NATURAL HISTORY. 191 



and sentiment to beauty ; so the interior qualities are 

 those which we esteem most in animals. It is in these 

 that they differ from the automaton, it is by these 

 they are raised above the vegetable, and made to ap- 

 proach nearer to ourselves. It is their sense which 

 ennobles their being, which regulates, which enlivens 

 it, which commands the organs, makes the members 

 active, gives birth to desire, and gives to matter pro- 

 gressive motion, will, and life. 



The dog, independently of his beauty, vivacity, 

 strength, and swiftness, has all the interior qualities 

 which can attract the regard of man. The tame dog 

 comes crawling to lay at his master's feet his courage, 

 strength, and talents, and waits his orders to use them. 

 He consults, he interrogates, and he beseeches. The 

 glance of his eye is sufficient ; he understands the 

 signs of his will. Without the vices of man, he has 

 all the ardour of sentiment, and, what is more, he has 

 fidelity and constancy in his affections. He has no 

 ambition, no interest, no desire of revenge, no fear but 

 that of displeasing his master. He is all zeal, all 

 warmth, and all obedience. More sensible to the re- 

 membrance of benefits than of wrongs, he soon forgets, 

 or only remembers them to make his attachment the 

 stronger. Far from running away, he licks the hand 

 which is the cause of his pain, he only opposes it by 

 his cries, and at length entirely disarms it by his pa- 

 tience and submission. 



More docile and flexible than any other animal, the 

 dog is not only instructed in a short time, hut he even 

 conforms himself to the motions, manners, and habits 

 of those who command him. He has all the man- 

 ners of the house where he inhabits. Like the other 

 domestics, he is always attentive to his master ; and, 



