DINGO. 



509- 



its members do not venture, and into which those of other families do not intrude. 

 The young are generally born in the hollow trunk of a tree, and vary from six to 

 eight in a litter. Naturally, dingoes never bark ; although, like wolves, they easily 

 learn to do so from association with other dogs. When caught they are generally 

 in the habit of shamming death. 



The dingo breeds freely with the various European dogs introduced by the- 

 colonists. In regard to their domestication by the Australian natives, Dr.. 

 Lumholtz states that on the Herbert river there are rarely more than one or two- 



THE DINGO (\ nat. size). 



dingoes in each tribe, and as a rule they are of pure blood. The natives find them 

 as puppies in the hollow trunks of trees, and rear them with greater care than they 

 bestow on their children. The dingo is an important member of the family ; it- 

 sleeps in the huts, and gets plenty to eat, not only of meat, but also of fruit. " Its 

 master never strikes, but merely threatens it. He caresses it like a child, eats the 

 fleas off it, and then kisses it on the snout. Though the dingo is treated so well it 

 often runs away, especially in th3 pairing season, and at such times it never returns. 

 Thus it never becomes perfectly domesticated, but still is very useful to the natives, 

 for it has a keen scent, and traces every kind of game ; it never barks, and 

 hunts less wildly than our dogs, but very rapidly, frequently capturing the game- 

 on the run. Sometimes it refuses to go any further, and its owner has then to> 



