THE DIJTGO.] 



THE DOG, AND ITS YAEIETIES; 



[the dingo. 



CHAPTER ni. 



VAKIETIES OF THE DOG — WILD AND HALF-WILD. 



If we pass from dogs confessedly wild to 

 those which are half-wild, only semi-domesti- 

 cated, the Dingo, or Australian dog, is one of 

 the most remarkable and best known. Of the 

 orio-in of this dog, and of the circumstances 

 connected with its introduction into Austraha, 

 we are totally ignorant. "We know that wild 

 packs exist in the remoter districts, and are 

 the scourge of the country, preying on the 

 native kangaroo, and making havoc among the 

 flocks and herds of the European settlers. So 

 wolf-like are these dogs in general form — 

 though they are specifically distinct from the 

 wolf — that the first navigators who touched at 

 New Holland scarcely recognised them as 

 dogs. Dampier, in the account of his voyage 

 performed in 1699, states that his men saw 

 two or three beasts like hungry wolves ; and 

 the similarity is, to a certain degree, very 

 striking. The domestic breed — if domestic it 

 can be called — in all respects resembles those 

 which are completely emancipated. 



THE DINGO. 



The Dingo, called "Warragal by the natives, 

 is about as large as a harrier ; its body is firmly 

 built, its limbs muscular; its head is broad 

 between the ears, and its muzzle is acute ; the 

 neck is thick and powerful ; the ears are short, 

 pointed, and erect ; its tail, which is rather 

 long, is somewhat bushy and pendulous, or, at 

 most, raised only horizontally. The general 

 colour is sandy red ; the eyes are rather small 

 and oblique, which is one of the diagnostics of 

 a low degree of cultivation, and is never seen 

 in what are termed high-bred animals. 



The agility and muscular powers of the 

 Dingo are extraordinary ; and its cunning and 

 ferocity are as much so. It never barksj but 

 howls loudly ; and is said never to discover a 

 feeling of pleasure by wagging the tail. The 

 natural habits of one which was brought to this 

 country in about the sixth week of its age, was 

 closely watched. On its being put into a room, 

 it immediately skulked into the darkest corner, 

 392 



and there crouching, eyed those in its presence 



with looks of great distrust and aversion : as 

 soon as left to itself, it commenced the most 

 melancholy howling, which ceased on any per- 

 son's entrance. This, for some days, was its 

 constant practice ; and, when placed in a ken- 

 nel, the greater part of the day was thus 

 passed. It grew up strong and healthy, and 

 gradually became reconciled to those from whom 

 it was accustomed to receive food, but was shy 

 towards others, retreating into its kennel at 

 their approach. It never barked, nor, like other 

 dogs, gave notice of the approach of strangers, 

 and therefore, as a guard, was perfectly use- 

 less. A great part of the day was spent in 

 howling, and that so loudly as to be heard at 

 the distance of more than half a mile. When 

 the moon rose brightly, it would sit and utter, 

 for hours, its wild lamentations, not a little to 

 the annoyance of the neighbourhood. With 

 all its shyness, it was, at the same time, savage, 

 but would never make an open attack. Several 

 times it snapped at persons who happened to 

 be walking within its reach, but only when 

 their backs were turned, and it immediately 

 retreated again into its kennel. So great was 

 its strength, that though encumbered by a 

 heavy chain, it leaped a wall of considerable 

 height, and was not secured without difficulty. 



This animal is a great pest to the Australian 

 settler, and is remarkably tenacious of life. It 

 is also a very obstinate fighter. Instances are 

 related of its sustaining a combat with four or 

 five stout hounds, and ultimately getting away 

 from them. Very few dogs can kill a Dingo 

 single-handed. Like the wolf, it fights in 

 silence, and utters no cry of pain ; but, like 

 that grim felon, dies as hard as it has lived. 

 The following instances of its tenacity of life 

 are given by Mr. George Bennet, in his Wan- 

 derings in New South Wales : — 



" One had been beaten so severely that it 

 was supposed all its bones were broken, and it 

 was left for dead. After the person had walked 

 some distance, upon accidentally looking back, 



