152 CARNIVORA FISSIPEDIA. 



''All through the different varieties the difference of 

 heredity is seen in the readiness with which dogs inter- 

 breed with one another, and cross with wolves, foxes, 

 and jackals; and the readiness with which like the cat, 

 they return to the wild state of their native ancestors." 



Where so many are worthy of special mention it is 

 hard to pick out a few for particular consideration; the 

 following are selected only because they seem best to 

 illustrate the great difference between the various breeds 

 of domesticated dogs as to size, color, structural charac- 

 teristics, nature and habits. 



The Chinese Dog 1 , which is the most important com- 

 mercially, is about the size of a large Eetriever and shows 

 much variation in color, some specimens being white, 

 others black, and many mottled or brindled. In addition 

 to the wild animals of this species there are thousands 

 of small dog and goat farms all over Manchuria and the 

 Eastern borders of Mongolia, on each of which from a 

 score to a hundred dogs are reared annually. Most of 

 the Chinese dog skins are dressed and made into robes 

 of from four to eight skins before they are exported from 

 China to the different fur markets of the world. The 

 Chinese dog skin takes a brilliant black dye, and is used 

 in the manufacture of "Chinese Lynx" muffs and neck 

 pieces, as well as for making sleigh robes and men's 

 overcoats. 



The Dalmatian or Coach Dog is an artificial breed, and 

 is built much like the pointer, but its white coat is liber- 

 ally marked with black spots. This animal is worthless 

 for any other purpose than running under the carriage 

 of its master. 



The Dingo (Canis-dingo) is a fierce, wild, wolf -like 

 Australian dog, with short erect ears, and a bushy tail. 

 It is about three feet long, and in general color either a 

 reddish brown, black, or brindled like a wolf. It breeds 

 well in confinement, but in its wild state is very destruc- 

 tive to flocks, and is consequently persistently hunted. 

 The skins are of little value. 



The Eskimo Dog 1 , of North America and Eastern Asia, 

 with its deep dun color marked with darker patches is 

 used only as a beast of burden in the Arctic regions,. 



