CUVIER s CLASSIFICATION. 5 



The arrangement adopted by Cuvier is regulated, as we have said before, chiefly by the 

 structural development of the various breeds. He divides the canine world into three groups 

 namely, Matins, Spaniels, and Dogues. In considering the first group Matins he observes 

 that the anatomical character of the division are head more or less elongated, with the parietal 

 or side bones gradually drawing towards each other. In this category he includes the Dingo 

 or New Holland Dog, the Molossus, the Danish Dog, the lesser Danish or Dalmatian Dog, 

 Scotch and Irish Greyhounds, Italian Greyhound, and the Boarhound. 



Spaniels, or the second group, have the head only moderately elongated, and the parietal 

 bones do not approach each other, but swell out so as to enlarge the cerebral cavity. 

 In this division, in addition to the various breeds of Spaniels, there are included New- 

 foundlands, Alpine Spaniels (this breed is described as partaking of the appearance both of a 

 Newfoundland and Mastiff, and no doubt belonged to the St. Bernard species, from the stories 

 related concerning their rescue of benighted travellers), the Hound, the Sheep-dog, and the 

 Wolfhound. 



The third division Dogues comprised those breeds in which the muzzle is more or less 

 shortened, the skull high, the frontal sinuses considerable, and the lower jaw extends beyond 

 the upper. In this group Cuvier includes the Bulldog and the Mastiff ; but it certainly appears 

 that the Mastiff is considerably out of place amongst a class of dogs whose leading charac- 

 teristic is being underhung ; in addition to which the Molossus, or Mastiff, is included by 

 him in the first group. 



Bewick's work is chiefly valuable on account of the engravings contained in it, as the letter- 

 press so closely follows the dicta of former writers. The illustrations, however, render this book 

 highly interesting. 



Having now enumerated most if not all of the earlier writers of importance upon the dog, 

 and the divisions created by them, and having already expressed the opinion that for present 

 practical purposes the division of sporting dogs from their non-sporting relations is sufficient, we 

 may now proceed to the practical details of our subject, adhering in this work to the divisions 

 adopted by the leading show committees in the arrangement of their catalogues. 



