THE DOG. 5 



their food, have most probably been changed also in their forms ; 

 particularly the dog has felt these alterations more strongly than 

 any other of the domestic kinds; for, living more like man, he 

 may be thus said to live more irregularly also, and, consequently, 

 must have felt all those changes that such variety would naturally 

 produce. Some other causes also may be assigned for this 

 variety in the species of the dog ; as he is perpetually under the 

 eye of his master, when accident has produced any singularity 

 in his productions, man uses all his art to continue this pecu- 

 liarity unchanged ; either by breeding from such as had those 

 singularities, or by destroying such as happened to want them ; 

 besides, as the dog produces much more frequently than some 

 other animals, and lives a shorter time, so the chance for its 

 varieties will be offered in greater proportion. 



But which is the original animal, and which is the artificial or 

 accidental variety, is a question which, as was said, is not easily 

 resolved. If the internal structure of dogs of different sorts, be 

 compared with each other, it will be found, except in point of 

 size, that in this respect they are exactly the same. This, there- 

 fore, affords no criterion. If other animals be compared with 

 the dog internally, the wolf and the fox will be found to have 

 the most perfect resemblance ; in fact, there is no perceptible 

 difference : it is probable, therefore, that the dog which most 

 nearly resembles the wolf or the fox externally, is the original 

 animal of its kind : for it is natural to suppose, that as the dog 

 exactly resembles them internally, so he may be near them in ex- 

 ternal resemblance also, except where art or accident has altered 

 his form. This being supposed, if we look among the number 

 of varieties to be found in the dog, we shall not find one go like 

 the wolf or the fox, as that which is called the shepherd's dog. 

 This is that dog with long, coarse hair on all parts except the 

 nose, pricked ears, and a long nose, which is common enough 



Among us ; and receives his name from being principally used in 

 A3 



