A 1' P E M) I X . 257 



" may be the wolf tamed, and the jackal may probably be the dog 

 returned to his wild state." 



All animals having been originally wild, the more a specific class 

 may differ from its prototype in appearance, the further it is removed 

 in consequence of variation arising from cultivation. Where dogs 

 have been least cultivated, they still retain most of their original 

 character, or similarity to the wolf, or jackal, both in shape and dis- 

 position. Thus the shepherd's dog, all over the world, has strongly 

 the character of these wild animals — and so I have no doubt had 

 the dog of Laconia. 



The wild dogs of modern travellers, as found in Congo, Lower 

 ^Ethiopia, and towards the Cape of Good Hope, somewhat resemble 

 the Spartan type. They are stated to be *•' greyhound-like in shape, 

 red-haired, with upright ears, rough tails, and extremely fierce." 

 The Dingo of Australasia, and Dhole of the East Indies, look very 

 like aXwTreKibes. The North and South-American half-reclaimed 

 varieties have the elongated jaws of the semi-barbarous breeds, and 

 tend to prove from their general shape, their character of counte- 

 nance, their quick manner, and pricked and erect ears, identity of 

 species in the dog, wolf, and jackal. 



But on this subject enough : — let us now return within the pale 

 of the kennel of Lacedjemon. The true Spartan dogs of the olden 

 time were strong, swift, and courageous; and barked on scent of 

 their game. We know that they were strong, on the authority of 

 Ovid's " praevalidusque Lacon ;" and swift, from Virgil calling 

 them " Veloces Spartae catulos," and Pindar alluding to the same 

 excellence in the fragment beginning 



airh TavyiTov /xev AuKaivav Apud Athenffii 



iv\ dr\pa\ Kwa rpixeiv TrvKivdnaTov kpi7iT6i'. Deipaosopn. 



Epist. L. I. 

 c. 21. 



Still their speed, like that of the Etolian of Gratius, was of a quali- 

 fied character, and very much below the Vertragus. 



Their strength and courage recommended them to shepherds and 

 herdsmen, as guardians of their flocks — the goatherd Lacon's dog, 

 from his venatico-pastoral cast, being probably, of this variety. 



X a/xlf ivTl Kvuiv (piXoirol/xvLos, &x Xvkos &yx^^' Theocriti Idyll. 



tv r<fi iraiSl SlScom ra Orjpia irivra Sitiicei'. ^'- IOt>- 



2 K 



