li)2 NATURAL HISTORY. 



striving to anticipate the wants of his friends, he gives 

 no attention to indifferent people. When the care of 

 the house is intrusted to him during the night, he be- 

 comes sometimes ferocious. He watches, he walks 

 his rounds, he scents strangers afar off; and if they 

 happen to stop, or attempt to break in, he flies to op- 

 pose them, and by reiterated barkings, efforts, and cries 

 of passion, he gives the alarm. As furious against 

 men of prey as against devouring animals, he flies 

 upen, wounds, and tears them, and takes from them 

 what they were endeavouring to steal ; but, content 

 with having conquered, he rests himself on the spoils, 

 will not touch it even to satisfy his appetite, and at 

 once gives an example of courage, temperance, and 

 fidelity. 



Thus we may see of what importance this species 

 is in the order of nature. Without the assistance of 

 the dog, how could man have been able to tame, and 

 reduce into slavery, other animals ? How could he 

 have discovered, hunted, and destroyed, wild and ob- 

 noxious creatures ? To keep himself in safety, and to 

 render himself master of the living universe, it was 

 necessary to begin by making himself friends among 

 animals, in order to oppose them to others. The first 

 art, then, of mankind, was the education of dogs, and 

 the fruit of this art was the conquest and peaceable 

 possession of the earth. 



The dog, faithful to man, Avill always preserve a 

 portion of empire, and a degree of superiority over o- 

 ther animals. He commands them, and reigns him- 

 self at live head of a flock, where he makes himself 

 better understood than the voice of the shepherd. 

 Safety, order, and discipline are the fruits of his vigi- 

 lance and activity. But it is above all in war against 



