THE DOG- 11 



take to the care of flocks and herds. The wolf, on the con- 

 trary, is the enemy of all society ; he does not even keep much 

 company with those of his kind. When they are seen in packs 

 together, it is not to be considered as a peaceful society, but a 

 combination for war ; they testify their hostile intentions by 

 their loud howlings, and, by their fierceness, discover a project 

 for attacking some great animal, such as a stag or a bull, or to 

 destroy some more redoubtable watch dog. The instant their 

 military expedition is completed, their society is at an end ; 

 they then part, and each returns in silence to his solitary retreat. 

 There is not even any strong attachment between the male and 

 female : they seek each other only once a year, and remain but 

 a few days together; they always couple in winter; at which 

 time several males are seen following one female, and this asso- 

 ciation is still more bloody than the former : they dispute most 

 cruelly, growl, bark, fight, and tear each other ; and it some- 

 times happens, that the majority kill the wolf, which has been 

 chiefly preferred by the female. It is usual for the she wolf to 

 fiy from them all with him she has chosen ; and watches this 

 opportunity when the rest are asleep. 



In a state of nature, I am of opinion, the different species of 

 quadrupeds continue faithful to their own particular tribe, and 

 that various kinds never approach each other for the sake of 

 conjunction ; nor were the mare and the ass ever known to pro- 

 duce in a wild state, though in a state of domestication nothing 

 is more common- Were it possible to reduce the wolf or the 

 fox to that decree of subordination or civilization which so 



o 



superlatively distinguishes the domestic dog, a race of mongrels 

 might in all probability be obtained. But to accomplish such 

 an object, infinite trouble would be indispensable, as well as per- 

 haps ages of time ; for wolves and foxes must be bred in a tam 

 or domestic state before they could be expected to couple with 

 the dog; and, ehould the tedious experiment eventually be 



