufed in attending on fheep. If we ex- 

 amine countries ftill favage, or but half civilized, where the dog, like 

 his matter, has received few imprefllons from art, we find this dog, or 

 one very like him, prevailing among them. Dogs that have run wild 

 in America, and in Congo, approach this form. The dog of Siberia^ 

 Lapland, and Iceland, of the Cape of Good Hope, of Madagafcar, 

 Madura, Calicut, and Malabar, refembles the Ihepherd's dog. In 

 Guinea, the dog fpeedily takes this form ; and, at the fecond or third 

 generation, forgets to bark, his ears and his tail become pointed, his 

 hair drops off, and a coarfer thinner kind fucceeds it. Notwithftand- 

 ing this creature's melancholy and favage air, he is fuperior to all of his 

 kind in inftindt; and, without teaching, naturally takes to tending 

 flocks, with afllduity and vigilance. 



The Ihepherd's dog, in temperate climates, and among people en- 

 tirely civilized, will lofe his favage air, hii pricked ears, his rough, long^ 

 and thick hair, and by the influence of climate and food become either 

 a Matin, a Maftiff, or a Hound. 



The Hound, the Harrier, and the Beagle feem of one kind ; for in 

 the litters of a bitch covered by one, are found puppies refembling all 

 three. This animal, tranfported into Spain or Barbary, where the hair 

 of all quadrupeds becomes foft and long, will be converted into the 

 land-fpaniel and the water- fpaniel. 



The Grey Matin Hound (the fecond branch) tranfported to the 

 horth, becomes the great Danifh dog; this, fent into the fouth, be- 

 comes the grey-hound of different fizes ; tranfported into Ireland, the 

 Ukraine, Tartary, Epirus, and Albania, becomes the great wolf-dog. 



K2 Thi 



