The Doz and its Habits, 



^t> 



one, and his intestines are of a medium length between 

 the short ones of the true Carnivora, and the long ones 

 of the graminivorous quadrupeds. 



It is impossible to fix the epoch, as we have said, when 

 the dog became the servant of man. The oldest tradi- 

 tions, the most ancient historical documents, show us the 

 dog reduced to a state of domesticity. Thus it may be 

 said that the dog forms an integral part of mankind. 

 This is what Toussenel has well said : " Ce qu'il y a de 

 meilleur dans I'homme, c'est le chien." The dog pos- 

 sesses all the qualities of intelligence and spirit. Where 

 can we find a more certain, more constant, or more de- 

 voted friendship, a more faithful memory, a stronger 

 attachment, more sincere abnegation, a mind more loyal 

 and frank ? The dog does not know what ingratitude is. 

 He does not abandon his benefactor in danger or adver- 

 sity. With joy he ofters to sacrifice his life for those 

 who feed him. He pushes his devotion so far as to for- 

 get himself. He does not recall the corrections, the 

 unkind treatment, to which he has been subjected ; he 

 thirsts for caresses, while the indifference of those who 

 are dear to him plunges him into deep distress. Noble 

 creature ! the favourite of the rich, consolation of the 

 poor, inseparable companion of the unfortunate ; thanks 

 to thee, the miserable individual who dies alone in the 

 midst of society, counts at least one friend at his me- 

 lancholy funeral ; he does not descend alone into the 

 cold grave, for thou comest to shed on his tomb the sin- 

 cere tears of affection and regret, and such is the excess 

 of thy grief, that no one can tear thee from that spot 

 where sleeps the corpse of him thou lovest ! 



And what intelligence ! what penetration ! \\\\'x\. finesse 

 is there in this admirable companion of our gladness 

 and sorrow! How well he can read countenances; how 

 skilfully he knows how to interi^ret the sentiments con- 

 veyed in gestures and words! In vain you may threaten, 

 in vain try to frighten him. Your eye betrays you ; that 

 smile, which scarcely api)ears upon your lips, has un- 

 masked your feelings ; and so far from fearing and avoid- 

 ing vou, he comes to solicit your attention. 



