542 



CARNIVORES. 



animal, exhibiting a kind of degradation from overbreeding. One of these brought 

 to England about 1867 was a slender-legged animal with very long hair, and the 

 bushy tail closely curled over its back. The face was extremely short, and the jaws 

 very feeble, with only a single pair of incisor teeth in the lower one. This pug 

 lived chiefly on vegetables, and exhibited a special partiality for cucumbers. 



This dog is a magnificent animal, usually placed among the 



mastiffs, with which it agrees in the general physiognomy, and 



especially the large pendulous upper lips, or "flews," as they are technically 



termed. It differs, however, from all other members of the group by its coat of long 



TIBET DOG (^ nat. size). 



shaggy hair, with a thick under-fur, and the large bushy tail, carried curled over 

 the back. The development of this thick pelage is, however, probably an adaptive 

 character due to the nature of the winter climate of the regions of which it is a 

 native. The expression of the countenance is stern and fierce, from the deeply- 

 sunken eyes, overhanging eyebrows, and the deep folds into which the skin of the 

 forehead and cheeks is thrown. The ears are pendent ; and the greatest develop- 

 ment of hair is on the throat and chest. In colour these dogs may be either 

 entirely black, black-and-tan, or tan ; and in size they are fully equal to the largest 

 European dogs. 



The Tibet dog is used as a watch-dog in the villages and encampments in the 



