20 



FIRST DIVISION OF THE 



than usual in dogs, and the tail is carried horizontally. He seldom barks. 

 Mr. Bennett observes that " dogs in a state of nature never bark. They 

 simply whine, howl, or growl. The explosive noise of the bark is only 

 found among those that are domesticated." Sonini speaks of the shep- 

 herds' dogs in the wilds of Egypt as not having this faculty; and 

 Columbus found the dogs which he had previously carried to America, 

 almost to have lost their propensity to bark. 



THE DINGO. 



He does, however, occasionally bark, and has the same kind of snarling 

 voice which the larger dogs generally have. The Australasian dogs that 

 have been brought to Europe have usually been of a savage and untract- 

 able disposition. 



There are several of the Australasian dogs in the gardens of the 

 Zoological Society of London. One of them has been an inmate of that 

 establishment nine years, others more than five years ; but not an individual 

 has acquired the bark of the other dogs by which they are surrounded. 

 When a stranger makes his appearance, or when the hour of. feeding 

 arrives, the howl of the Australasian is the first sound that is heard, and 

 it is louder than all the rest. 



If some of them have thrown off a portion of their native ferocity, 

 others retain it undiminished. A bitch and two of her whelps, nearly 

 half grown a male and female had inhabited the same cage from the 

 time that the young ones were born. Some cause of quarrel occurred on 

 a certain night, and the two bitches fell upon the dog and perfectly 

 destroyed him. There was not a limb left whole. A stronger instance 

 of the innate ferocity of this breed could scarcely be given. Even in their 

 native country all attempts perfectly to domesticate them have failed ; for 

 they never lose an opportunity to devour the poultry or attack the sheep. 



