6? DOGS. 



dence, after having lost it for a certain number of generations, and 

 in this way have resumed some of the traits of the primitive 

 species. Causes as powerful as those which result from the in- 

 fluence of difference of climate, of food, &c., are not enough to 

 explain the numerous modifications that the domestic dog has 

 undergone, giving rise to his different races. It has been sup- 

 posed that our dogs have not been derived from a single species, 

 but that they came from different species, which cannot now be 

 recognised, on account of the mixture of their races. Some think 

 the dog is a wolf, and others again, that he is a tamed Jackal ; dogs 

 that have become wild, on desert islands, do not however, resem- 

 ble either one or the other. Wild dogs, and those belonging to demi- 

 civilized people, such as the nations of New Holland, have straight 

 ears, which has led to the belief that the European races which 

 approach nearest to the original type, are the Shepherd's Doy and 

 Wolf-Dog. 



40. We will now mention the principal races of dogs that are 

 scattered over the surface of the earth. Their almost infinite 

 mixture, joined to the influence of climate, of food and education, 

 has produced very many varieties in their species. 



41. 1st. The Shepherd's Dog, Cunis Domesticus^ is of 

 moderate size, the ears short and straight ; his whole body, with 

 the exception of the muzzle, is covered with long hairs ; his 

 colour is black, or dark brown. Of all the species of dogs, this 

 one possesses most instinct for guarding flocks. 



42. 2d. The L'p/and Dag, Dog of the Esquimaux, Canis 

 Borealis, resembles the Shepherd's dog, and inhabits the most 

 northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America, where he is 

 employed as a beast of burthen : they are geared from five to 

 ten together, (sometimes more) to very light sledges, constructed 

 of osier, and forced to run so rapidly, that they sometimes accom- 

 plish in a single day, a journey on the ice of twenty-five leagues. 



43. 3d. The Newfoundland Dou, Cani8 Terra Novce: The 

 proportions of his body are nearly the same as those of the 

 Shepherd's Dog. His body is thickly covered with long soft 

 hair, and his tail recurved and tufted. His colour is ordinarily 

 wnite, with patches of black ; he is tall, and has an elongated body. 

 He is very active and possesses strength superior to that of 

 any other dogs of the same size. He attaches himself strongly 

 to his master, but is shy of strangers. He is remarkable for 



40. How do you account for the numerous varieties of Dogs? 

 41 What are the specific characters of the Shepherd's Dog ? 



42. How is the Lapland Dog employed ? 



43. What; re the specific characters of the New foundland Dog? Foi what 

 js ih:s Dog remarkable ? 



