362 ALL ABOUT DOGS 



social inclination to mankind. When wandering over 

 pathless deserts, oppressed with vexation and distress 

 at the conduct of my own men I have turned to them, 

 as my only friends and felt how much inferior to them 

 was man when actuated only by selfish views. 



" The familiarity which exists between these animals 

 and our own race, is so common to almost every coun- 

 try of the globe, that any remark upon it must seem 

 superfluous, but I cannot avoid believing that it is the 

 universality of the fact which prevents the greater 

 part of mankind from duly reflecting on the subject. 

 While almost every other quadruped fears man as its 

 most formidable enemy, here is one which regards him 

 as a friend. 



"We must not mistake the nature of the case, it is not 

 because we train him to our use and have made choice 

 of him in preference to other animals, but because this 

 particular species feels a natural desire to be useful to 

 man and from spontaneous impulse attaches itself to 

 him. Were it not so we should see in various countries 

 an equal familiarity with various other quadrupeds ac- 

 cording to the habits, tastes, or caprices of different 

 nations. But, everywhere, it is the dog only takes de- 

 light in associating with us, in sharing our abodes, and 

 is even jealous that our attention should be bestowed 

 on him alone, it is he who knows us personally, watches 

 for us, and warns us of danger. 



" It is impossible for the naturalist, when taking a 

 survey of the whole animal creation not to feel a convic- 

 tion that this friendship between two creatures so dif- 

 ferent from each other, must be the result of the laws 



