THE DOG. 7 



variety seems formed by crossing the breed of such as are im- 

 ported from various climes. 



The shepherd's dog may, therefore, be considered as the primi- 

 tive stock from whence these varieties are all derived. He makes 

 the stern of that genealogical tree which has been branched out 

 into every part of the world. This animal still continues pretty 

 nearly in its original state among the poor in temperate climates ; 

 in the colder regions, he grows less and more ugly among the 

 Laplanders; but becomes more perfect in Iceland, Russia, and 

 Siberia, where the climate is less rigorous ^ and the people more 

 civilized. Whatever differences there may be among the dogs 

 of these countries, they are not very considerable, as they have 

 all straight ears, long and thick hair, a savage aspect, and do not 

 bark either so often or so loud as dogs of the more cultivated 

 kind. 



The shepherd's dog transported into the temperate climates, 

 and among people entirely civilized, such as England, France, 

 and Germany, will be divested of his savage air, his pricked ears, 

 his rough, long and thick hair, and from the single influence of 

 climate and food alone, will become either a matin, a mastiff, or 

 a hound. These three seem the immediate descendants of the 

 former; and from them the other varieties are produced." 



How far this last assertion of BufFon, that the shepherd's dog, 

 " from the single influence of climate and food alone, will be- 

 come either a matin, a mastiff, or a hound," may be founded on 

 fact, 1 am unable to decide ; but I am much inclined to doubt it. 

 All animals feel the influence of climate ; and we have abundant 

 proof that the very same species, even in latitudes not very 

 widely dissimilar, exhibit marks of the difference of their situa- 

 tion : the lion, for instance, which is never found so high as the 

 temperate latitudes (unless in a state of captivity) to whose very 

 existence a burning sun, or a great degree of heat, seems indispen- 

 sable, and whose form and manner appear little susceptible of 



