118 NATURAL HISTORY 



they are known to breed, by rigorous 

 weather and deep snows that had lately 

 fallen I am, &e. 



LETTER LVIII. 



TO THE SAME. 



My near neighbour, a young gentleman 

 in the service of the East India Company, 

 has brought home a dog and a bitch of the 

 Chinese breed from Canton ; such as are 

 fattened in that country for the purpose 

 of being eaten ; they are about the size 

 of a moderate spaniel ; of a pale yellow 

 colour, with coarse bristling hairs on their 

 backs ; sharp upright ears, and peaked 

 heads which give them a very fox-like 

 appearance. Their hind legs are unusually 

 straight, without any bend at the hock or 

 ham, to such a degree as to give them an 

 awkward gait when they trot. When they 



