HISTORY OF THE DOG. 157 



ners in proportion as their habitats are more southerly. 

 Enough has already been said on the general characters ; 

 and the specific varieties in form, whether of the animals 

 themselves, or of the plates with which their skins are 

 variously armed, are of small value in a popular point of 

 view, as they have been connected with no peculiarities in 

 the habits of the animals. 



DOG. 



PLATE XVIII., XIX. THE DOG. 



LARGENESS of the frame, elegance of the form, strength 

 of .-the body, freedom of the motions, and all the exterior 

 qualities, are not the noblest properties in an animated 

 being ; and, as in mankind, understanding is preferred to 

 figure, courage to strength, and sentiment to beauty, so the 

 interior qualities are those which we esteem most in ani- 

 mals ; for it is in these that they differ from the automaton ; 

 it is by these they are raised above the vegetable, and 

 made to approach nearer to ourselves ; it is their sense 

 which ennobles their being, which regulates, which enli- 

 vens it, which commands the organs, makes the members 

 active, gives birth to desire, and gives to matter progressive 

 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 to lay at 

 his master's feet his courage, strength, and talents, and 

 waits his orders to use them ; he consults, interrogates, 

 and beseeches ; the glance of his eye is sufficient ; he 

 understands the signs of his will. Without the vices of 

 man he has all his ardor of sentiment ; and, what is more, 

 he has fidelity and constancy in his affections ; no ambi- 



