APPENDIX. 



219 



to the Canes bellicosi ami Canes sagaces respectively, gregatim — the 

 dogs of Epirus and Sparta being held the best of their several classes.^ 

 And, for the same reason, a true Molossian or Spartan of pure blood 

 must have fallen to the lot of few of Dian's vi^orshippers. Aristotle 

 speaks with praise of the Spartan and Molossian cross,^ but awards 

 the highest price in the Spartan kennel to the purest blood : and 

 Themistius, in his first oration, states it as an acknowledged rule in 

 breeding, that the kennel be supplied from bitches of the purest and 

 most unadulterated blood. 



Even after the introduction of the Vertragus, and the commixture 

 of his breed with the older varieties of sporting dogs — 



Hist. Animal. 

 L. IX. c. I. 



Preecipites pedibus catulos liabuere sagaces, — 



P. Angelii 

 Bargeci L. v. 



the names derived from Sparta and Molosse were still kept up, and 

 prostituted in many instances on most degenerate brutes. 



With regard to the original geographical distribution of the three 

 varieties of bellicosi, sagaces, and celeres, and of their respective 

 chases,^ the most prevalent opinion of continental writers, who have 



1. Under the sanction of antiquity, and scarce inferior to the purest poet of the 

 Augustan age, loannes Darcius comprehends under the terms Moiossi and Lacones 

 all dogs of chase ; 



Quae generosa canum soboles, quis cultus alendo 

 Sit catulo, unde suos Epirus clara MoJossos, 

 Audacesque sibi commendet Sparta Lacones, 

 Diva refer. 



J. Darcii 



Veniisini 

 Canes. 



2. Such was the Pard of Ercole Strozzi ; 



Pardus ad haec genitrice Lacon, genitore Molossus, 

 Non extrema canum fama, et spes acris Opunti. 



3. M. Desmoulins is of opinion that the modern numerous races of domestic dogs 

 must be referred, each in its own country, to diflferent unreclaimed species ; and if 

 so, allowing somewhat for emigration with man, and somewhat again for crosses 

 among the varieties of each region, we must suppose thac those, which manifest 

 remarkable distinctive qualities, derived them originally from the wild indigence of 



Csesar. Borgia; 

 Ducis Epiced. 

 per H.Strozam. 



Bulletin 

 Universel. 



