VARIETIES OF THE DOG. 



VARIETIES OE THE DOG. 



The varieties of the dog are extremely numerous, and, indeed, as 

 they are apparently produced by crossing, which is still had recourse 

 to, there is scarcely any limit to the numbers which may be described. 

 It is a curious fact that large bitches frequently take a fancy to 

 dogs so small as to be incapable of breeding with them ; and in any 

 case, if left to themselves, the chances are very great against their 

 selecting mates of the same breed as themselves. The result is, 

 that innumerable nondescripts are yearly born, but as a certain 

 number of breeds are described by writers on the dog, or defined by 

 " dog-fanciers,'^ these " mongrels," as they are called from not be- 

 longing to them, are generally despised, and, however useful they 

 may be, the breed is not continued. This, however, is not literally 

 true, exceptions being made in favour of certain sorts which have 

 been improved by admixture with others, such as the cross of the 

 bulldog Avith the greyhound ; the foxhound with the Spanish 

 pointer ; the bulldog with the terrier, &c., &c., all of which are 

 now recognised and admitted into the list of valuable breeds, and 

 not only are not considered mongrels, but, on the contrary, are 

 prized above the original strains from which they are descended. 

 An attempt has been made by M. F. Cuvier to arrange these varie- 

 ties under three primary divisions, which are founded upon the shape 

 of the head, and the length of the jaws ; these being supposed by 

 him to vary in accordance with the degree of cunning and scenting 

 powers, whicli the animal possessing them displays. The following 



