DOG KIND. 25 



dog ; since in the cold countries the flesh is eaten 

 with equal appetite by the savages, and they have 

 their dog feasts in the same manner as we have 

 ours for venison. 



In our climate, the wild animals that most ap- 

 proach the dog are the wolf and the fox : these 

 in their internal conformation greatly resemble 

 each other, and yet in their natures are very dis- 

 tinct. The ancients asserted that they bred to- 

 gether; and I am assured by credible persons, 

 that there are many animals in this country bred 

 between a dog and a fox. However, all the en- 

 deavours of M. BufFon to make them engender, 

 as he assures us, were ineffectual. For this 

 purpose, he bred up a young wolf, taken in the 

 woods at two months old, with a matin dog of 

 the same age. They were shut up together, 

 without any other, in a large yard, where they 

 had a shelter for retiring. They neither of them 

 knew any other individual of their kind, nor 

 even any other man but he who had the charge 

 of feeding them. In this manner they were kept 

 for three years; still with the same attention, 

 and without constraining or tying them up. Dur- 

 ing the first year the young animals played with 

 each other continually, and seemed to love each 

 other very much. In the second year they be- 

 gan to dispute about their victuals, although they 

 were given more than they could use. The quar- 

 rel always began on the wolf's side. They were 

 brought their food, which consisted of flesh and 

 bones, upon a large wooden platter, which was 

 laid on the ground. Just as it was put down, 



