INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 1 13 



were less esteemed. The mixture shows, that the 

 system of couples, or matches of different coloured 

 and bred dogs, was still in full force. 



In 1556, a print was published at Cadiz of a dog 

 then recently brought from India. The form of 

 the animal shows an intermediate between a grey- 

 hound and a hound, having a light but strong 

 frame, a deep chest, and the head shorter than the 

 first named, but with small half dejected ears. It 

 came, most likely, from a breed belonging to the 

 Mahommedan Princes of the west coast, and may 

 be the origin of Buffon's name of " Braque de Ben- 

 gale;" although we would be inclined to regard it 

 as the pai'ent of the cross which produced the Dal- 

 matian, or our present coach-dog, being white in 

 colour, and entirely covered with small black 

 spots. 



It has been well said, that dogs have innate qua- 

 lities ; such as the keenness of scent, natural im- 

 pulse to chase, in the hound ; the ardour to seek, 

 and the desire of finding, in the spaniel and pointer ; 

 and the turn to watching and guarding, as in the 

 mastiff and sheep-dog. These are natural, not arti- 

 ficial qualities, only to be developed in given direc- 

 tions by education, and not transferable to other 

 races at will, nor in equal proportion. The great 

 advantage derived from these various powers in 

 different races of dogs, is well appreciated in our 

 state of civilization ; but still it is not nearly of such 

 importance here, as it is among those that journey 

 in the wild regions of the world. Mr. Burchell, in 



VOL. II. H 



