36 DISTINCTION BETWEEN SPECIES AND VARIETIES. 



end of the fifteenth century, is known. There is good reason 

 to believe, that the Dingo or native Dog of Australia (Fig. 5) is 

 the descendant of a race once domesticated, which has returned to 

 its wild state ; since there are many considerations which induce 

 the Zoologist to believe, that it was not a native of New Holland. 

 Hence there is no difficulty in reconciling the diversities actually 

 existing among the various races of Dog, with the idea of one 

 common form, of which they are modifications. When and how 

 the several breeds first arose, is less easily determined, 



14. The question, whether the Wolf and the Dog had a com- 

 mon origin ? or, rather, whether the Wolf was the original form 

 of the Dog ? is one of great interest, and affords another valuable 

 illustration of the topic under discussion. It is maintained by 

 many Naturalists, and with much probability, that they are the 

 same ; and chiefly for the reason, that the peculiarities of form 

 and character, usually regarded as distinguishing the Dog from 

 the Wolf, show a tendency to disappear in those races, which 

 have long been accustomed to a savage mode of life. This is 

 especially the case in the Australian Dingo, which has probably 



FlG. 5. AUSTKALIAN DlNGO. 



lived in this unreclaimed state longer than any other known race 

 of wild Dogs ; but it is also true of the Dhole of India, and of 

 two partially tamed races, which are known in North and South 

 America. " These races, in different degrees, and in a greater 



