660 THE DOG. 



the chase, being too small for a beast of burthen or draught. 

 It has a certain degree of independence, and dislikes con- 

 finement, but is exceedingly playful, is of an affectionate 

 temper, and is readily gained by acts of kindness. Dr Rich- 

 ardson had himself one, which, when only seven months old, 

 ran on the snow by the side of his sledge for 900 miles. It 

 was at length killed and eaten by an Indian, who pretended 

 that he had mistaken it for a fox. Dr Richardson states, 

 that it is inferior to the Prairie Wolf in size, but that its 

 resemblance to it in other respects is so great, that he could 

 discover no difference of form except in the smaller size of 

 the cranium. The length and fineness of the fur, and the 

 very arrangement of the spots of colour, he says, are the 

 same in both ; and in fact, adds he, it bears the same rela- 

 tion to the Prairie Wolf that the Esquimaux Dog bears to 

 the Great Gray Wolf. It is remarkable that the learned 

 and observing naturalist should seem desirous to escape the 

 necessary conclusion, namely, that the Hare Indian Dog is 

 merely the Prairie Wolf in the state of domestication. 



Dr Richardson likewise describes the domesticated dogs o 

 the native tribes of parts of Canada and the countries of Hud- 

 son's Bay. They appear to be intermediate in size and form 

 between the larger Dog of the Esquimaux, and the smaller one 

 of the Hare Indians. They will be best described in the 

 words of the bold traveller himself. " This breed wants the 

 strength of the Esquimaux dog, and does not possess the 

 affectionate and playful disposition of the Hare Indian va- 

 riety. It is used at certain seasons in the chase, and by some 

 tribes as a beast of burthen or draught ; but it has all the 

 sneaking habits of the wolf, without his courage, and without 

 the intelligence of that animal. It unites with its compa- 

 nions to assail a stranger on his approach to the hut of its 

 master ; retreats on the least shew of resistance, or endea- 

 vours to get behind him, and silently snap at his legs. A 

 little Scotch terrier that accompanied us on the last expedi- 

 tion, disconcerted the largest of them by the smartness of 



