SPECIES AND VARIETIES. 659 



severely wounded. He returned again in the dark, stream- 

 ing with blood, and carried off a dog from amongst fifty 

 others. Although the wild and the tame animals are assu- 

 redly identical, yet such has been the effect of slavery on the 

 one, and of liberty and the continued exercise of their 

 powers on the other, that the subjugated dogs have the ut- 

 most dread of their savage congeners, and can scarcely mus- 

 ter courage to face them, even in self-defence. 



All the tribes of North American Indians have dogs, but 

 differing much in size and other characters from the large 

 sledge-dogs of the northern natives. It may be believed, 

 therefore, that different canine species have been domesti- 

 cated in different parts of these vast countries. Of these 

 there is one which seems, by its temperament, to be pecu- 

 liarly fitted for domestication, the Prairie Wolf or Prairie 

 Dog. 



The Prairie Dogs are found in great numbers towards the 

 sources of the Missouri and elsewhere, from about the 55 

 of north latitude southward. Their fur is mostly of an ashy- 

 gray colour, with the cheeks, chin, throat, belly, and inside of 

 the thighs, white, and the tail is bushy, and clothed with 

 long hair and wool. They are smaller than the gray wolves, 

 and not unlike the shepherd's dogs of some countries of 

 Europe. They burrow like foxes, and are very swift of foot, 

 and, assembling in numbers together, hunt in packs, pur- 

 suing, the deers, the bisons, and other animals. They have 

 a barking voice, and assemble round the hunter at the first 

 report of his gun, as if conscious of his purpose, and hoping 

 to share the spoils of the chase. They are easily tamed, and 

 form, either pure or mixed with other races, the dogs of 

 Indian tribes. 



Of the domesticated Dogs of the North American Indians, 

 one is the Hare Indian Dog, cultivated by the tribes fre- 

 quenting the borders of the Great Bear Lake, and the banks of 

 the river Mackenzie. It is minutely described by Dr Richard- 

 son, who informs us that it is used by the Indians solely for 



