G40 THE DOG. 



observed, depends upon the meaning which we assign to the 

 terms we use. If by species we mean, with many natural- 

 ists, animals descended from a common stock, as a pair of 

 individuals, then we have little reason to suppose that the do- 

 mestic dog is a species. Neither is he a species, if we do 

 not extend to the species we call Dog all the essential charac- 

 ters possessed by all the individuals, the long muzzle of the 

 greyhound, as well as the short one of the bull-dog, the long 

 ears of the spaniel, as well as the short ones of the terrier : 

 but if we shall comprehend all these and the other characters 

 common to all the varied kinds of dogs in our category, then, 

 at least, in so far as characters of conformation connect ani- 

 mals into a species, the Dog may be a species ; and if we 

 find that the members of this group have the power of pro- 

 creating with one another, and producing a fruitful progeny, 

 then we have all the tests by which we discriminate species 

 applicable to the Common Dog. 



The Count de Buffon, after various failures, succeeded in 

 rearing a mixed progeny of wolves and dogs, which he found 

 to procreate freely with one another. Experiments, indeed, 

 much more numerous and important, we have reason to be- 

 lieve, have been made again and again. The Esquimaux, 

 who use dogs for sledges, are in the habit of uniting their 

 dogs with the wolves proper to these latitudes ; and the 

 same thing, it is believed, is done in certain parts of the 

 south of Europe, in the case of the Black, and perhaps also 

 the Gray, Wolves of these countries. The shepherds tame 

 the young wolves, when they can procure them ; and the 

 whelps, being brought up with the sheep-dogs, are mixed 

 with them in blood. But these being experiments of which 

 no records are kept, we do not know to what degree, and 

 in what manner, the subsequent progeny have been mingled 

 in blood ; and we are, therefore, obliged to refer to experi- 

 ments conducted on the animals, with an express relation to 

 the results to be observed. M. Frederick Cuvier gives a 

 record of certain experiments made in the Royal Menagerie 



