ORIGIN OF THE DOG. 5 



capable of continuing the species when paired with one of the 

 same crossed breed, Nevertheless, it may be desirable to give 

 Mr. Bell's reasons for thinkins: that the dog: is descended from the 

 wolf, which are as follows : — 



" In order to come to any rational conclusion on this head, it 

 will be necessary to ascertain to what type the animal approaches 

 most nearly, after having for many successive generations existed 

 in a wild state, removed from the influence of domestication, and 

 of association with mankind. Now we find that there are several 

 different instances of the existence in dog-s of such a state of 

 wildness as to have lost even that common character of domes- 

 tication, variety of colour and marking. Of these, two very re- 

 markable ones are the dhole of India and the dingo of Australia. 

 There is, besides, a half-reclaimed race amongst the Indians of 

 North America, and another also partially tamed in South America, 

 which deserve attention. And it is found that these races in 

 different degrees, and in a greater degree as they are more wild, 

 exhibit the lank and gaunt form, the lengthened limbs, the long 

 and slender muzzle, and the great comparative strength which 

 characterise the wolf; and that the tail of the Australian dog, 

 which may be considered as the most remote from a state of 

 domestication, assumes the slightly bushy form of that animal. 



" We have here a remarkable aj)proximation to a well-known 

 wild animal of the same genus, in races which, though doubtless 

 descended from domesticated ancestors, have gradually assumed 

 the wild condition ; and it is worthy of especial remark that the 

 anatomy of the wolf, and its osteology in particular, does not 



